Arizona republican., 1912-01-06
Despondent Man Swallowed Four Ounces of Chloro- form and is Still
 Alive.
CASE IS MOST
 PECULIAR ONE
Would be Suicide is Now Held at the City Jail to Prevent Similar
 Attempt.

Jim Doak has decided that life isn't N Orth living. He came to that decision yesterday. took a bath, wrote a letter eXonerating anyone from blame and telling where he was to be buried. drank four ounces of clorofoIm at 9 o'clock and went tO bed
 It was as nicely arranged a set of plans as any wOuld-be suicide could desire. He fixed it so no one wOuf1 be suspected of having killed him, thereby saving the police and coroner a lot of work and worry. He expressed in writing his wishes that he would not settle a financial burden on his family. and bought enough poison to send half a dozen men into eternity.
 But his plans didn't work. Jim is alive an1 well. locked up in the city jail. with an abnormal affinity for cold water and the impression that his pur- pose in life has been defeated. How ever. he is probably the holder of the worlds record in his capacity for the particular brand of poison that he se- lected to send him over the divide.
 shortly before six o'clock last even ing the police received hurry-up call from 136 East Adams street. A man is trying to kill himself. said the in formant. The officers :ound Jim just coming into the realm of realization and his room mate-a man called Scot ty-labOring under just about the big gest scare he has ever received. In the room was an efnpty fOur-ounce bottle to which chloroform Ia bel was attached. It, with a letter written by Doak, were mute evidences of what he had intended to do.
 The man was hurried to police head quarters ana examined by q physician Nothing of d serious nature was found to be the matter. so ne was sent down stairs and locked in.
 Tt ain't worth while said Jim. I'm gettin' to be an old man an they ain't nobody to care for me I've only got few relations-a brother in Jaw. an my wife. an two sons an a daughter in Kansas City. an another sen on a ranch in Kansas. I've been here in Phoenix six weeks I had work: tneG l didn't. That's the way it goes all the time; first up, then down, up-down" '" He illustrated by gesticulations.
 T didn't want to make no trouble for rCbOdy. so I took d bath. I wrote a letter sayin' that Scotty had nOthin' to do with it. he bein the man I ro1mel with and I told 'em where to bury me here in Phoenix. an I told 'em to let my family know. I didn't want to be n" bother to nobody"
 But this man Scotty says he would have taken care of you if you needed help." Jim was informed
 Yes" he replied. Yes, that's true But you don't understand. It's jest up an down all tn time. Never nothin' more. First " think it's all right; then V think it's all wrong Never gifts any better"
 Asked if he would try to take his life again. Jim said
 That depends. If get work, mebby won't; I can't tell just now
 The man Scotty doesn't want anoth- CT scare such as he had this evening when. returning home from work. he found his friend unconscious and to ali appearances dead. Somehow Doail had gotten into the others bed. Scot tv keeps wondering what would have happened had his pal neglected to write the letter and make a good job Of what he started out to accomplish.
 The police vii hold Doak until he gets over his suicidal notion. at least.