Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-08-27
SAVED MANY LIVES:
WOULD END OWN
Charles kaplow, Who Gave
Skin to Save Children, At
tempts Suicide.

Charles Kaplow, who was instru-
mental in saving the life of William
r. Colwell, of Nutley, to whom he
gave thirty-six square inches of skin
a short time ago, tried to end his life
last night at Fifth avenue and Forty
second street, New York. He swal-
lowed several blchloride of mercury
tablets, but will probably live. The
action of his parents in ostracising
him when they learned he married
Miss Beulah Walters, a Baptist
nurse. is believed to be responsible
for the suicidal attempt.
Kaplow, who has had more troubles
in the last few months than many
men have in an entire life, although
he is only 81 years old, yesterday
telephoned his father that he did not
care to live and was going to end his
troubles. Then he swallowed the mer-
curry tablets.
He had taken only few steps when
he fell unconscious on the sidewalk
at the feet of several women who
were passing. Physicians in the VI
entity reached the fallen man and
applied stomach pumps. They worked
over him until he revived sufficiently
to tell his story. He was taken to
Bellevue Hospital a prisoner where
the surgeons declare he will probably
live.
Kaplow, who was once a swimming
instructor at the West Side Young
Mems Christian Association, told Po-
1iceman Hale that he was anxious TO
die because his father refused to rec
ognize his bride of only few weeks
and for whom he had renowned the
Jewish faith.
Events have followed each other
thick and fast in the life or kaploW
in the last few months, dating from
February 6, this year, when he was
the hero of a skin-grafting operation
at Gouverneur Hospital. Bertha
Wuecker, years old, was badly
burned. and the physicians despaired
of her life. They said the only hope
of saving her was to resort to skin
grating. Kaplow read of the case
and volunteered for the purpose. AS
he was an athlete and in splendid
physical condition. his offer was ac-
cepted, and on February thirty-six
square inches of skin was removed
from his left leg and grated to the
body of the little girl.
Kaplow recovered from the opera
ton rapidly, and during his conva-
lescence he fell in love with Miss
Walters, his nurse, and when he left
the hospital on February 90 he was
engaged to her. On May he went to
the Flower Hospital and volunteered
to give skin from the right leg to be
grated to the body of the Colwell
boy. That same night the operation
was performed. This time the wound
refused to heal, but on May 2 Kap-
low left the hospital and on the fol-
lowing day he was married.
A few days later he was obliged to
enter the hospital to have the wound
treated. On June 1 Mrs Kaplow
called on him at the hospital and
then she disappeared. Kaplow
learned that she was missing on June
s, and, although the surgeons were
then preparing to amputate a portion
of his leg, he got out of his bed and
on crutches hobbled out in search for
his wife. He returned late at night
with his wound in a much more seri-,
Gus condition.
When Kaplow fell in the street
after he had taken the drug a priest
who was passing stopped to minister
70 him. but Kaplow, regaining con-
seriousness. ordered him away. declar-
ing that he wanted to die.