Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-18
HE CUT HIS THROAT.
vorNc ALLEY MADE \ DESPERATE
ATTEMPT At SUICIDE.
WIS JEALOUS AND DISCONTINUED.
1850 The Causes Which Prompted
,,tu, 10 Take His own Lifc--Thc
.rhounh Not Dangerous, One.

r,,iousy. disappointment. and mis-
,,-torc drove Mt William Harvey Alley
90 make an attempt to end his life last
,.rht 1t was no half-hearted expert
,,snt with determination born OF des-
.,lr. De gashod hts throat with a razor.
and only the prompt discovery Of his
condition saved his Hfe, for the wound
be Indicted measured four inches in
length. and was about three inches deep.
when he was found by Sergeant Talley
and Officer Bailey, Of the Second Police
District Mr. Alley was sitting on stone
IN Theatre alley, near Eighth street, the
blood literally pouring from his wounds.
SOMETHING OF THE YOUNG MAN.
Auey came to Richmond from South
ampton county two years ago. lie IS
quite well connected. and his father, who
had been spending "a few days with him,
icft for his home yesterday morning.
Tie is "a young man Of handsome physique
and only % years old. When he arrived
in Richmond be went 10 board with Mrs.
Lane. on Ligc0n's Iill At his home
he had worked in a saw-mill. but had
found 10 difficult 70 obtain work. and
stnl moro difficult to get the 81 with
which TO meet his monthly board blu
AT one time ne was employed on the
Traction Companys Nne. hut was not
satisfied Then he went 30 work at the
Chesapeake and OHIO shops but the
work was hard. and the pay too small
he thought. and he grew Disconnected.
Then he became impressed with the idea
that his services were not altogether in
disrensablc and De left. hat was in
February. and since that time be has
done little or no work at all.
MADE HIM HER BARTENDER.
Mrs. Lane welcomed Mr.. Alley to her
household. which includes. besides her
self her daughter and her daughters
two children. when he first came TO Rich
mond. She is a widow, and felt That
the presence Of male pro
tector or the promises was de-
sirable Mr. Alley ingratiated himself
TO such an. extent that when ne found 1t
impossible to get work. Mrs. Lane sold
her home on Washington street and took
the bar-room No. 216 north Eighth street,
opposite Murphy's Hotel. installing her
lodgor as bartender. For his services
in this respect. Alley was 20 have his
board free and such other nccessarics
worked admirably for TWO months, and
then the novelty Of it wore away. and it
failed.
Alley thought he could improve his
position by going TO work. and he re-
turned TO the Chesapeake and ohio shops
but only remained there two days.
Since he left his troubles have multi
Piled He was several times confronted
with a board bin, now three months I'm
arrears his efforts to obtain work were
futile. and he grew jealous Of Mrs. Stone,
his landlady's daughter. between whom
and himself an understanding had been
reached. that. as soon as she was re-
leased from the bonds which bound her
20 a husband. three years absent, they
were 10 be married.
TROUBLE rs THE CAUSE"
Trouble Is tho cause Of my act" said
Alley last night TO Dispatch reporter,
az he sat on a lounge In Mrs Lanes par
Tor. after Dr. Baughman Of the aims
house. had attended TO his injuries IL
can't get work ana I can't get people
TO treat me as they ought to- he con-
tinued. but he was interrupted by Mrs.
Lane who sat near him, sohcitously.
ITS all your own fault, Harvey, be-
cause YOU are so jealous. I'm a poor
widow" she continued. land have to
scuhie for living" and then she related
all tho UPS and downs OF her dodgers
chequered career. as told above He had
attempted 70 commit suicide on three or
four former occasions she said, and she
had been most careful 10 hide away
weapons Of all sorts. for when he got
his fits" ne grew very desperate Last
Saturday a friend Of Alleys. who is a
barber and generally shaves him on that
day. was unable TO come to the house,
at his request. but sent a razor to MIN.
This. Alley hid away after using, and it
was with this weapon that he cut his
throat last night.
HOW THE ACT WAS COMMITTED.
He had asked Mrs. Stone TO stop play
ing the piano and go for a walk with him
but she had refused. II was the climax
TO "A disagreement between the two.
which had had its origin In the per-
sistcnt refusal of Alley 10 abstain from
drinking Tie went at once into the
alley which runs at the side Of the house,
and sitting upon the doorstep of a colored
man named Richard Burke, he cut his
throat and then knocking at the door,
he said. Come out here. Uncle Dick,
and tell me good-by Pm dying Burke
promptly grasped the situation, and gave
the alarm Sergeant Talley and Police
man Bailey arrived on the scene and
the ambulance was summoned. DR..
BaughmaA took four stitches I'm the
wound ana bound the mans neck up,
and he was left 10 the tender care Of
Mrs. Lane. He will recover.