The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-09-14
Love, Desperation and Death.

Love, Desperation and Death.
We published last week a brief tele.
graphic despatch announcing the suicide
by drowning at Manchester, N. H >. OF
twosy young women, Miss Catharine B.
fCotton, aged twenty-five, and Miss Clara
C. Cochran. aged nineteen. From letters
left by both e1unfortuna ateFgirls and as
we'll as from incidents of their history
known To- their friends, il. appears that their
suicide was ,he.result ofsdisappointments
in affairs of the heart, and the carrying
out of an avowed purpose for which the
preparations were openly and deliberate:
ly made. The Manchester Mirrordefives
from an intimate acquaintance the follow
ing statement which may interest some of
our readers:
Everything throwing light upon the last
hours Of Miss Cotton and Miss Cochran.
or tending to show what contributed to
their melancholy fate last Sunday evening.
is read by this community with great avid
ity. Athousand and one stories are af1oat,
most Of Them having no foundation in fact,
calculated in part to injure the feelings OF
the: friends of the two unfortunate females
whose sudden, deliberate. self-possessed
act of taking their own lives, has caused
such q sensation in our midst.
1 We proceed to lay before oursreaderssa
statement made by Miss Davis to us, in
the presence of two other ladies, one Of
whom was also room mate Of Miss Cot
ton and Miss Cochran 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 in 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 en-
gagement took place ard the time was set
for their marriage. Miss Cotton went
home to Pownal, Me-, to make prepara-
tions:for the marriage, got ready, and re-
turned to .Biddeford one week before the
day appointed for the nuptial ceremony.
when she was informed by her lover that
he had changed his mind, and concluded
not to marry. This event took place a
year ago last June. Miss Cotton stayed
at Biddeiord few weeks longer, but after
She was abandoned by one upon whom
all her affections wore placed, it was TO
herslike deserted home, and she left and
went to Lowell, where she stayed few
weeks and went to Lawrence. She stay
ed at that place but 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 e.slout
h.ss,
She went 10 Lynn, hoping that change
Of occupation might bring relief TO her
mental sorrow. But wounded affection
caused by the deception Of lover. almost
at the bridal hour, cannot be healed by
mere worldly cares, or by diyerting 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 Coch-
ran. Possessed Of kindred feelings upon
one subject, they soon became quite inti-
mate. - e,e.
Miss Cochran 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
regular and affectionate correspondence.
begetting in her mind the belief that he
was her. lover, and would be her husband.
1t may be that he considered them merely
letters of friendship, and had no idea of
ever marrying her.
! Last March he wrote 10 her, saying that
she need not write to him again till she
received another letter from him. She did
write several letters, from which she re-
ceived no responses; and from the moment
that the full conviction flashed upon her
mind that she was abandoned, her life has
been desolate. sHope deferred maketh
that hear, sad" and dreary, dreamy, and
almost unreal, have been her hours since
that conviction flashed upon her mind.
Her tears were more bitter than those shed
for the dead and yet not so consoling.
With minds in such sorrowing state,
three weeks ago Sunday. Miss Cochran
and MISS Cotton remarked to their room
mate, Miss Davis. in three weeks from to-
day we die. After that they frequently
remarked that they should drown them
selves-tlley 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 al
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, Il did not speak of our drowning
during the week, because wantedto leave
your mind uninfuenced by anything
might say" The other responded. sol
the same reason | have been silent about
it," Miss Cochran worked on dress till
late hour on Saturday evening; and or
Sunday they both appeareds.as usual til
nearly noon, when they began TO pael
their trunks. ss
After dinner they devoted most OF theil
time in writing letters. and giving direc
tions about their affairs, seeming all tht
time TO be in SO good spirits that no seri
Gus apprehensions were felt by Miss Davis
or others who had had limitations Of wha
thew had said and done. They ate ,