The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-18
He Thought His Soul Could Not BE
Saved and Took Dose of
Strychnfne.
MIND ALREADY SLIGHTLY WEAK
WAS A CONSTANT ATTENDANT AT
ROBERTS PARK REVIVAL.
Members OF the Family, However, Are
Not Complaining About the
Meetings.

After having lived for fifty-nine years,
the greater part being the life of a Chris
tan, as he understood II, Jerome b. Knapp,
of 434 North East street, temporarily
crazed by the thought Of eternal damna-
ton to which he thought he was doomed
after listening to a sermon by Thomas G.
Harrison, the evangelist, at the Roberts
Park Church, killed himself about noon
yesterday by taking strychnine.
Mr.. Knapp had for a number of years
been a member of Roberts Park Church
and had been an active worker. When the
revival meetings were opened he showed
much interest and became a regular at
tendant, with other members OF his fam
lily. He was known among his friends and
intimate acquaintance as an intensely re-
ligious man, but the arguments set out by
Mr.. Harrison made a great impression on
him and led him to believe that all his eff
forts at right living were in vain. Mr..
Knapp began to believe that he would,
despite anything he could do, be eternally
damned. He talked of the matter at home,
and Friday night attended the services as
usual He was very respondent upon his
return home, and told his wife he believed
he was lost" Mrs Knapp comforted him
as best she could. He spent very rest
less night, and arose yesterday morning
more respondent than before. He threat
ened to kill himself, and talked of but little
else. During the forenoon he took a nap,
and upon awakening began again brooding
over his imaginary trouble.
Shortly before noon he went to the base
t.,
fastening out. He remained in the base
ment for few minutes. and at 11:50 came
up and entered the kitchen. where his wife
was working. After asking for a drink of
water, which was given him, he drew an
ounce vial from his pocket and put it to
his mouth, swallowing a part of the con-
tents. Mrs. Knapp and daughter tried to
prevent him from swallowing the drug, but
were unable TO do so. DR.. Lash was called.
He reached the house at 1925, a few mo-
ments after Knapp died.
BOTTLE LABELED STRYCHNINE.
The bottle from which Mr.. Knapp took
the drug was an ounce bottle and labeled
strychnine. Members of the family said
the drug was in the house and had been
purchased for killing rats. 1t was thought
that Mr.. Knapp had taken some of the
stryehnine while in the basement, and that
the drug which he took in the presence of
his wife was the second dose. About one
sixth of the contents of the vial was gone
Mr.. Knapp afterward admitted that he had
taken some of the strychnine while in the
basement.
Deputy Coroner Dunlavy was called to
view the body, and the statements made
to him by members of the family indicated
that Mr. Knapp had become temporarily
crazed while brooding over thoughts occa-
stoned by the revival meetings
Mr.. Knapp was O. retired real estate
dealer. He was born in 1S41 at New North
Portland, Me-, and came TO this city thirty
years ago. His first wife died in 1856 and
he remarked in 1891. He served with the
Twenty-eighth Maine Regiment during the
civil war. Besides his wife he leaves Sis
ter in Maine.
Members of the family denied last night
that they had complained bitterly of the
revival services. as was stated by an after
noon paper. They also said that there had
been for some time a little indication that
Mr.. Knapp's mind was failing gradually.
and that In his weakened mental condition
the excitement of the revival was too much
for him TO Withstand.