Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1919 — ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE FAILS [ARTICLE]

ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE FAILS

JOE FRANCES TOOK STRYCHNINE THURSDAY IN ATTEMPT TO KILL SELF. F ‘J 1 ' t Asserting that life no longer held any interest for him, Joseph Frances, about thirty-three years of age and residing in the south part of town, took strychnine about three o’clock Thursday afternoon in an attempt to end his life, He will recover. Before his attempt at seif-destruc-tion, the despondant man telephoned to Harvey Moore at the Central Garage and notified him of his intended suicide. Mr. Moore immediately went to the Frances home and found that Frances had carried out his threat to take poison and that he was already in a critical condition. He returned to the sheriff’s office and in company with B. D. McColly secured a physician and returned to Frances. Prompt and proper treatment greatly relieved the suffering of Frances, and he was soon out of danger although still quite sick today from the effects of the poison. Failure to take a sufficient amount prevented his death. It is understood that Frances was despondant over his wife having left him, taking their child with her. Before taking the poison he had written her a note explaining the reason for his act. She was at once notified of her husband’s rash attempt, and it is understood that she will return to him, after which it is to be hoped that they will have no further trouble.