People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 October 1893 — SENSATIONAL SUICIDE. [ARTICLE]

SENSATIONAL SUICIDE.

A Southerner at Chicago Lays Hi* Head on the Rail Before an Approaching Train and Coolly Await* Death. Chicago, Oct 9.—A sensational suicide occurred Sunday morning on the railroad tracks at the foot of Monroe street. From papers found on the suicide’s body he is believed to be Henry Kershaw, formerly a journalist of New Orleans. Early Sunday morning the police at the foot of Monroe street saw a well dressed man standing near the railroad tracks. A long Michigan Central train was coming in and when the engine was within a few yards of where he stood he ran forward a few steps and throwing him- i self upon the coal dust placed his neck I across one of the rails. In an instant i his head was severed from his body. Letters found in the dead man’s pockets indicated his identity. One letter written after he had determined to end his life in this manner refers vaguely to charges against him by certain lodges, to “conspiracy” and ‘-persecution” which caused him to take his life. The letter is signed “Henry Kershaw, of New Orleans.” The letters gave evidence of being the product of a disordered brain. Kershaw was about 35 years old and a native of New Orleans. He was the publisher of a commercial bulletin about a year ago and at one time was partner in a large printing house. He left his wife and children some months ago and came to this city. Here he became involved in a love affair which unbalanced his mind. One of his hallucinations was that he was being hounded by members of im- ! aginary secret societies and that individuals were conspiring to kill him.