The Washington times., 1922-09-17
MAN,LONG ILL,
ENDS LIFE FOR
sake Of WIFE
! AND CHILDREN
William coutts Feared Expense
Would Pauperize
g. Family.
CALLS SACRIFICE JUSTIFIED
ut Was a Case Of One Life for
Four" He Wrote to
Spouse.

6lnOiiS ocPI. lO.-AppiyhR
the principle that the few must suf.
fer for the good of the many, Will.
lam Coutts, employed by the Ford
Motor Company, has made an as.
founding sacrifice.
He killed himself so that his wife
and daughters might be spared the
expense and worry of a long i'll.
ness. Just an ordinary factory
worker, and yet with a spark Of al;
most divine love and a fanatical
pride in his ability to take care -oi
his own.
Causes Wide Discussion.
The question of how far such
pride Is justified, of the ultimate
value Of such a sacrifice as this hus
band and father made, is creating
wide discussion among social work
ers, employers and divines. Here
are the facts in this strangely dis
torted version of self-sacrifice:
About a year ago Mr.. Coutts, who
had not been well, submitted to an
operation. The hard drive of eco
nomic conditions, the necessity for
the weekly pay envelope, forced him
back to work when perhaps he was
hardly fit.
Began Getting Weaker.
He began getting weaker instead
Of stronger. He left his home in the
morning feeling a hard pull WAS
ahead of him, but even then hardly
realizing the necessity for rest.
There was q little house he wanted
TO buy for his family. He saw them
there, his wife and three little daugh,
ters, sally ensconced against the cold
world, sitting by their. own hearth.
He would plant some sunflowers in
the yard and perhaps there would be
q white cat, too, by the hearth.
1t was all a pleasant, CHEEKY pic,
ture that his imagination made
When he had protected his family
thus there would be time for him 20
rest. How good 1t would be to rest
in his own home!
Doctors Order Rest.
But his dreams did not come true
Doctors told him that he would have
TO rest for very long time. They
were unable to assure him that he
would ever be well again. He had
overtaxed his will. He had crippled
his human machine. The vision OF
the comfortable little cottage with
the fireplace and the white cat ani
the sunflowers faded.
Then he looked at the small bal
ance In the savings book. That. too,
would fade away n he had to lie
there helpless on his back.
Started to Write.
After the doctors got through with
him that evening the father asked
his oldest daughter, ten-year-old
Helen, to bring him her school pad
and a pencil.
BE quiet now: daddy wants to
WRITE" he said gently. And he wrote
q long letter to his wife. 1t was not
finished that night, and in order to
get the quiet he needed he sent his
family out to walk the next morning,
to see the little house which they all
loved and where they hoped to live.
Here's the Letter.
When he had completed the letter
he went into his wife's room, laid the
letter on her dresser, and then got
out his pistol and shot himself. The
letter said:
Dear Alice: II was a case of sac.
rificing one life for four, and mine
was the least valuable with all this
sickness. My own welfare and hope
of life mean nothing in comparison
with my hopes for you and the chill.
dren. and my love for you.
You will find that there Is still
something left In the savings bank.
] am sorry couldn't leave you more.
1T seemed to me that II was bet.
ter to leave you this sure than to
take the chance Of using the money
in. battle for health that might
never be won. 1t Is not worth the
gamble, SO I am taking myself away
now"
He concluded the note with expires.
sions Of tenderest love and q hope
that he would see her in heaven.