The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1868-12-17
ssKleptamania" and suicide.

ssKleptamania" and suicide.
A very singular case of suicide
occurred yesterday in the boarding
house of Mrs. Letita Morris, at No
A. South Washington Square, where
a woman accused Of theft cut hel
throat to evade the consequences ol
her arrest. 1t appears that Mrs
Mury A. Gatewood, widow age6
40, and formerly residing in Louis
vile, KY, has for some years beer
a resident of this city, during which
time she has become known to the
police as a confirmed lleptomaniac
On the oath ult., she called at the
millinery establishment of Nine. Ea
ton, at No. 81 Bleecker street, where
she expressed a desire to have 8
dress made up Mrs. Gatewood
was accordingly shown into an adj
joining room for the purpose of hay
ing the necessary measures taken
and she was left in the room alone
for few minutes. After her depar
ture piece of guipure lace belong
ing to Mrs. Barney Williams, the
actress, had been abstracted from
the room, Mrs. Gatewood was sus-
pected of the theft, and Miss Car
penter employed by Mad. Eaton,
determined to act as a special Oh
amateur detective in the case She
accordingly went to the residence OF
Mrs, Gatewood, day or two after
the larceny of the lace, and on see
in the suspected person, she infor-
med her that she understood that
Mrs. Gatewood had some lace for
sale. The latter replied in the affir-
native, and among other specimens
exhibited the identicle piece of lace
lost by Mrs. Eaton, for which she
demanded $5. Miss Carpenter,
made an excuse that she had not
money enough to- purchse the lace,
and on reaching Mad. Eaton's place
she gave the necessary information
Of the whereabouts of the property,
In this emergency, the services of
Detectives Vaughn and Irving, of
the Central office, were called upon
and they yesterday visited Mrs.
Morris boarding house, when De-
tective Vaughn Immediately recog-
nized Mrs. GsteHood as the person
he had arrested three years ago at
the instance of Mr.. Peter Yearance,
at that time the proprietor of the
Bancroft House, on the corner of
Twentieth street and Broadway. She
was at that time accused of larceny
by several persons who were in
mates of the Hotel, and the greater
portion of the stolen proberty was
recovered from her possession, but
as she seemed very repentant and
was respectfully connected, the com
plant of larceny was allowed to
drop by the dispoiled complainants
and she had not until yesterday
come under the notice ofthe police,
though she once since stole a gold
watch from Mrs. Joseph A. Scoville
of Twenty seventh street, and made
restitution.
When she found that the larceny of
thelace had been so cleverly brought
home to her, she denied her guilt,
but surrendered the lace. She then
only seemed desirous to have the al
far kept a secret, The Detectives
informed her that they had no pow
er to hush up the matter, and she
must go with them to police head
quarters.
This seemed to disturb the pris-
oner very much, and she finally
requested permission to complete
her toilet. The Detectives consent
ed to this request, first taking the
precaution to deprive their prisoner
of penknife they found in her pos
session. After having had her hair
dressed by hair dresser called in
for the.purpose, Mrs. Gatewood, very
quietly completed her toilet, and
then walked up stairs to the third
floor. Apprehending an attempt to
escape, Detective Vaughn ran up
the stairs, and met his prisoner com
ing from one of the gentlemen
rooms. He informed her that he
must insist upon her going with him
to the Central Office, as he had lost
enough time already. Mrs Gate
wood seemed much distressed at the
demand, and informed the detective
that she was i'll and wished to visit
the water closet. Detective Vaughn
remained on the landing near the
door for a few minutes. when he
heard gurgling sound, which sc
alarmed HIM that he looked in ano
discovered that the unfortunate wo-
man had cut her throat in a fright
full manner, with a razor she had OK
tained from the gentleman's room
she had entered. Detective Vaughr
at once notified his comrade, Irving
who dashed out of the house for 6
physician, though it was useless, as
when he arrived Mrs. Gatewood hac
expired. The razor was found ly.
ing on the floor by her side, the
sheath firmly clenched in the left
hand. The ecene in the house then
became an exciting one, as the Other
inmates for the first time ascertain
ed the true nature of affairs, at the
tragical death of the lady, whom
they all esteemed very much. The