Wolf – Actually, I don’t agree with you on this one, because psych
plays a part even back then. If a mentally competent Jew wanted to commit suicide, he would try to make sure noone saw him. Why? Why not let Bais Din finish the job, if he doesn’t succeed? Because even though he wants to commit suicide, most humans want to do it with the least amount of pain. If he isn’t successful, he wants to try it again himself; he doesn’t want Bais Din to do it for him, because their method of death was extremely Painful!