The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-28
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
Took Poison and Left a Note Pinned
ON the Mantelpiece In His Room.

TOOK POISON and Leff n Note Pinned
ON the Mantelpiece In His Room.
Before the coroner's jury, in the after
noon, DR.. Charlton told the story of DR..
Aikens attempt to commit suicide about
month ago. Fooled in this attempt. it
is presumed. and with his ever-pre sent
and ever-absorbing mania becoming more
and more acute, brooding over it con-
stantly, weak in body and troubled in
spirit, and with this demon thought gnaw-
ing at his vitals and setting his very
brain aflame, DR.. Aiken wrought himself
UP to the commission of the dreadful
deed. which robbed him first of the wife
who loved him aud then of the life he
had ceased to consider sweet
About a month ago said DIR. Charl-
ton, Il was summoned by a message say
ing that the doctor was dying. l found
him in an insensible condition and his
wife very much alarmed Her attention
had been attracted to him during the mig t
by his heavy breathing. She had found
him on the bed in his room I'm his trous-
ers and dressing gown, In an I'M on
scious condition. She was endeavoring
to arouse him when / arrived. Upon my
inquiry she handed me a note that had
been pinned on the mantlep.ece. 1t was
directed to DIR. Keller, coroner. and
stated that DR.. Aiken had taken ten
grains of morphine. some atrCphine and
other polsons and that It was useless to
attempt to bring him back to life. In the
note he expressed a wish to be buried as
he was found.
Il summoned Dr. Warning who had
treated the doctor some time before. and
we soon had him in his normal condition
again. ! put the note addressed to the
l..
until Or. Aiken was thoroughly himself
then returned il to him in person. tell
ing him that l hoped he would never
make such a fool of himself again
"A little later in the day l consulted
with him and Mrs Aiken and advised that
he go away for two or three months
trip, as he was evidently very much run
down. nervous and out Of condition. He
accepted this advice and left very short
| ly afterwards, expecting TO he away about
three or four months. l heard nothing
more about him until was informed that
he had returned 20 the city. and had
somewhat changed his plans of going
away. His latest plan was to take the
wife and children and go on the coast II
| Georgia. at or near St. Mary's, to remain
| several months.
THE next l knew of the case was early
this morning when a police officer knock
]
| wife were dead"
InsaneIy Suspicious.
! The servants i'm the house say that Dr.
! Aiken's insane suspicious of his wife were
manifested in q thousand absurd and UNI
usual ways. He would not permit her. il
/ he knew Of it, TO hold any conversation
with the servants. and when one of them
/ left the house, after speaking to Mrs. AK
en- the woman would find herself stopped
| by him, and compelled to submit to a rigid
examination as TO her purpose, intentions
| and destination.
| He would not permit any one of the SER
wants to have even scrap of letter pa
letter of any kind in her hand, he de-
| manded that he he permitted to see it.
ana enforced his demand His wife's let
counted frequently, and with scrupulous
care. and he required her TO account for
every sheet. Once when she could not
account for an envelope he quarrelled with
| her.
! After his attempt al suicide Il Is said
\ he attempted TO end his own life and that
Of his vito by turning on the gas IN their
room.
Acting on Dr. Charltou's advice. he had
/ gone 10 Washington. from which he re-
turned Sunday before last Friday he left
for 81. Marys. where he made arrange
ments Tor q long stay, with his wife and
children, on che coast near that village.
II was 20 be a period OF perfect rest.
which he had begun 70 believe himself
he aodly needed. Monday night he came
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