Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-24
THE DOUBLE SUICIDE.


THE DOUBLE SUICIDE
In noticing the recent suicide of Miss
Cochran and Miss Cotton, which occurred
at Manchester, n. H., on last Sunday
week, the n. Y. Day Book remarks:
"The following letters and rhymes arc
worthy thoughtful perusal, as the ex-
preston of hearts laboring under deep
sense of wrong, The last has genuine
poetic merit, and both ought to convince
rash, if not heartless, young men of the
sin Of triaing with female affection. The
young, confiding girl is too often misun-
derstood, misjudged, and cruelty wronged.
Would we could inspire young men with
deeper sense of honor and holier aspira-
tons, and give them more discernment,
and better judgment. We should then
save them from vast amount of sin and
disgrace, and woman from a world Of
suffering, shame, and wrong, if not utter
ruin. 1t is terribly cruel to misinterpret
or tride with the heart of woman"
[From the Manchester On. H. Mirrcr.l
Miss Cochran and Miss Cotton. on a
Sabbath evening in, firm health, walked to
the canal and deliberately jumped in,
without any apparent hesitation There
was cause for such a strange proceeding.
The public mind, as is natural, is curious
to know this cause. Was it disappoint-
ed love, was it shame for past acts, orwas
it fear of bringing disgrace upon them
selves and friends A tattling, surmising,
evil, minded class in community 'simulta-
neously cry the last. But we are author
lied to gay, and feel warranted in saving
that such surmisings are all false. Dis
appointed love was the cause, and the only
cause that brought about such sad and
fatal results; not late disappointment
but in the case of one wearing and prev
ing upon the mind for some fourteen
months, so that almost nightly her pillow
was bathed in tears. The following let
ter written by her, and addressed to Cyrus
-, Biddeford, Me-, has been found,
and tells its own story:
MANCHESTER, Aug. l4th, 1853.
| now for the last time will attempt to
scribble you few lines, and ere these
few lines reach you shall be sleeping in
death. Think not that shall ever trouble
you again with a letter, for shall not.
No, this is the last You will receive
this with anger perhaps; but Cyrus, for
give me for troubling you. / have for
given you long ago, but have not forgot
ten. suppose you are in Biddeford now,
happy and contented. [ hope you are
AS for myself | am not happy, but in
few moments [ shall be free from the sor-
row of this world. and cannot be more
unhappy in another. When You read
this, think that | am cold in death, and
shall one day meet you in another world.
So farewell, Cyrus, go and be happy.
From your friend and well-wisher,
CA1HARINE COTToN.
Miss Cotton left $3.50 in money
She also left short letter for her father
and one for her sister, bidding them adieu,
and stating that she should not be alive
when they received the letters. These
letters contained SIS. Her body decayed
81 ldSC lIidI IL DtCdIuc ucCcSSdIy W DuTy
her yesterday.
She left the following poetry, and a
postscript which gives clue to her state
of mind:
60 Cyrus, dear Cyrus,
IL was for loving you
That makes Inc so unhappy,
For you have proved to me untrue.
How many times you have promised,
That you would marry me,
But now little did think,
That should ruined be-.
know you have tried to ruinme--
But now am tai away.
And perhaps we never shall meet again,
Until the Judgment Day.
have strayed far from friends and home,
You ior TO forget,
But YOU arc ever present,
Ana you think of yet.
Now you and are parted,
Perhaps never in this world 10 meet,
Remember there is meeting,
IL VIII be at the Judgment Seat.
Piay, think how you have wronged me,
And remember what ysu have said,
And may 1t not escape your mind,
When on your dying bed.