September 13, 1892
There arrived in Pine Plains on the Newburgh, Dutchess & Connecticut railroad, a man apparently about 34, dressed as a laborer and appearing like one who had been on a long drunk. He seemed confused and asked where the town was. He offered a dollar to anyone who would show him the way. He lay down by the side of the road and was finally taken charge of by a young man named Shook, who brought him to the corner. Here he purchased and ate three cans of pickled clams. He then hired a horse and wagon and went to Shekomeko and Smithfield. He was back in town the next day. He went to the Stissing House and asked A. Bowman for a glass, which was handed him. He emptied the contents of a packet into the glass and some whiskey from a flask he was carrying and drank the whole thing. He then poured some whiskey from another flask and drank it. Mr Bowman then asked if he wasn’t drinking too much and suggested he would get paralyzed by such doses of liquor. He replied “It don’t make any difference now. This is my last dose. I don’t believe in God or man. I believe I am like an ox; when I die that will be the end of me. I am tired of living and have fixed myself. It’s all right.” Mr. Bowman, suspecting something, found out the man had taken morphine and immediately summoned Dr. Wilbur and Dr. Johnson. He told the doctors his name and that his father lived in Morristown N.J. Dr. Wilbur and Dr. Johnson did all in their power to save him, using a stomach pump and electric battery, but to no avail. He died a short time later. A telegram sent to Morristown N.J. brought back the reply that no such person was known there.