The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-12
~ A SERIOUS CONDITION
FULLER PAR tiCULARSOf The AT TEMPTED
SUICIDE OF Mr.. RUFflN.
Said he Was Tired of Living. Passengers on
Train NOth9d that There was some
thing Queer About Him.
lNew Orleans States.l

New Orleans States.)
j. II. Ruffin, of Rocky Mount, North
Carolina, made a desperate attempt to
end his earthly existence this morning
on board OF south bound tram of the
Louisville and Nashville road just be-
fore it reached Bay st. Louis. Ruftin
locked himself in the toilet room of
the Pullman sleeper "Orya" and with
his pocketlinife slashed both of his wrists
severing an artery in one. He was not
discovered until some time afterwards
when the blood was seen flowing from
under the door. Ruffin lost considerable
blood. and there is some doubt as to his
recovery he is now in the Charity
Hospital. Ruftin is about 40 years
of age. He is the superintendent of Il
cotton mill in Rocky Mount and appar-
entity a man of much means, as he car
red 81 600 in checks and cash about his
person, 81, 420 was in cash.
Ruffin boarded the train yesterday
afternoon at Atlanta, Ga. His fellow
passengers noticed that there was some
thing queer about him. Ituffin seemed
very much worried and was restless.
One Of the porters stated that he was
continually moving about. He said that
he saw him make three trips through
the train. AT one time as the porter
was passing through a car he saw Ruff
fin standing in a corner. Ruffin looked
as if he was going to say something, but
changed his mind and walked off.
1t is not known at what time Ruf6n
entered the toilet room. 1t is judged
that it was about 8 O'clock or a little
later. He locked himself in and stand
ing against the wall drew out his pocket
knife and cut both of his wrists. He
bled very freely which is shown by the
condition of the room. The floor is GOV
cred with gore and the walls are stained
with it.
The blood flowed under the door out
into the car, and through this fact Mr..
fms act was discovered. DR. s. w.
Foster, of Atlanta, was walking through
the car and he saw the blood. He jump
ed TO the conclusion that some one
had attempted suicide had ended his
life and tried to open the door, but was
unable. DIR. Foster gave an alarm and
after considerable trouble the door was
broken open.
Ruffin was found in a sitting posi-
ton. The knife covered with blood
was on the floor near him. He was
quickly picked up and carried into the
.
rounded by a half dozen physicians who
had gotten aboard at Atlanta TO come
to this city to take in the Mardi Gras
festivities. Drs. Foster, T. T. Human
and Turner attended the wounded man,
dressing the wounds. They say that
Ruffin's condition is serious owing to
the fact that he lost so much blood
1t was telegraphed to the city that
there had been suicide aboard the
train and that the body was being
brought to the city. DIR. LeMonnier
was notified and he informed the rail-
road officials that if they brought the
body into the city they would be put
to the necessity of bringing it back to
Bay st. Louis. The police were in
structed not to allow the body to be
en- from the train. Some time later
news came that the man was not dead.
Owing to the lateness of the arrival of
the second information the ambulance
was not in waiting when the train ar
rived at the head of Canal street.
1t was a short time before II o'clock
when the train arrived. Ruffin was
found in the smoking room of the car
"Orva" surrounded by Drs Human
and Foster and n. Eiseman, all of At
lanta. They were surprised when told
that the ambulance was not in waiting.
The wagon of mercy was sent for and
soon after it arrived the wounded man
was conveyed to the hospital.
Ruffin groaned continually as if he
suffered intense pain, and would say
nothing as to what prompted him to
attempt to end his life. He stated
simply that he was tired of living. 1t
was learned that he has no immediate
family.