New-York tribune., 1910-08-01
VO BAR TO LEES STATUE DRUG VICTIM A SUICIDE
Seemingly Cured, Springs Into
River at Bellevue Hospital.
ATTACHES ATTEMPT RESCUE
Fellow Patient Who Tried to
Save Him Shaken Off After
a Struggle.

Pronounced cured of the morphine
habit. for which he had sought treat
ment at Bellevue Hospital, and trans
ferred on Saturday to the convalescent
ward to recuperate Frank c. Wiley
drowned himself yesterday, notwith-
standing efforts to save his life by a
number of attaches of the hospital,
Wiley entered the hospital on July %,
and mentioned as his best friend "Dr.
Arnold, No 1871 Broadway" q name
which does not appear in the directory.
He told the physicians he was a victim
of the morphine habit and wanted to be
cured II feel that 7 can still make
good be said, If | can only shake this
accursed habit off" He was given the
usual treatment, and, aided by his own
determination to turn over new leaf,
his cure advanced rapidly.
Yesterday his manner of speech indi-
ca ted remarkable clarity of mind for one
who had been addicted to the use of the
drug. and all morning he stroled about
the grounds of the hospital.
He had his dinner at the usual hour.
and then, accompanied by John X.
Lynch. another patient. walked about
the grounds again. Together they sat
down on a bench facing the East River,
not far from where the Southfield is
moored, on which open air treatment is
administered to tuberCuous patients.
It was about 3:30 o'clock, when the
grounds of Bellevue are crowded with
convalescents and visitors Suddenly
Wiley arose from his seat and cravled
through the iron railing which runs along
the waterfront. Lynch was taken by
surprise, but sprang to his feet and
caught hold of Wiley. In silence and
unobscrved the two men struggled for
a moment, when Wiley tore himself free
and sprang into the water
Then Lynch yelled. Close by sat John
Barry a helper in the storerooms of the
hospital, and Sarah Celesti who is also
employed In the hospital, together with
John McGann. an ambulance driver and
his wife.
AS Lynch yelled Barry peeled off his
coat and vaulted over the railing into
the river after Wiley. who, when he
struck the water, swan several strokes
and then ducked under.
McGann ran to where tho lifesaving
boat is moored, where he WAS joined by
Stewart Christie, and, catching hold of
the oars. began pulling TO the point
where he had last seen Wiley's head.
Rarrv had dived after Wiley and caught
him by the hair. dragging him to the
surface.
From the Southfield Joseph Miller. a
hosnitaI sttendaa,, threw Barry a life
nreserver. but by this time McGann had
brought the rowboat up close, and Barry
caught hold of it with one hand while
he held Wiley with the other McGann
and Christie pulled Wiley into the boat
and Barry scrambled in after MIN.
The attendants carried Wiley to Ward
6 and every effort was made to save
his life: but his lungs had been filled
with water. and in q few minutes he was
pronounced dead.
Lynch said Wiley mad seemed lucid
while he was talking to him, and moth
ing that the man said gave an indication
that ne contemplated suicide
The dead man was forty-two years
old He had given his occupation as
messenger, and No. IA 1st street as his
home address.