Elderly laborer attempts suicide in Old Town
An aged man struggling with chronic illness was restrained by bystanders after a desperate attempt to end his life in Tacoma's Old Town district.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A. Albertson, an aged laborer who lives at Old Town, made an ineffectual but persistent attempt to end his own existence last night. The fact that Albertson failed in his plan was due to the interference of spectators in view of whom the old man made his desperate attempt. The weapon used by Albertson was an old jackknife. He plunged the knife into his neck twice, but failed to sever the jugular vein. Not discouraged, however, he gave himself one stab in the region of the heart, but before he could do further damage he was restrained by onlookers. The old man was attended by Dr. Sargentich, who says that the wounds will not prove fatal unless blood poisoning sets in. Albertson was brought to the city jail, where he will be cared for. Albertson says he has been ill for years, and had given up all hope of ever recovering his health when he decided to end his life.
“Albertson says he has been ill for years, and had given up all hope of ever recovering his health.”
Reports like this from the early 1900s reflect the era's limited understanding of mental health and social support for the elderly, often framing desperation solely as a legal or medical 'trouble' handled by the jailhouse.
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