The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-23 00:00:00

STATEMENT OF MISS DAVIS.

We proceed to lay before our readers a statement made
by Miss Davis to us, in the presence of two other ladies,
one of whom was also a room-mate of Miss Cotton and
Miss Cochrane, and all three of whom saw them when
they committed the fatal deed.
Miss Davis first became acquainted with Miss Cotton
two years ago, at Biddeford, Me., where they were both
at work at the mills. She became intimate with her.
Soon after their acquaintance commenced a young man
in Biddeford began to show Miss Cotton many attentions,
and in time became her acknowledged lover. An engage-
ment took place, and the time was set for their marriage.
Miss Cotton went home to Pownal, Me., to make pre-
parations for the marriage, got ready, and returned to
Biddeford one week before the day appointed for the
nuptial ceremony, when she was informed by her lover
that he had changed his hand, and concluded not to
marry. This event took place a year ago last June.
Miss Cotton stayed at Biddeford a few weeks longer,
but after she was abandoned by one upon whom all her
affections were placed, it was to her like a deserted
home, and she left and went to Lowell, where she
stayed a few weeks, and went to Lawrence. She stayed
at that place but a short time, and came to Manchester.
But here,' as at all other places where she lived, since
the silver cord of her existence was broken, she could
think of nothing but sorrow ; clouds and thick darkness
were continually about her.
She went to Lynn, hoping that a change of occupa-
tion might bring relief to her mental sorrow. But
wounded affection, caused by the desertion of a lover
almost at the bridal hour, cannot be healed by mere
worldly cares, or by diverting the mind by travel.
About seven weeks ago she returned to Manchester,
unable to be contented anywhere, and then for the first
time became acquainted with Miss Cochrane. Possessed
of kindred feelings upon one subject, they soon became
intimate.

Miss Cochrane in early life became strongly attached
to a young man with whom she went to school. They
have not seen each other since, but for some six years up
to last March they kept up a regular and affectionate
correspondence, begetting in her mind the belief that he
was her lover, and would be her husband. It may he
that he considered them mere letters of friendship, and
had no idea of ever marrying her.
Last March he wrote to her, saying that she need not
write to him again till she received another letter from
him. She did write several letters, to which no response
came ; and from the moment that the full conviction
flashed upon her mind that she was abandoned, her life
has been desolate. " Hope deferred maketh the heart
sad," and dreary, dreamy, and almost unreal have been
the hours since that conviction flashed upon her mind.
Her tears were more bitter than those shed for the dead,
and yet not so consoling. As she read "do not write
me again," she seemed to lose all consciousness of who
she was and where she was, and the meaning of what
she read, reminding one of little Mary Lee—
" I put my hand upon my head
To think what it could mean—
I knew I never had been dead,
And come to life again.
"'Tomas long before I understood
The words that I had read,
And then an overwhelming flood
Of burning tears I shed."

With minds in such a sorrowing state, three weeks
ago (Sunday) Miss Cotton and Miss Cochrane remarked
to their room mate, Miss Davis, " In three weeks from
to-day we shall die." After that they frequently re-
marked that they should drown themselves—they could
not bear the pain of living. Of course their remarks were
not taken in earnest. Miss Cotton had told Miss Davis
that several times. Once at Lowell, she had been on the
bank of the river to drown herself, but her courage
failed her. The week before the fatal deed they did
not mention the subject to any one, and seemed to act
as if they had forgotten it. On Sunday one said
to the other, "I did not speak of our drowning
during the week, because I wanted to leave your
mind uninfluenced by anything I might say." The
other responded, " For the same reason I have been
silent about it." Miss Cochrane worked on a cross till
a late hour on Saturday evening, and on Sunday they
both appeared as usual till nearly noon, when they be-
gan to pack their trunks.
After dinner they devoted most of their time to the
writing of letters and giving directions about their
affairs, seeming at the time to be in so good spirits that
no serious apprehensions were felt by Miss Davis or
others who had had intimations of what they had said
and done. They ate a hearty supper, and appeared in a
pleased state of mind till they went up stairs for the
last time. Then, when they were joked about their
talk of drowning themselves they cried. Miss Cotton
gave Miss Davis three letters, and asked her to put them
into the post-office the next morning, and also gave her
labels for her trunks and boxes, showing where they
were to be sent. A little after dusk they came down
stairs, dressed in white, and Miss Davis and another
lady asked them to go out and walk, thinking that
thereby their minds might be diverted from the subject
which had become so awful. They refused in rather a
cold way, walked quietly round the corner of the house
and up the street towards the canal, which was but a
few rods off.
Miss Davis and two other friends, feeling a little un-
easy, thought they would follow after a distance. They
did so, and upon inquiry found they had gone up a short
street, and turned to the left towards the canal-bridge.
They followed as fast as they could, and had just got to
the bridge when they saw them hurrying to the side of
the canal, some three rods above, and jump in together,
without a word, or a scream, or a particle of hesitation.
Miss Cochrane sank to the bottom, and was not again
seen till her body was taken out three quarters of an
hour afterwards. Miss Cotton sank and then rose, giv-
ing a gurgling sound, and then floated down the canal.
Marro was immediately given, and a young man, James
Hall, boldly jumped in and caught her by the dress as
she was fast sinking again ; but she was so heavy, and
he so light, that he was not able to save her. Boards and
rails were thrown to her after she came up the second
time, and though they came within her reach, she made
no effort to touch them. She was taken out in about
ten minutes.
We learn from another source that Miss Cochrane
threatened, before she came here, when at Fisherville,
to drown herself,
but and o
wncasefollowed and went to the
restbanainedk of the river
for that purpose, .