Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-07-17
MAN WHO PIERCED NEEDLES IN
TO HEART lNTlMATED END
THREE WEEKS AGO.
FIXED TIME FOR LORD
TO EFFECT HIS CURE
Asks Doctors For Written Statement Of
His Condition, Which is Furnished-
Ii Lord Refused to Cure Him Bah
cock lntmated He Would Seek An.
other course-Funeral Sunday.

ner in which D. D. Babcock chose to
end his life Friday afternoon, by
piercing his heart with two darning
needles while lying i'll in bed, was pre-
meditated, is evidenced by circum-
stances that have become known since
Mr. Babcock's death.
That Mr.. Babcock was suffering from
a severe mental strain tha. at least
bordered on insanity, is also shown by
these circumstances. Three weeks ago,
when Mr.. Babcocks illness took an ex-
tremely serious turn, and he was con-
fined to his bed, he summoned mis-
physician TO his bedside He asked that
minute examination be made into his
condition, and that the physician bring
with him, on the following day, another
reputable physician who would assist
in the examination.
Doctors Comply With Request
In compliance with the request the
two physicians visited the Babcock
home and went over the patient thor
oughly They discovered a fatal valvu-
patient was suffering with a curvature
of the spine. The physicians told Mr.
Babcock that the heart disease would
kill him sooner or later, and that prob
ably he would not have long to live.
MIR. Babcock demanded that the phgsi-
clans put the result of their examina-
ton in writing sign it, and return it
to him. as he wanted to have it made
Of
corder's office: also that he wanted to
publish it TO the world in the news
papers Friday Mrs. Babcock stated
that Mr.. Babcock had changed his mind
as to having the document recorded or
published, and inquiry at the recorders
office shows that the statement was
not recorded.
To Ask Lord to Cure Him.
When pressed for his reason in so
acting and making such strange de-
mands on his doctors, Mr.. Babcock re-
piled that he had been working a long
time for the Lord, and now he was go
ing to ask the Lord TO help him. You
doctors can't cure me, can your was
the question asked. No" one of the
physicians answered NO human
agency can cure you, and if you have
any business matters that need at
tending to YOU had better get them
fixed up"
81 am going to set aside certain
day continued MIR Babcock. when
am going to ask the Lord to cure me.
If he doesn't do it, then 1 ann going
10 ask Him to let me die at once. Some
people will think I am making a fool
of myself, but l know what / am do
ing"
Did Know What He Was Doing.
That Babcock did know what he was
doing was plainly evidenced by the
way he went at his death. A man who
did not understand the human anatomy
would have been feeling for the heart
far to the left of whore Babcock forced
the needles into him. The ordinary
layman would not. have known enough
to close both ventricles of the heart as
did Babcock. by placing the needles so
they formed an apex.
Did Not Want World to Know.
1t is more than likely that Mr.. Bah
cock intended that the world should
never know that he took his own life
SO nicely did he force the needles
into his flesh the ends barely were Wis
tble from the skin. No blood flowed,
and he did not intend that it should.
When he died the family did not know
the cause. Information of his life was
furnished the Times Republican. upon
request of the family by telephone, and
even then it was not known that Mr.
Babcock was to fill a suicides grave.
Undertaken Makes Discovery.
1t was not until the body was being
prepared for burial that Delos A. VIII.
bur. of A. z. Wilbur & Srlls'. the I'M
dertakers, discovered the hard sub
stance in the middle of the breast. He
summoned Dr. f. W. Jay, the coroner
to make the examination. and 1t re-
CURED a cutting of the skin to get the
needles out With forceps without
breaking the thin particles of steel
Babcock Scholarly Man.
D. D. Babcock, peculiar as he may
have been considered by some, ant
radical as he was on what he believed
to be right, was a scholarly man never.
theless. He had spent most of his lif,
in the school room and in the pulpit
He wrote extensively, published severa
works of his own. He was printer ,.
trade, and at Buffalo, N. T., severa
years ago printed and published 20
free distribution a publication know
as Gospel Tidings.
Former Davenport Principal.
Mr.. Babcock began teaching when
young man, and forty-two years ag
came to Davenport, where ne was
teacher, and later d principal Of tn
! public schools. He married his frs
wife, and the mother of his four eldes
children, in Davenport The first Mrs
Babcock was Miss Fannie Heard. Sh
died at South Danville. n. Y, wher
Mr.. Babcock was teaching
The present Mrs. Babcock, wfns
home was in Steuben county, Ne,
York, was form. erly Miss Willie H ot.h
kiss, and became the mother of III
youngest SOD, Sumner. now of this CITY
The second marriage took place in ISIS:
Mr.. Rabcock had followed a varie,
number Of professions during his ca
rerf. For several years he was engage
in the real estate business in Chicag4
and was thtre until after the big fir
He held many revival meetings, Dav
EXPORT, Mt. Pleasant and Manches.s
being among the Iowa cities in whic
he worked. He also evangelical ez
tonsively thluout New York. state.
The funeral will be held from tn
residence Sunday afternoon at
O'Clock. Chaplain Jesse Cole, of tn
soldiers home, officiating. Iniermer
will be in Riverside, and at the gray
Frank NJ. Thomas post, q. A. r., c