The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-08-22
DELIBERATE SUICIDE
OWEN C. BURRISS SWALLOWED
TWO OUNCES OF LAUDANUM
He Said He Was Tired Living-He
bought the Drug Under Pretence
of wanting Ii to Rub His Side-He
Leaves "a Wife and One ChiId-TO
he Buried Today on Myrtle Grove
an Inquest.

Owen c. Burriss. we'll known young
carpenter who resided at Fifth and
Wright streets, died Monday night
about midnight from the effects of two
ounces of laudanum administered by
his own hand. He told some one he
had been drinking and did not want to
live any longer.
About ) o'clock Monday afternoon
Mr.. Burriss went into Mr. ]. NJ. Halls
drugstore at Fifth and Castle streets
and called for a bottle of laudanum
Mr.. Percy Hall waited on him and sold
him an ounce bottle. He left without say
ing what he wanted with it and after
staying away a while returned and
called for another bottle, saying he had
token the other one. Mr.. Hall sold
him a second bottle and while he was
waiting on the young man, Mr.. Burriss
told him he wanted it to rub his side
When he got to the door. he looked
back and asked Mr.. Hall if there was
enough in the bottle TO send him to
joking and told him that half of it
would be a plenty to send him there.
He replied, well that's where I'm go
ing"
Mr. ]. NJ Hall, proprietor of the drug
store came in just as Mr.. Burriss was
leaving and the other Mr.. Hall told his
bOrther what Mr.. Burriss had said.
Sergeant G.. II. Ward and Policemen
John a. Martin and w. H. Temple
standing on the opposite corner, and
Mr.. Percy Hall went over and told them
that Mr.. Burriss had bought laudanum
and had said he was going to take it.
Sergeant Ward told Policeman Martin
he had better follow Mr.. Burriss and
watch him. BY that time Mr.. Burriss
had gotten nearly square away going
towards Sixth and Castle streets. When
he got to Sixth and Castle streets, he
went into Mr.. j. w. Capp's grocery
got there a drunken man was put out
of the door into the street. Officer
Martin went on to the store and after
staying there a while he saw no sign
of the rash mans taking the drug.
thinking no more of the matter he
went on about his duty.
Mr.. Elijah Z ODD who clerks for Mr..
Capps says MIR. E lrrIss Came into the
store about p. IN. and sat down on
the end of a flour barrel He remarked
several times that he was tired of iiv-
ing and wanted to die but everybody
thought he was joking. He also said
he had been drinking heavily BAT Mr..
Todd says he did not have shar appear
ance. After a while lie called for some
wIliskey. He poured little in a glass
ard then poured something out of II
bottle into it. Mr.. Todd picked up the
gl,.ss and would not let the man drink
it. Mr.. Burriss told him that it was
nothing but sumo cough medicine. Mr..
Todd took the glass and poured the
stuff back into the bottle and it over
ran the bottle, having had a little
whiSkey added to it. Mr.. BurriSS then
stood around a few minutes, pulled an
ounce vial from his pocket and emptiC.1
its contents into his mouth and swai-
lowed it. Mr.. Todd got after hirl tc
know what ii was anu lie laughed and
said it was only cough medicine. He
says Mr.. Burriss then left and went TO-
wards Fifth and Castle streets. In Il
few minutes he returned. When IL
went out that was his second trip IL
drug store. Mr.. Todd says when ne
came back to Mr.. Capps' store the sec
ond time he stood around few minutes
and then pulled out the other bottle.
swallowed its contents and threw the
bottle into the yard. He went into the
yard picked up the two bottles and saw
from the label that it was laudanum
that Mr.. Burriss had drank. He then
sent word to Mr.. BuIrlss' parents a
few blocks away that he believed ttat
their son had taken laudanum and that
they had better look after him.
AIr. Burriss Immediately left the
store after swallowing the second bot
tie of laudanum and went 10 his faith
er's residence, on Fifth and Wright
streets. When he got home he was
stupefied with the drug and befo"e
physician could be called he was IN
conscious. DR.. G.. Kirby Collier reacn-
ed him about 6 p. m. an hour after h.
had swallowed the drug, and put in
three hours of hard work to save his
life The members of the family and
some friends also worked vigorously.
DR.. Collier left him about o'clocI
and called again between ID ara IL p.
m. and administered other antidotes.
All the efforts of the physician and
others were in vain. The young man
died about midnight, having never re-
gained consciousness.
Mr.. Burriss was the SCs. Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Sylvester BurrisS, most respecta
BILE people, and was handsome young
man about 2S years OF age. he leaves
a young wife and one cnl1d-
Dr. c. D. Bell, the coroner was n0tl-
fed of the suicide. anu aiter viewing
the remains and inquiring into the
facts, he decided that no inquest was
necessary, as ii was Fam case cl
suicide.
Mr.. Burriss' remains were, taken 70
Myrtle Grove Sound for burial. Tbs
funeral services took place st the family
residence yesterday afternoon at
a,cTarIx