The Ouachita Telegraph - Charles Bendix Suicide

Date: Jul 2000
Submitted by: Lora Peppers <lpeppers@ouachita.lib.la.us>




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The Ouachita Telegraph
Friday, April 16, 1875
Page 1, Column 5

ONE MORE SUICIDE
        This disease has become so prevalent that readers generally are so
familiar with it that they are only surprised when they do not find details 
of a self-murder in their daily papers.  The latest case is that of Charles
Bendix, who took a killing dose of poison early yesterday morning at his
home, No. 875 Bienville street, the cause being attributed to poverty.
Deceased came from Mayence, Germany, in 1847, and has been a resident of
this city ever since.  The lost position he held was vice president of the
Teutonia National Bank, and in that institution invested all his means,
which ruined him financially.  This tried him sorely, and several days ago
his household property was seized for debt, which proved too great a blow
for him to bear.  On several occasions he said if his worldly affairs did
not improve he would certainly commit suicide; indeed he once or twice
before procured poison but the fact was discovered.  After that he was
closely watched, as his relatives and friends feared he would execute his
threat.  Yesterday morning he left his bed before five o'clock and took a
drink of water, then laid down again and told his wife that he wished o
sleep an hour, contrary to his usual habit.  Mrs. Bendix spoke to him of
their troubles, expressing the hope that their circumstances would soon
change for the better.  She then went to a washstand and while washing her
hands, heard her husband sobbing as if choking, and on reaching his side
understood that he had poisoned himself.  His face was discolored and he
lived only a few minutes, as the drug had almost immediate effect.  Deceased
was fifty-nine years old and always bore a good reputation. – N.O.
Republican.

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