Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Story
September 8, 1841
The Rhode Islander
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
The Journal of Frankfort reports the suicide in Baden of Rummers, a maniac who for 20 years obsessively ordered and fitted coffins like custom suits until finding the perfect one, then poisoned himself happily among friends.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Singular Suicide.—The Journal of Frankfort announces the suicide at Baden of an extraordinary maniac, named Rummers. It says
"For twenty years this person had been in the habit every six months of ordering a coffin, but always differed with the maker of it as to the 'fit.' He would have the coffin placed against the wall, and getting into it, would complain like a dandy to his tailor, that it was too large here or too small there; that it was too tight over the arms, or too loose over the body. At length a coffin having been made to his mind, he swallowed poison, having previously summoned his friends and acquaintances to attend him. When they were assembled, he informed them at the point of death that he died happy, as he had at length succeeded in obtaining a proper garment for his appearance in the next world."
"For twenty years this person had been in the habit every six months of ordering a coffin, but always differed with the maker of it as to the 'fit.' He would have the coffin placed against the wall, and getting into it, would complain like a dandy to his tailor, that it was too large here or too small there; that it was too tight over the arms, or too loose over the body. At length a coffin having been made to his mind, he swallowed poison, having previously summoned his friends and acquaintances to attend him. When they were assembled, he informed them at the point of death that he died happy, as he had at length succeeded in obtaining a proper garment for his appearance in the next world."
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Extraordinary Event
Biography
What themes does it cover?
Madness
Tragedy
What keywords are associated?
Suicide
Maniac
Coffin Fitting
Poison
Baden
What entities or persons were involved?
Rummers
Where did it happen?
Baden
Story Details
Key Persons
Rummers
Location
Baden
Story Details
For twenty years, Rummers ordered a coffin every six months, trying it on and complaining about the fit like a tailor until one suited him perfectly; he then swallowed poison, summoned friends, and declared himself happy to have the proper garment for the next world.