The Washington times., 1918-01-06

CONTINUED from First Page-)
even a suggestion from his interested
hearer. johnson began the story of
how he watched himself die in the
Wilson hotel; how he felt that he was
facing death and how he was pre-
pared to meet II.
Here IS the story:
The Dentists story.
Did you ever watch yourself die?
No? Well, l have.
II you were contemplating suicide,
course that every man and every
woman at some time or other in their
lives has considered, what method
y ould you adopt? Would you study
: Il out and hit upon some pleasant,
easy method, or would you grasp the
first weapon that came to mind?
on three different occasions during
the past year / have taken steps TO
do away with myself. Twice I failed,
my efforts were wholly unsuccessful,
but the third attempt came near be
ing my finish.
Being a dentist by profession, and
having had two years study in prac-
tical medicine, was naturally IA
miliar with drugs and poisons. No
subject in my course held my atten-
Nioll HlOIt NudI Andl oA poASOho-
Wondered About Correctness.
| often questioned the truthfulness
OF my text books in regard TO the
after effects of taking deadly pOisOns.
wondered IL the medical writer's
were correct in their conclusions.
In my studies and from personal
research / learned that aconitine, an
alkeloid made from aconite. Is the
most deadly poison known. II struck
me, when ! made this discovery, that
In the event | should be overtaken
by misfortune and driven to suicide,
| would test out scOnitine, since IL
would be certain to produce death.
| wanted no miscarriage of plans.
When once started usually go
through with an undertaking.
This poison. I could see. had an ad-
vantage over others. In the first place,
there is scarcely any pain IN it's wake.
Again, il leavse no signs Of demarca-
tton on the body. | am nhe who has
been accused If being 700 tender
hearted. uf having an aversion to
blood. Of taking every precautiOn to
avert suffering for others.
Elected Suicide.
] elected to be found suicide in
Wilson rather than be arrested for
murder m Middlesex. where the girl
| loved made her home: where my
family re, ided: where 50 much was
expected o. me. now that ! had COM
pletcd my GENITAL course. hung out my
sign and was a full-fleog gcd dental
surgeon.
| procured five grains Of acOnitine
| learned from my text book that
one e-siXtecnth of a grain was a fatal
dose. Surely enough tn kill eighty
men would end my troubles.
SO bent was | on ending my life:
40 Obsessed was | with the desire to
know whether its action on me would
confirm the assertions Of the medical
experts, that do not remember pen
ming the several letters to my fam
lily and friends that the detective
found in my room at the hotel.
] was not frightened as | faced
what | thought would be certain
death. was merely fascinated in
its contemplation.
Deep Sense OF Relief.
I approached the end with a deep
sense of relief, for all my troubles
would soon be at an end; they had
already ceased To be burden. ! ap-
preached the end with light heart
edness ihat I had not experienced in
many months
Adjusting the shades to my room
at the hotel, rearranEed several ar
ticles on the bureau: placed the chairs
In their proper places and turned on
the electric light.
Some small personal effects ]