NEWSPAPERS: John Ragsdale & Irving Oehler, attempt suicide, Jailors quick action saves them. Jackson Co., Oregon *************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with United States Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by noncommercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *************************************************************************** Transcribed and formatted for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Elizabeth Corethers 7 Feb 2003 *************************************************************************** Medford (Oregon) Mail Tribune, Monday, 4 Jun 1917, p. 1 TWO PRISONERS TRY SUICIDE TO END TROUBLES John Ragsdale of Lake Creek, Sentenced to 20 Years, Cuts Wrists, and Irving Oehler, alias Cravendore, Awaiting Trial, Takes Poison - Both Saved by Prompt Action. Two prisoners attempted to commit suicide at the county jail between Saturday evening and Sunday noon but prompt work on Irving Oehler alias Cravendore by Charles Basye, the jailer, saved his life. He had swallowed poison. The other prisoner who attempted self destruction is John Ragsdale who was convicted Saturday of criminal assault. He gashed both of his wrists with an old case knife some time Saturday night or Sunday forenoon, and nearly bled to death before his condition was discovered Sunday afternoon. He is out of danger. Prior to making the attempt to kill himself Ragsdale wrote out his will and left some other writings. Oehler, who will soon be tried on the charge of defrauding Medford merchants by passing worthless checks, has been in jail for a long time awaiting trial. With his wife who was arrested with him me purchased an automobile from the Gates Auto agency, giving as payment a worthless check for $500. Then they started to leave this part of the country with the automobile but were caught in the Siskiyous later that night by Sheriff Jennings, their automobile having become stalled in the mud. About 8 o'clock Saturday night Jailer Basye heard Oehler groaning in his cell. He went to him and accused him of taking poison, forced Oehler to swallow a quantity of salt water. This acted promptly, and later Dr. Malmgren, county physician, was called and pumped the prisoner out. Oehler had swallowed rat poison, which he had managed to conceal somewhere about his clothing. John Ragsdale of Lake creek, facing a penitentiary term of twenty years on the charge of criminal assault on his stepdaughter, attempted suicide in the county jail some time Saturday night or Sunday forenoon, by gashing both his wrists with part of an old case knife. The attempt was not discovered until yesterday afternoon when jail attaches, in attempting to make Ragsdale rise from bed in his cell discovered that he was too weak to do so because of loss of blood. He had not been disturbed previously all day. A physician was called who dressed the wounds. The condition of Ragsdale is not serious. However, a close watch is now being kept on him to prevent any further attempt at self destruction. Ragsdale, who is 54 years old, was found guilty by the jury in circuit court Saturday. The verdict of guilty automatically carried with it a prison term of twenty years, the law providing that punishment, to be named by the presiding judge. In view of the attempt at suicide and the prisoner's despondency, efforts will be made to induce Judge Calkins to pronounce sentence upon Ragsdale within a day or two.