BOWMAN, Elliott - 1891 - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Elliot Bowman is a young man, aged about 26 years, who lives with his widowed mother near Jackville, a few miles southwest of this city. A week or so ago, he was taken with the grip and had a severe siege of it. The other day he arose from his bed for the first time and summoning the members of the family, made a curious declaration. He said that while he was perfectly rational on most points, that his illness had brought upon him an irresistible desire to cut his throat. “It feels very sore,” said he “and I think it ought to be cut. I am full aware of the precarious position in which my life is placed by this strange desire, and I solemnly admonish you to watch me to see that I come to no harm.” He then requested them to keep from his sight all razors, knives and other instruments with which he could carry out his terrible impulse. His relatives are fully alive to the situation and keep a constant guard upon him, his every moment being narrowly scrutinized. Dr. J. N. Talbot, of Alamo, is the attending physician and thinks in time after all the bad results of the grip have left him, he will lose his unnatural desire. At present the young man has no wish to die, and in fact is as desirous of life as anyone but is merely possessed of an unaccountable impulse to cut his sore throat.