Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-01-08
EooENrRIoIT1Es or SUICIDE.

The London Star collates several recent Gu
rious cases Of eceentricties in self-destruotion,
which we quote;
Four of these have been brought to light
within the last few days. There ia the mystic
rious poisoning case at Umbleton, the history of
which reads like the record of a nightmare
Miss Amelia Husband had formed a secret and
Illicit connection with Mr.. George Cole, from
whom she received frequent nightly visits at her
unole's house, though without the knowledge Of
any of the members of her family. At length
she found that she would soon become mother,
and communicated the fact to her lover, who at
once proposed to marry her. But she declined,
on the ground that the alliance would be alto
gether against the wishes Of her friends, and,
instead, took large dose Of arsnic, from the
effects Of which she died. Here we find death
deliberately cOurted in order to avoid O family
quarrel, which must, under the circumstances,
have necessarily ended IN the marriage OF the
young lady to the man of her choice. But Mr..
George Cole seems to De quite as singular in his
modes of feeling and action as was Miss Amelia
Husband. After the poor girls death he wrote
TO her aunt; but, according to his own state
ment, the letter contained neither alluson to the
lamentabe event nor expressions of coincidence
1t embodied merely an application for the return
OF a watch and some trinkets which he had Civ
en- to the young lady during her life, and which,
as he held, reverted to him upon her decease.-
Ii 10 difficult to determine whether the conduct
of the suicide or of her lover is most unaccount-
able. Then, again, we have the Brighton
drowning case, in which, as far as we can judge
from the evidence now before us, woman
drowned herself chiefly for the purpose Of cast
ing odium upon q man who had offended her by
breaking off an immoral relationship with her.
Mrs. Bruce, whose body was washed ashore at
rockingham last Wednesday, had formed a iiGi-
son with Mr.. Louis Adolphus, manager to Messre.
Moses Son, the well-known tailors but he
states that when he saw her off by the Brighton
train, on the 9Th of November, he iniimaled 10
her that this must cease. 1t is evident that she
WIS in no distress, since her clothing was OF a
superior description, and she had money in her
pocket and diamond ring on her finger, aud
| her real motive for selfdestruotion is shown by
the mode in which she prepared for it, She
wrote my husband on the back of carte de
Disite portrait of Mr.. Louis Adolphus put it into
an envelope, which she addressed to MY false
aud periured husband, Louis Adolphus,' with
his address in full, and wrapping the whole
carefully in oiled silk, placed it in her bosom
before she jumped into the sea. Did ever nov
elist or dramatist depict outraged love conceiv
ing aud carrying out more reconcile ana in'
tensely romantic scheme of vengeance? 1t seems
evident enough that Mrs. Bruce sacrificed her
~ -
man who had slighted her. But her motive fol
suicide was strong when compared with the in
elements which often impel individuals to com
nit the same crime. Late in last week the body
of Amelia Walker, girl of seventeen, was taken
out of Duckett's canal. She had been in ser
vice, but two pots of jam and an egg being found
in her box, her master told her tkat she mus
leave her situation. She received her wages
walked away from the house, and, instead o
going bone, drowned herself, the money being
found untouched in her pocket Perhaps thu
most striking example of eccenlricity, however
which has been witnessed for some time is th'
case of the youth John Budd, who hanged him
self few days since at Millwall. Having
while in the service Of butcher in that district
committed some act of violence toward u few
boys who had been annoying him, he was unde
false impression that a reward had been offereS
for his apprehension, and SO resolved to put al
end to himself. Accordingly, he went to al
oilman's and purchased three yards Of rope, fo
o which the shopkeeper wanted to charge him
penny, but he insisted on receiving farthinl
change, alleging ga common sort Of rope wOull
suit his purpose"