The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-02-12


this state Of moral arrangement the Wild
ow Landon bad, by degrees, arrived
During her fits Of melancholy, she
several times mentioned desire TO com
NIT suicide. IN one instance, she was
detected IN the act of throwing herself
from window. Unaffected by the ad-
vice and intercessions cf her friends, she
continued in her solitary and reserved
habits, and was, at length, evidently un-
der the influence of decided mouuma.
MIA. She reIroached herself for evil
deeds which she had never done and
condemned herselfto every species of
penance and deprivation, in order that
these might be expiated. She consider
ed herself despised and condemned by
the whole neighborhood and in her
hallucinations, insisted that she heard
people addressing her with the most Of
fensive and contemptuous epithets
Two days before the event which termi-
mated her life, she made this a subject of
conversation with an individual who ac-
companied her on a walk. She then
betrayed a more than usual degree of
agitation; and on their return, her
friend after many entreaties, prevailed
upon Brigite to remain and sleep with
her. On the next day. she complained
Of severe headache and other iudispo.
sition. About tho middle of the day.
she said, with an appearance of perfect
calmness, and that she desired TO rest
upon her own bed and soon after, de-
scended to her own apartment. In or
der to be secure from intrusion, she turn
ed the key in the lock within and hay
ing thus taken every precaution against
the unllmely entrance of any other per-
son, the unfortunate woman proceeded
to the accomplishment of her fatal pur-
pose.
Some time thus elapsed during
which, her friend, believing her to be n
sleeo , upon the bed, was unwilling to dis
turb her repose. But, at length, she be-
gan to be disquieted. She went to the
door of the chamber, and called to Bri
Cite but--receiyed no answer! She
inquired if Brgite had gone out no
one had seen her. Suddenly, thought
flashed upon her mind. "She has kill'd
herself!" exclaimed she, in accents Of
despair and burst into tears. The
ncIghbors were alarmed, and instantly
sent messenger for the commissary of
police, in whose presence, the chamber
was formally opened. What spec,a-
Gle was there presented
Brigiie was extended upon she floor !;
which rs well as her dress, was com
pIetely drenched with blood from
deep wound in her neck. We cannot
record all the conjectures winch arose
from an inspection of the body and of
the different objects by which j, was sur.
rounded. But the astonishment of all
who were present, may be imagined,
when after having removed the body,
they discovered the vocal organ (,he lar.
ynx) lying at some distance from the
spot, IN situation which proved that in
her frenzied desperation, she must have
removed aud cast it there before she fell.
But not withstanding this terrible self. !
mutilaiion, and the unutterable agony
which she must have endured, her fea.
lures were unchanged they still ap.
penrcd to reflect The character of her
kind and affec'ionate soul, with an ex
preston Of almost angelic sweetness
Every thing around her, denoted her
habits of order and neatness and the
most perfect arrangement was exhibited
in all the simple furniture Of her apart.
ment. On her right hand, opposite the
window, was a closet, one door Of which
stood open. On one of the shelves, was
n dull table knife which, by the spots
Of blood that it exhibited, had evidently
been first used. Another, resembling it
in appearance, but more bloody, lay up
on the floor, near her right hand prov
inn That after having In win atiemnted