The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-10
PENKNIFE CUT MAY KILL.
ELMER MORSE STABBED HIMSELF ON
a VISIT TO HIS SWEETHEART.

He IL Likely to Die from tho Wound-He
says That lie Cut Himself without Intent
to Cause Serious Iniury-One story Says
He Fell While Toying with the Knife.
Elmer Morse. % years old. OF 35S Fifty
sixth street. Brooklyn. an electrician in
tho employ Of tho Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company. Is at the Norwegian Hospital suf-
ferng from a stab wound in the loft breast.
which is likely to cause death. The stabbng
occurred near midnight on Sunday night.
while the young man was n visitor in the house
OF John Aiken captain ot Engine Company 55
OF Manhattan at 10 Fifty-third street. a few
blocks from Morse's house.
Morse and Miss Annctta Aiken one OF Cant.
hiken's three daughters. to whom. II was I'M
derstood. Morse was engaged. returned to the
house about $3.50 O'Clock. after paying a visit
to Miss Aikens aunt in Williamsburg. They
remained in the parlor after the other mem
bers OF the family had retired for the night.
At ii 30 O'Clock screams from Miss Aiken
brought all the other members OF the family In
haste to the rarlor They found Morse lying
on the floor, his head resting In his ilancGe s
lap. his shirt and waistcont saturated with
blood. and bloodstainei penknife. with the
large blade. about two and q half inches long
open. lying beside him. A brother OF Miss
Aiken hurried of in search OF physician and
returned with DR.. Sheppard OF POP Fifty-scc-
ond street. Two policemen had meanwhile
reached the house and they called Surgeon
kilsard and an ambulance from the Norwegian
Hospital
The doctors found that Morse was cut in the
lett side between the seventh and eighth ribs.
the cut being but half an inch long and moro
than two inches deep. Mr.. Morse admitted to
the policeman and the surgeons that he had
inflicted the wound himself. but that he had
no thought that II would be 30 serious A
policeman accompanied him to the hospital
and charge OF attempted suicide was entered
against him. In the report Of the occurrence
transmitted from tho Fourth avenue station to
Police Headquarters II was said that the young
man had stabbed himself in a 1T OF jealous rage
in the presence Of his intended wife The
Aiken family however. declare that there had
been no quarrel between Elmer and Annetta.
and that the stabbng was tho result Of a
remarkable accident They say that Elmer
was standing in the centre OF the floor TOYING
with the knife. the blade OF which was open.
when he stumbled and fell. the blade pene-
trating his breast.
Mrs. Morse. after n visit to her son at the
hospital yesterday. said she could not believe
that he had attempted suicide. She said that
while she was not acquainted herself with the
Aiken family. She was aware OF her sons in
fatuation for Annetta and had not discouraged
his almost daily visits to her home.
The police think that tho young man had a
quarrel with his fancee and drew the knife to
scare her. making n tragic lunge at his breast.
but without any intention of hurting himself
seriously. Miss Aiken. who has been much
affected over the occurrence. called twice Mt
the hospital yesterday. but the doctors did not
allow her TO see tho patient. owing to his ex-
tremely weak condition. Last night tho doc