Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-07-07
VOL. >. NO. 2S3.
DAILY VIRGINIAN
Tho Double Suicide" Additional Pai ticulars
From the Sunday Courier)
nONRArnY On TME YOUNG MONA

BIOGRAPHY OF THE YOUNG WOMAN.
This person came 10 New York in October
lsl9 her age then being Ia years. She took
bonrd in respectable boarding house, among
the occupants of which was n Mrs. Merritt, whose
hnsbandnow keeps shoe store in tho Bowery
near Nauxhall Garden. Her true name was Sa-
rah klrklnnd, and she then possessed some mo-
ney, aud was regarded as lady of irreproacha-
bic character Her place of nativity is n little
hamlet nine miles from Liverpool Engnna. on
the Chester raud. In an evil hour she made tho
aequaintanceof ayouth about II, residing in
brooklyn, but who had the appearance of being
much Older, and this acquaintance ripened into a
close eintinacy. II WINS soon remarked by the
occupants of the house TINT if they were not mar
ried they ought To he, and shortly afterwards he
induced her 10 take up her residence at n house
of bad rcpute, No. 100 Duane street kept hy an
old woman nnmcd Harrison. The supposition is
that Gusin wns her original seducer; but the
matter will probably bo determined previous to
Tuesday, when Mrs. Merritt will be subpnnad to
give testimony and will perhaps DO enabled to
identify Gustin by his daguerreoiype. his body
being now inferred. subsequently she was de-
livcred of male child which lived only about
- months whom her sedueer abandoning her and.
removing to the West she was compelled to re-
ecive miscellaneous company for her support. A
portion of this time she was afflicted with st. Vi
tus' dance, aud was under the treatment of Dr.
Robinson nj the Emigrans' Hospital on Staten
lslnnd
About two years sinoe, she either made tho
acquaintance of young Gustn, or, if he WAS her
seducer he then returned. and a compact was
made by them which unfortunately exists too
frequently in large cities. He became her lover,
passed his leisure time with her, and was supper
ted by the wages of her shame.
On the afternoon previous To the commsso
of the fatal deed he servant tells this story and
10 prevent her appearing to give testimony in the
4. a a
To his fathers house, and asked his mother chow
shc would like him TO bring homo wife with him
that night = The reply was that he had better
not He then returned forthwith to l30 Duane
street and had long interview with GIRL
They seemed cheerful, but evidently acting under
mental excitomen.. At ten o'clock L. NJ, she
dressed herself carefully and taking the key of
her apartment presented il to Mrs. Harrison, re-
marking that she WIS going home. and had come
to take n innl leave of her adding that she wish
ed her landlndy to take possession of her ward
robe and effects. The woman snpposng her to
bo Joking paid little attention TO the matter, and
the twain crossed that threshold for the last time.
They then crossed the Fulton Ferry to Brooklyn
mud rode up nearly to old Mr.. Gustin's house.
Here it is aid (by the witness who has chosen to
fee rather than testify that they went together
to the house and asked admittance. The reply
was that he might enter but tho girl could not
And then apparently the resolve which had been
ouIminnting bocnme fixed determination.
They started down Myrtle Avenue, and pres
emily struck into an obscure street. At half past
one o'clock they seen returning, he having
in his hand whut probably tho bottle of prus-
sic acid. 1t was not labelled. Then they must
have entered the yard gate, passed through the
beautiful garden to the covered piazza, and
there seating themselves nolslessy on n lounge
covered with black leather, they doubtessly par
| took hastily of the fatal drug and then locked in
euch others arms their spirits went hand in hand
to him who gave them. We saw them early in
the morning before they were removed from the
position, aud the ght vas one calculated to pen
etrate a heart of adam mt SO placid and serene,
so feko and beautiful the body Of the girl.
lat il was difficult 10 believe that life could have
urrnken her frame. 8U
In relation 10 the statement of Mrs. Merritt
as to the girs true name, we must say they
eorroborated by tae testimony ofthe witness
Esther Bcuelrn. who, when shown the stud which
astcned the poor girls ehemse, bearing the in
tals -. e.. h, stated that the deceased girl
aas always alluded to them as the Joint initials
If the two. Thus it is-Sarah Gustin Kirkland
About twenty letters were found in her trunk
written by Gustin, these letters reveal the whole
latnrc Of their affection and intercourse since
1883. They prove young Gustin to have been
Iery dlssipated and reckless in his conduct.