The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-06-22
IoSuicidels l
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= The advertisement in the newspaper
ran as follows: Suicides commencing
These shonld write for appointment
to Rez Blake, - Uppingdon Gardens,
South Kensingten. >. s
Herbert Streuth. artist, received an
appointments for $3.50 on Wednesday
afternoon! he called at the South Ken
sington address And was shown into q
solidly furnished library. where podgy
little old gentleman with white hair
shook him warmly BY the hand and
bade him 10 be seated. - $50
= az am very pleased to SEQ you. Mr..
Streuth. and ! trust that j, may be OF
some service TO you--in fact. that we
may be oflseryiee to each other. But
must begin by asking you. plain 'ques-
t1on. which Jon will answer truthfully
and in one word Is your intended sui
eide connected in any way with severe
poverty sor overwhelming financial
lossesf-A
'No." said Streuth. 81 am consider
cd. believe. to be fairly well of. -
Delighted to hear IT," said Mr..
Blake, rubbing his chubby hands to-
gether, ''now we will proceed. I tell
you frankly that with me this thing is
a business and nothing but business.
II you decide that I can serve you
shall expect a moderate fee. Now, what
are the principal objections to suicider'
The law does not permit it,. said
Strsuth.
Precisely, but In tho case of the
successful suicide the law Is not asked.
1t says that You may not take your life
away. but il you do il cannot compel
you to take 1t back again or punish You
in any way. We can leave the law out.
"There is also the religious objec-
tion," said Streuth.
"Many very religious people. replied
Mr.. Blake. shave not found it cogent
Take the case, by no means an uncom-
mon one, where the death of one man
may be an inestimable benefit to many
to when he is really sincerely attached.
Is an act Of self sacrifice to be regarded
as a crimef No; 1t seems to me that
each suicide must be judged on its own
merits, taking into consideration the
motives and beliefs of the person suicid-
ing. ANY other opinionsi''
81 know nome" Streuth answered.
<'In fact, have not been thinking
much about it. I want to get cut of
things don't ask myself if there are
any objections or not. don't care if
there are any objections.
"You surprise me, said Mr.. Blake.
ssYou are an artist, and yet it has not
occurred to you that the manner Of the
suicide is Of essential Importance. The
throat cutting is very dirty, and the
same objection applies to the use Of
firearms Have little foresight Imag-
inc what You look like afterwa1d, and
the state Of the bedclothes. and all the
rest Of 1t"
s1I was Intending . saia 6treuth. $50
drown myself "
az have here, " said Mr.. Hake ga
little work on forensic medicine. There
are some interesting chapters on the
signs by which you can tell the length
Of time the body has been in.the water.
Did You ever hear Of adipoceres There
IL an elegant little description q itin
this passage. Just read Il. |"
+ Stfeuth took Il and read a few lines
ssI can't stand this hesaids re Ia too
nauseoua
''I thought you would see Il Ia that
light" Mr.. Blake replied. people
mostly do when ! put Il to them. You
really can't tell what rivers going to
do to you. II may give ron back at
bnce. or II may keep you for bit
Even II it gives you back at once you
don't look pretty. Here's description
Of the face OF man taken ont Of the
Thames on
"You needn't go ON with that I
have given up the idea Of drowning
myself There is still poison. A little
prussic acid and the bother is all over"
Excellent, said Mr.. Blake. 'sf you
know the right dose You die almost
But you've got an awful
If you don't know the right
dose, you have very bad time. You
will be found with your hands violently |
rlinched, your eyes glistening and your
pupils dilated. and you will shrek just
before your death. Unpleasant. isn't
ltr'
yw.n. : said Streuth, there are
y !, sons. =
open to objections Choral
1n comfortably or make you
d -ssr an@sthetics may lead to