SUICIDES and MURDERS of 1903

                      Chicago Daily Tribune
                         January 1, 1904
                            pg. 20

  Suicides are steadily increasing in the United States, and the value 
of human life, steadily cheapens.   The suicides of one year closely 
resemble those of another year in causes and methods.
No special feature stands out conspicuously except the ease with which 
the victims can obtain poison from the druggists.  Poisoning is the 
most common method of committing suicide, and carbolic acid is the 
most common poison in use. 
  
  It can be obtained without difficulty at nearly every drug store.
The total number of cases reported to THE TRIBUNE during the year is 
8,597, as compared with 8,291 in 1002.  How steadily suicides increase 
annually is shown by the following figures: 
In 1890 there were 5,340 cases; in 1900, 6,755; in 1901, 7,245; in 
1902, 8,291.

  The increase of the proportion of suicides between men and women 
continues, the figures being men, 5,385; women, 3,212.
Physicians as usual, head the list among professional men, the record 
standing: Physicians, 35, as compared with 42 in 1902; ministers, 5; 
lawyers, 4; artists, 4; college professors, 2; actors, 1; bank 
officials, 12.   The causes of their self-destruction were as follows:

Despondency ........ 4,561   Domestic infelicity ..... 628
Unknown............. 1,454   Liquor .................. 519
Insanity ..........    401   Disappointed love ....... 290
Ill health ........    384   Business losses ......... 351

  Poison as usual is the most frequent agency employed in committing 
suicide, 4,050 persons having escaped from their troubles in that 
manner.   Besides these, 3,627 killed themselves by shooting, 370 by 
hanging, 185 by drowning, 202 by cutting their throats, 65 by throwing 
themselves before railroad trains, 54 by jumping from windows and 
roofs, 15 by fire, 18 by stabbing, 7 by dynamite, and 4 by starving.
The following list includes the most prominent cases of suicide in 
this country:

James H. Robin, banker, Silverton, Colo.
Dr. Waldo E. Clark, St. Ignace, Mich.
A. C. Bales, merchant, Danville, Ky.
William J. Percival, actor, Omaha. Neb.
Dr. H. C. Johnson, Van Buren, Ark. 
E. J. Bonney, insurance manager, Albany,: N. Y.
Dr. G. W. Beckman. Birmingham, Mich.
John P. Evans, postmaster, Jessup, Pa.
Paul Weiss, violinist, San Francisco, Cal.
Rev. Richard Osborne, HiIlsdale, Mich.
Dr. William T. Smith, New York
Dr. Henry W. Allan, Brooklyn. N: Y.
Judge C. S. Hayden, Clearwater, Fla.
Joseph W. Hazel, attorney, Baltimore, Md.
Dr. Gertrude Woodworth, Chicago, III.
Dr. W. W. Hinish, Chicago, Ill.
Andrew J. Teggin, artist, New York
B. Beston, bank cashier, Des Moines, Ia.
Dr. E. M. Shealey, San Francisco, Cal.
Herbert Brown, bank teller, Lockport, N. Y.
Livingston R. Allen, artist, New York
Dr. Clarence S. Burris, Norfolk, Va.
Dr. A. B. McKee, Edwardsville, Ill.
Lieut. W. H. Henderson, U. S. N.
F. T. Luqueer, manufacturer, New York
Judge H. T. Nason, Troy,. N. Y.
Prof. Ernest A. Eggers, Ohio State university
Dr. George McKergim, Passaic, N. J.
Roswell P. Smith, manufacturer, St. Louis, Mo.
Lieut. Thomas F. Howard, U. S. A.
Lieut. Col. H. M. Sprole, U. S. A.
George B. Tripp, postmaster, Mechanicville, N. Y.
Dr. J. J. Glennon, Boston, Mass.
Dr. H. N. Haas, Staunton, Va.
Dr. A. R. Hamilton, Berkeley, Va.
Dr. Stephen E. Rice, Memphis, Tenn.
Dr. Allie Jones, near Dyersburg, Tenn.
Dr. W. L. Funderberg, Gadsden, Ala.
Richard Hedges, postmaster, Kossuth, Kas.
Robert J. Hilton, civil engineer, Savannah, Ga.
Dr. Charles R. Rollins, Battle Creek, Mich.
Dr, J. B. Straw, Ashland, Mich.
Frank Dean, vice president of Seaboard National bank, Orange, N. J.
Rev. Robert E. Hall, Binghamton, N. Y.
John Donoghue, sculptor, New Haven, Conn.
Dr. Charles R. Helvie, Los Angeles, Cal.
Albert Finch, banker, Greenville, N. Y.
Dr. Louis Shaw, New York
Dr. Arthur C. Pierce, Riverside, R.I.
Dr. P. C. Lodge, Waterbury, Conn.
Dr. P. M. English, Mendota, III.
Dr. K. O. Awltin, Chicago, Ill.
Dr. Ernest F. Alexander, Hoosic Falls,  N. Y.
Cline Wilson, artist, New York
Dr. Williamson, - Winifred. W. Va.
Edward W. Davis, president of Shelby County (Ia.) bank
Prof. F. C. Clarke, Ohio State university
Dr. C. H. Marshall, Toledo, O.
Henry K. Whitty, postmaster, Bandana, Ky.
Rabbi B. Silverman, Chicago, Ill.
Robert Allen, attorney, Red Bank, N. J.
Dr. L. M. Willard. Loomis, Wash.
Dr. W. W. Stroup, Harrisburg, Pa.
William H. Hill, manager of foreign department of General Electric 
  company
Dr. Kellogg Baker, New York
Rev. Hill Freeman, Southpoint, O.
Prof. F. E. Abbott, Beverly, Mass.
W. J. Burnett, banker, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Dr. W. S. Light, Saginaw, Mich.
Dr. Joseph Willis, Alamo, Ind.
E. C. Zemp. bank cashier, Charleston, S. C.
George D. Ward, bank president, Colfax, Ia.
Dr. James von Dyck. Dorchester, Mass.
Harry Mayne, bank cashier, Sioux City, Ia.
A. C. Bushnell, bank cashier, New Haven, Conn.
GranviIle W. Garth, president of Mechanics' National bank, New York.

                            MURDERS.

  The number of murders and homicides, including deaths by violence of 
all kinds, in 1903 shows a small increase, being 8,076, as compared 
with 8,834 in 1902, and 7,852 in 1901.   

  Again it is necessary to call attention to the increase of murders by 
burglars, thieves, and holdup men, it being large as compared with 
833 in 1902, and 103 in 1901.  

  The causes of these crimes were as follows:

Quarrels............ 4,952  Resisting arrest............ 78
Unknown............. 2,451  Highwaymen killed........... 53
Liquor...............  302  Riots....................... 38
Jealousy.............  228  Self-defense................ 21
By highwaymen........  406  Strikes..................... 35
Insanity.............  146  Outrages.................... 12