The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-08
TELLS WHY SOME
WANT TO DIE
Coroner Taylor Talks About Motives
for SelfKiIling.
WITH THE YOUTH, IT'S LOVE.
T,oss Of Affection, or 60 Find IL is Not
Returned. often Prompts =
Person 20 Put an End 60
His Existence.
WITH THE YOUTH, IT'S LOVE.

news dispatch from Chicago tells OF
m EFFORT being made by the Bohemians
Of that city 20 check self-murder' wlich
seems TO be an epidemic among ther
countrymen. The method adopted toward
this end Is 10 form "anti-5ulcide clubs
and The Chicago Bohemians hope hat the
step viii he followed ia other ciies.
called on Coroner Taylor and asked him
to give The Times his views on suicide
Il DO not think that sucn an 0rs2niza-
'ion Win have any effect upon the man
who wants 10 take his oWn life said
She Coroner. when referring 10 the action
taken by the Chicago BOhemisns. 1T
will not deter the individual who has
made up his mind that he means TO
end his life The New York State law.
making 80 a criminal offense 10 attempt
suicide punishable with fine and iin-
rrsoument has not proved a success.
a man viii blow out his brains I'm New
York state iust as soon as he would IN
any other state. The fact that a Legs
lature holds that he is amenable TO the
law. has nothing 20 90 with carrying out
of his intention TO end 10 all. Many
man thinks as InCcrs0ll did when he
voiced DIS ideas and declared that q man S
life was his own. ana that under certain
conditions, suicide was iustihabo. Many
people condemn The seil-murderer. while
few pity him. Many "a person sees no
future bur one of appointment and
suffering. $50 ray OF hope penetrates the
dark and frowning clouds that hide the
future He becomes heart-sick and
weary. His only solace- that is 20 him
lies behind the Veil. and he enters that
unknown region-wherc. and when and
what's an a matter Of conjecture.
eff Doe determines upon this course no
society on legal penalty viii swerve him
from it,"
THE MOTIVE.
But what motive do YOU think inspires
Che suicide Go DIS act2' { asked.
'Matvos are almost inngmorablo with
tho youth l7vo is the principal motive
loss of affection or % find that il is not
returned VIII prompt not infrequcntly
young man or young woman TO end his
or her existence.
CAS- The person grows older disappoint-
menl or Jack OF success iu business Do is
often found, has inspired that longing for
death.
"Thi- however is always the case. TO
other reasons is attributable the desire o.
end IL au Impending disgrace is one of
these reasons as is also failure in one
venture 0r another
"Nith women ot a maturcr age. the
principal causes for suicide one found to be-
physical or mental suffering, and domcs-
ur unhappness.
a woman may suffer greatly amt patti
entity for the sake of her children. ln
This case. hope lives but i'm other Instances
hone dies.
'Slic.des are rare among those who have
reached comparatively ola age. When
however such persons Do take their own
res. insanity most frequently the rea-
SON for 10. or course mental alteration
Us responsible bon many Instances. whether
the person Doe young or old. bat 7 do not
regard am suicides ae insane. Many "a
suicides careful plans are then put into
eNe.luon, some are hystorical. especial
lr women. and kil themselves simply be-
cause something else dii &C. while others.
sisy themselves because they are mental
iy unbalanced
WHY EPlDEMICS
In hysteua los the secret OF many Of
.tho s0-caued euidemic- of seil-destrucuon |
which prevail iu "a locality. Take Paris for |
Instance People lost control Of the re- !
sfranng power over the VIII and 1t is
often necessary 90 adopt rigid measures 20 |
prevent those from carrying ont their in- |
touti0ns This U.s. fou.d in many Instances |
smons women. Dc needs but some one TO |
STAR. 10 and others wli follow suit.
TIDE METHODS.
what methods aye those usually en-
rIoyci. ] asked
We'll that depends. Nine cases of ten
"a man WIN use ID rope or pistol nearly /
ways the pistol. while O. woman prefers !
drowning.
You see man wants the quickest way !
nur of b. "a woman selects water because
she thinks that DO viii not mar her per-
sllal appearance. Women YOU know, are !
nr.
90. them have seen "a corpse after It has |
been ln the water for any length of time. |
They don't calculate OBJ that and generally |
leave q note telling of their Intentions and !
where you can find their body. This is |
probably due 10 Two reasons, one that the |
suicide does not want her personal appear !
ance spoiled, the other is "a passion strong |
even in death. she wants TO have the last |
word.
Then, again you ind two classes IN |
women suicides. who take poison To end |
their lives The upper class and the low |
or class. socially speaking The majority |
ol The former take morphine. the latter |
isudanum or other opium poison or some |
1rsenica preparations Rough on Rats for |
instance You can sleep on 70 death with |
some opiate and look natural A woman |
considers Il good method.
N0w ir some cases violent poison is /
used and in the north carbolic acid IS |
chosen as 70 life eXtingulsher During my !
Rcnfy-sevcn years experience as coroner /
hut ono ease where carbOlic acid was used |
ha. come under my jurisdiction and THIS |
tss "a woman who was a stranger here |
and Who had come from the North Car |
hoHc acid has not been adopted as means |
of suicide in the South.
''As 10 a man. he chooses revolver or
nope because % strikes him as being |
quick and sure. a razor he has not much |
.-e flr. but gas is considered as the east
est hy some.
TWO NEGRO SUICIDES.
'fhcle are several classes among which
suicide .s noticeable by the intrcquency OF
ils occurrence. Sailors seldom take their
own lives. And as for negroes few ever
tnl1k OF ond.rs their existence. II they |
80 decioe upon this course they like 10
have bis time of it and publish their
intention FAR ana wide Like 20 have
everybody on hand when IL comes on"