Henry County GaArchives News.....Attempted Suicide August 7, 1891
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Phyllis Thompson http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002524 August 20, 2006, 9:13 am

The Henry County Weekly August 7, 1891
     Mr. Byrd Jackson, who lives about four miles west of town, attempted to 
commit suicide early last Wednesday morning by cutting his throat with a pocket 
knife.
     For some time he has been acting strangely, and his family were uneasy 
about him, but no idea was entertained that he contemplated such a rash act.
     He ate breakfast with the rest of the family Wednesday morning, but 
leaving the table before any of the rest of them, immediately disappeared. 
Nothing was seen of him then in some little time, and fearing something wrong, 
a search was soon instituted. It was ascertained that he had gone to a swamp 
about five hundred yards from the house. Upon entering this some distance, his 
shoes and hat were found where he had pulled them off.
     About ten yards further up the branch, Mr. Jackson was then found in a 
frightful condition, with a large gash cut in his throat, bleeding profusely 
and unable to speak.
     He was found by his brother, Mr. Marion Jackson, and it was a clear case 
of determination to commit suicide.
     He used a common pocket knife, with a blade about three inches long. A 
gash five inches long was cut, which but for the dullness of the knife would 
have been fatal, the wind-pipe being cut almost through, and the jugular vein 
being narrowly escaped. Three arteries were severed.
     Dr. D. W. Scott was sent for and responded as quickly as possible. He 
found it necessary to take twelve stitches to sew up the wound, which he 
pronounced very dangerous.
     About 12 o’clock, we learn, Mr. Jackson managed to speak, stating that he 
did not care to live. If he recovers it is though that he will lose the power 
of speech entirely.
     It is a sad and unfortunate affair, no cause for which can be learned save 
the prompting of an unbalanced mind.
     Since writing the above we learn that Mr. Jackson says he first climbed up 
a high tree and jumped out head-foremost. He was knocked senseless by the fall, 
but falling to produce death, he used the knife as stated as soon as he 
returned to consciousness.


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