Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-20
TWO ATTEMPTS TO
KILL SELF FAIL
SORRY I'M LIVING" SAYS
MAN WHO TRIED TO DIE
Discharged Sergeant Of United States
Signal Corps Cuts Arteries With
Razor, Then Dashes His
Head Against Floor

"To tell you the truth I am sorry I
am living now" said A. c. Luckett, a
discharged sergeant from company b
OF the United States signal corps. Just
after he had made a second attempt at
suicide last night at the receiving hos
pital by getting upon chair and jump
ing headlong upon the floor. He struck
his head upon cuspidor. cutting the
scalp slightly, but was otherwise unin-
jured.
Lucketts first attempt to take his
life was made aboupt $3.50 o'clock yes
terday afternoon when he cut the
arteries and veins in his left wrist with
a razor at the Nahant lodging house,
727 South Broadway. He would have
bled to death but for the timely arrival
of Mrs. Elizabeth Bivelbiss, the land
lady of the lodging house.
Luckett was taken to the receiving
hospital, where his wound was dressed
and he was placed in bed. About 9
clock the attendants were startled by
the noise made by something striking
the floor They found Luckett lying
on the floor and picked him up and put
him to bed. A guard was stationed
over him, for he declared that he would
keep trying until he did end his life,
and would have undoubtedly have car
ried out his threats had it not been for
the vigilance of the surgeons and their
assistants.
A short time before midnight Luckett
had regained full consciousness and did
not seem to be as despondent as he
was earlier in the evening. He told
reporter that he was born in New York
city but that his parents are both dead.
He has a brother living there now
NJ hot Ia q discharged
from the army about year and half
ago because he had tuberculosis and
that he has been in a great many places
since. When questioned as to why he
tried to kill himself he said:
"I don't know why / didn't succeed.
[ guess someone must have found me.
| was feeling blue and did not want to
live any longer because | could see no
future before me. / am troubled with
lung disease and have catarrh. | came
to Los Angeles, hoping to get posi-
ton as a telegraph operator but could
not find work of any kind.
II had only q few cents left and
thought the best way out of it was to
kill myself, and l don't see why they
make me live when I don't want to-"
do you intend to make any more
attempts?" was asked.
II don't see any use. They watch me
too closely. If I only thought that |
could get something to do / wouldn't
mind living l would be willing to get
well and start all over again If 1
thought that 1 could get some work,
but you see 1 am not very strong"
Luckett then told about being sta
toned in the Philippines for some time
and said that he spent five months at
Fort Huachuca, Ariz., while in the
army. He is member of the CONNER
cial Telegraphers' union.
Cuts Arteries
Luckett went to the Nahant house
about o'clock Monday night and asked
for lodging. He was assigned to room
45 and Immediately retired. Yesterday
forenoon he left the house and returned
shortly after o'clock in the afternoon
and went to his room. The other oc-
cupants of the house say Luckett had
been drinking
Mrs. Divelbiss, wanting to find out if
he desired to have the room for another
night, knocked at the door several times
about 3:45 o'clock but received no reply.
She knew that he was in the room,
and so fearing that something was
wrong pushed open the door.
What she saw filled her with horror.
Luckett was lying on The sofa with his
arm hanging over water pitcher
which he had carefully placed beside
him before he had cut his wrist, and the
blood was flowing from the wound in
a stream
She Immediately sent in a call to the
police station and the ambulance
quickly conveyed a doctor and officers
to the room. They bound up the
wound, gave what temporary relief
they could and took Luc,,ett to the re-
ceiving hospital.
The officers asked Luckett at his
room before he became unconscious
why he had sought to take his life.
Wearily he opened his eyes and said:
'I want to die: ] want to die"
Further questions received no an
swer.