The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1903-08-07
URES OF TYPHOID
CAUSES SUICIDE

The pains are 80 bad that I would
rather die than live" was the expla-
nation Charles Beck, German miner
ct the Columbia mines. gave his wife.
when she inquired why he had shot him
sell:
Beck was suffering from an attack of
typhoid fever, with which he was seized
few days ago. BE refused to have
the attention Of physician, and Friday
lie drank bottle of castor oil. The
next day he went out in the yard and
ny on 4 damp board under shade
tree. These acts proved disastrous to the
The patient grew worse and worse and
and the pain he suffered from became so
excrnciating that his wife, in order to
1eiieye him, gave him dose of salts.
This but added to the precariousncss of
his condition and he vomited violently.
the pains became uncomfortable. They
the apins became uncomfortable. They
ecntinned TO the point where he must
have become temporarily insane, such as
the rash act indulged in indicates.
About ; o'clock Sunday morning his
wife, who attended him throughout the
night, went to the well, so yards or more
away from the house to get some fresh
water. While at the well she heard a
shot fired. She did not think strange of
the report, as 1t is usual to hear shooting
N that neighborhood at all hours of
night In second or so she heard a
second shot, and became alarmed ut this
and rushed OF house. But before she ar
rived ut the room in which her sick hus-
band was she heard third shot.
Entering his room, a horrifying scene
presented itself to her. Beck was sit
ting on the edge of the bed, with blood
streaming from his mouth and holding
pistol m his hand. He had shot himself
IN the mouth three times.
The pistol used was little 22-ca1ibre,
whis& hung ON the wall near his bed
After his wife had left the room to go
70 the well, he reached up and took the
revolver down and committed the rash
act.
The thoroughly frightened woman
alarmed the neighborhood and the neigh
bors gathered at BecISs residence in an
excited condition. A physician was sent
for and he did all that could be done
to relieve his sufferings. but without eff
feet. The mouth was in such condition
that It was impossible for the physician
70 make an operation.
The small bullets from the revolver
Penetrated the roof of the mouth, but,
owing to the size of the weapon, and
It's comparatively weak force, did not
make very deep wounds. They were of a
serious nature, however, as death result
ca from their effects.
The unfortunate man fingered through
out the day IN great agony and died at
cscloek
Beck was rational Throughout the day,
and when his wife said to him, Charley,
why did you do iti'' he replied, -the
pains are 40 great that would rather
die than live
Acting Coroner NJ. s. Riley, who Is act
ing in that capacity for Coroner W. P.
Camp during the latter's absence from
the city, was informed of the affair and
at once begun an investigation. He went
down to the Beck home and, after look
ing into the manner in which the nm.
fortunate man came to his death. decid-
ed that it was n cnsc of suicide, simply,
and that there would he no need for an
N inquest. He 80 made out his report
70 che county court
The deceased was - years of age and
ieAxes wife and small son.
The remains were brought to this city
Monday and buried Monday afternoon in
the county inhrmary.