Waterbury Democrat., 1902-07-05
HE WELCOMED DEATH
Doctor Tells Why a Patient Didn't
 Want to Get Well.
He Did Not Wish to Be Comforted by His Two Wives, Who Met Each Other Unexpectedly at His
 Bedside,

sfWe had funny case at the hospital the other day." said New York doc tor to St. Louis Republic correspond ent, "the circumstances of which you can interpret as you please after you have heard the details.
 "A man was brought in pretty badly injured. He had attempted to get off trolley car while it was in motion and had struck one of the IL pillars. The result was concussion of the brain and some fractured ribs. In his pocket were two letters, both of which bore thename of John Ruggles, but the ad- dresses on the envelopes were differ ent. One letter was addressed to Balti- more and the other to Annapolis. There was absolutely nothing else by which the man could be identified. We took the only means that we could of communicating with his friends. which was by telegraphing to both places.
 Next day a woman called and said she lived at the address we had tele- graphed to in Baltimore, and said she had no doubt that the iured man was her husband. He was, she explained, guard on the line between Baltimore and Annapolis, and had come to New York on holiday. No sooner had she got through with her story than am other woman rushed in, saying that she had no doubt in the world, from the description we had furnished, that the patient was her spouse.
 'sShe also volunteered the statement that her husband was a guard and worked on the line between Baltimore and Annapolis, at which latter place she lived. Furthermore, she said that he stopped alternate days at the towns mentioned.
 'We were in a quandary as to what to do. At last we decided that the best way out of the difficulty was to let both women see the patient, who was hardly conscious. We warned the women that they must control their feelings and not make scene, as the patient was still in critical condi- tion. This they promised to do. '"They both approached the bed where Ruggles lay and looked at him. Number One burst into tears, and sobbed out: sOh, yes, that's my John! I'd know him anywhere while Num- | bCA \ WI, OllouSll WILL hCI lGCl- ings, had not the least difficulty in identifying the poor fellow as her spouse from Annapolis.
 Confusion was worse confounded, when, having been asked to describe some distinguishing mark on Ruggles' 1 body, both women simultaneously de- scribed a strawberry mark on the right leg and scar on his arm. Both marks were found.
 l 'sNothing now remained to be done but to wait for the patient to recover somewhat before he could meet the | women face to face and himself de- I eide. which of the two was his wife l must say that had hope for his cover, for had my own theory of the matter.
 By dint of good nursing, however, and with the aid cf strong constitu- 1 tion, Ruggles was ounced one day as able to go throus he trying ordeal of meeting his would-be spouses The l two women were sent for, and with out telling him that any yone was coming tc see him, we brought the two claimants to the ward.
 "They both gave one look at him and would have rushed to greet him had we not restrained their outburst of affection.
 "The patient stared at one and then at the other with dazed gaze, and then sank back on the pillows. I put some brandy to his lips and comforted him by saying: Brace up, man 1 You'll get all right!' when he, falling into unconsciousness, whispered in my ear: Doctor, I would rather die.s "And he did"