The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-04
ASHBY TRIED SUICIDE
WIFE MURDERER CUT HIS HEAD
OPEN.
OWED INTO IRON ARM.
TWO GUARDS WATCH HIM DAY AND
NIGHT NOW.

Prisoners Attempt TO Take His own
Life Was Made n Week Ago, bu:
Jail OmciaIs Kept 1t Quiet-He
Landed on the Iron with Much
Force, and Over "A Dozen stitches
Were Required TO Close the
wound-Rnn Ten Feet Before He
Dived-OnIy Three Prisoners in
the Corridor at the Time-Ashby Is
Never Left n Minute Alone Now.
Louis NJ. Ashby, the wife murderer,
attempted suicide in the county Jail
last Friday and is now kept under a
double guard in his cell day and
night. Ashby managed to split his
head open, and it required over a dozen
stitches to close the gap. For some
reason the Jail officials tried to keep
the matter quiet.
Ashby's attempt to take his own
life, If it was really a bona fide eff
fort, was made shortly before o'clock
in the evening, at which hour the
prisoners are locked in their cells for
the night. Few of the inmates of the
third floor, where the white felons are
confined, were in the corridor when
the murderer dashed himself against
an iron arm, protruding from one of
the cells. There were only aree pris-
oners in the corridors at the time, the
others having gone to their cells for
the night. The prisoners who witnessed
the murderer's daring plunge into the
piece of iron were too far away to
stop him.
Ashby took a running start of some
ten feet, and with the utmost pre-
cision, dived for the piece of iron,
about a foot from the floor. AS he
dashed forward the noise made on
the cement floor attracted the atten-
ton of those prisoners in the corridor,
but they were unable to stop his wild
plunge, although they shouted to him
at the top of their voices. The muir
derer struck with much force, and
when his fellow prisoners reached him
he was unconscious, and stream of
blood was rushing from the ugly
wound.
County Physician J. G.. Keller was
summoned, and the split in the head
was sewn up. Bandages were placed
around the wound, and Tailor Seyden
ordered the murderer kept under
strong guard. Two of the largest pris-
oners on the floor were picked out to
watch over Ashby and prevent his at
tempting any further violence. Day
and night these men watch over the
wife murderer, and when he leaves his
cell for a walk in the corridor one of
them accompanies him. The other pris-
oners on the floor, too, are under or
ders to watch Ashby who appears to
get more desperate as the day of his
trial approaches.
The prisoner refuses to see all visi-
tors, and will not receive newspaper
men. He said yesterday that his head
pains him considerable. and that he did
not feel like talking. To Tailor Seyden
Ashby said that he dashed himself
against the piece of iron because his
head was giving him trouble. He said,
too, that the other prisoners annoyed
him by trying to get him into CONVEX
sation, and that this made his head
worse. He expected relief by losing
some of the blood which he seems to
think has CONCEALED at the base of his
brain.
Tailor Seyden, who is impressed with
the firm belief that the murderer is
perfectly sane. gave Ashby a positive
talk after his wounds had been dressed
ny the pIly SlCldn. ne OliiCCI lOlu the
prisoner that he does not propose to
tolerate any more displays of violence,
and that If he attempts to give any
trouble he will be tied in his bunk.
Ashby said that he understood what
is in store for him If he transgresses,
and said nothing when the jailor gave
him to understand that no one credits
the insanity theory.
Those have conversed with Ashby,
and who know the man, say that he
realizes that he has a hopeless case
unless he can convince those who are
to pass judgment upon him of the gen.
uineness of his plea. He claims not to
remember anything at all about the
shooting. and at the same time, had
made statements that he could not
have worded unless he recalled vividly
his bloody crime. There seems to be
no doubt but that the awful homicide
is stamped on his brain, and that he is
greatly worried in consequence.
The case against Ashby is assigned
for trial in the Superior Court on
Thursday, but may be postponed for
the reason that the primary election for
ordinary falls on that day. Witnesses
for the state, however have been SUBJ
poenaed to appear at that time. AS
far as is known, no witnesses for the
defense have been summoned. While
Ashby's attorney has not yet made
public his defense. it is generally be-
lieved that special plea of insanity
will be filed.
II ID ' u n II m