The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-07-03

A sad and distressing occurrence was
the suicide of Mr.. Frank Clark at
the James Walker Memorial hospital!
on Saturday night. Mr., Clark was
taken % the hospital just d few days
ago, suffering from confusion Of the
head ana chest and later typhoid fever
developed. He yielded splendidly TO
treatment and was fast becoming con-
valcscent. However. he has been ex-
tremeIy low spirited and melancholy
for the past two or three days, 10
mestic troubles being given as the
cause of this.
Friday night about s o'clock Il Of
the nurses visited his room, while gu
her regular rounds, and found him get
ting along nicely. He spoke a few pleas
ant words to her and seemed tO be IN
excellent humOr. Within a short while,
though, probably not less than FIVE
aninuteS after the nurse had left him,
the sick man rOse from his bed, walked
to Il nearby window and taking the
wire screen out of the window threw
himself headlOng to the ground outside,
the distance probably being thirty~fVe
feet. Shortly afterwards the authOri-
ties heard of the deed and all medical
aid possible vas given the terribly in
jured man. 1t was evident that his
chin struck the hard ground first. and
the bones were forced up, causing a
fracture of the skull. The whole left
side also became paralyZed. Pnysi~
clans worked on the patient several
hours, though from the first it was
deemed almost certain that the injuries
would prove fatal. After several hours
of suffering, death came at 4 O'Clock
nm the morning, Mr.. Clark hay
ing regained consciousness after his
fall.
The body was removed yesterday
morning to the WOOlvin' undertaking
establishment and there prepared for
burial. The funeral will be held this
morning at 9 o'clock, with interment
i'm Oakdale. The funeral services will
be conducted at the grave by Rev. A.
I'D. Mcclure, pastor of St. Andrews
Presbyterian church.
Mr. Clark was 4 saw filler in he EN-"
plOy of the WaccamaW Land and Lum-
Der Company and he came to Whining
ton from ChebOygan, Michigan. He
was a brother of Mr.. j.. E. Clark, FORM
er manager Of the Waccamaw Land
and Lumber Company, who is spend
ang the summer at his old home, and
an uncle of Mr.. c.. E. Clark. treasurer
of the same company. He was "A
years of age and a married man.
though it is said that he had parted
from his wife, and worry and grief
over this enlargement are assigned as
the probable cause of the a act.
Yesterday afternoon MeSsrS Waiter
C. MacRae and w. H. Sprunt, from the
board of managers of the hospital made
"a thorough investigation into all rhe
"details of the suicide. in the eftOr1 10
fix responsibility OF completely exon
crate the hospital surgeons and nurses
from any blame or lack of Drecautl0n
in the case. They heard very ful!
statements from all that knew any
thing of the case and then reached the
conclusion that there was no blame at
Fached to any one for the death. 1t
apparently was Il premeditated case
Of self-murder.
Early Friday morning Mr.. Clark
asked that a minister be sent for ana
in espOnse to this request, DR.. Mcclure
visited the sick man and spent some
time with him in an effort to cheer MIN
I'D. He seemed very much worried and
more than once remarked tina he woui"t
die. From events that followed it IS
Believed that then he was considering
his W destruction.