Fergus County argus., 1901-10-30
Percy De Wolf. Rendered Desperate
by Conviction. Took Cyanide
Of Potassium.
WAS REVIVED WITH DIFFICULTY
Promised Not to Make the Attempt a
Second Time, But is Closely
Watched

Three minutes after the jury In the
district court had returned n verdict
OF guilty OF horse stealing and left
the sentence to be pronounced by the
court In the case OF Percy DeWolfe,
the defendant asked permission from
Deputy Sheriff Emerson to retire to
the closet for moment before start
ing for the county jail, and there
took a dose of cyanide of potassium
with suicidal intent. Drs. Crutcher,
Ferguson, Gordan and Slack were
hurriedly summoned and after work
ing with him for an hour and a half,
during which time life was sustained
by hypodermic injections and his
stomach was thoroughly pump
ed out, he recovered consciousness
and 1t was announced that the phys
icians fight with death bad been won.
He was stretched on the floor
when DR.. Crutcher, who was the first
to arrive. entered the room. There
was fixed stare in DeWolfe's eyes.
The first thing was to give him a
hypodermic Injection and these were
kept up with frequency, while the
operation Of pumping his stomach
was In progress.
In ten minutes after he had taken
the drug his limbs were so stiff that
they could not be bent. The physi-
clans worked heroically, but it was
an hour before there was any sign OF
returning consciousness or assur-
ance that he would live.
When he first came to he wanted
to see some of the folks at home.
Several OF his companions crowded
around him, but he said nothing
more for several minutes. Then he
asked for Mr.. Freeman and n mo-
ment later was wandering in his
mind.
As soon as he was pronounced out
OF Ganger, a cot was prepared and
he was placed on II and taken TO the
county jail. Arriving there he was
taken to the woman's ward and "a
guard remained with him during the
night. Mr.. Powell will also remain
with him during the night and prob
ably longer.
As stated to the doctors that he
had taken cyanide Of potassium and
that 1t was his intention to die. He
added that he knew what 1t was like
now however, and that II would be
all right In future. Word was left
by the attending physicians that he
be not asked to talk much, but kept
as quiet as possible.
The drug which De Wolfe took he
had evidently bten carrying around
In his pocket for long time. Much OF
it's strength on the outside had been
expended and to this, In the main, is
attributed the fact that he was not
successful In his attempt to end his
life.
There Ia another thing that Operat-
ed in his favor. In order that cyan.
ide OF potassium may act quickly
there must be contact with acid.
From the contents Of his stomach he
had evidently not eaten much all day
and therefore there was little acid In
his stomach. The drug was taken
in solid form, In all probability bit
ten from a chunk, and therefore did
not have an opportunity to act be
fore the physicians arrived.
While he was on the table a search
was made Of his pockets. Cyanide
Of potassium was found in two %
them and several small, white tab
let's In another. There was dirt OF
the outside of them, showing th8
they had been carried there unwrap
ped for some time.
There was no letter or communica
tion Of any kind. showing that h
had contemplated the deed and l
was his intention to die without
last word to anyone, with the excep
tion Of Mr.. Powell.
From this time on there will be
close watch kept ON him, Tor lea
that he is not yet satisfied and will
make another attempt. There Is
report that a few days ago he state'
to friend that in case he was con
victed he would kill himself an
) again only yesterday afternoon h
!, stated to the same party that he WA
sure that he would not he convicted
From this last statement 1t Is ceI
tain that the verdict OF the jury wa
severe blow to him and that h
was surprised and prepared To carr
out the part he had planned.