Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-08-13

SINGULAR ArTIMPT AT SUICIDE Sad Story
Yesterday afternoon, Nellie Norton, a native
OF England. made an attempt 10 take her
own life by jumping into the basin, in
Baltimore, on Light street between Barre and
Conway. She was noticed by some of the meu
on the wharf approaching the edge Of tue
wharf with another woman. (her sister, Mrs.
Thompson, Of this city,) and to take OF her
bonnet and hand ii, with some money, 10 the
latter and jump in. Two colored men imme-
diately jumped in and rescued her, and she
IL was ascertained that she had been employed
al NO. 1O4 Hanover street Baltimore. The
Baltimore Gazette Of this morning says:
''She stated that she came to this country
from England about six months since, and was
met, upon her arrival in New York, by her
sisters husband, Richard Thompson, now en-
pioyed In the enrolment department Of the
AdJutant Generals Office AT Washington.
While in New York Thompson made inprop-
er proposals to her, which she resisted, but she
accompanied him to his home in Washington,
where he shortly after accomplished what he
had attempted in New York. This state Of at
fairs continued until q week since, her condi-
ton beng such as to excite fears that her sister
would soon learn Of the improper conduct Of
the couple, she came TO this city, and sought
employment as a servant. A few days since
she wrote a letter to Thompson, in the couY Sc
OF which their criminal intimacy was referred
TO, and the letter falling INTO the hands of her
sister, the latter reached here yesterday shortly
before two O'Clock, called upon her, exhibited
the letter and told her that IL she did not drown
herself at once she would KILL her. The un-
fortunate creature consented 10 drown her
self, and having dressed herself sailed forth
and made the effort above referred to, which
was frustrated by the efforts Of the negro men.
Mrs. Thompson was taken into coustody, and
both parties were conducted to the South.
ern pelice station to await further devel.
opments. Mrs. Thompson was armed with
with large 'pOtato masher," made OF
wood, the only weapon with which she could
nave carried out her murderous threat. The
unfortunate sister seemed greatly depressed
by the discovery Of her condition, and conse.
quently not disposed to converse upon the
subject with any one, though she seemed to be
much more composed in her manner than the
injured wife Of Thompson, her sister. A tele-
gram was sent TO the guilty husband, but at a
late hour last evening nothing had been heard
from him. About eight O'Clock last night Mrs.
thompson expressed desire to see her sister,
expressing sorrow for what she had done, but
the sister declined seeing her, and in response
to her inquiry as to how she felt, the girl re-
piled that I" 1t made no difference" In the let.
ter above referred 70 as causing the discovery
OF the CRIMINAL proceeding, the girl, referring
10 what appears to have been an intimation of
Thompson TO her that he would forsake his
wife and child, the latter two months old and
an only one, and live with her, says such an
lntlmation causes her to hate him, advises him
to treat his family kindly, blames herself only
Tor her misfortune, and says she can earn her
own living and would prefer never to COM
municate with or see him again. as she loved
ner sister even while she sinned against her
In fact the whole tenor of her letter exhibits q
determination to make the best of her hard lot
and to persuade the author Of her degradation
to properly regard his family in the future,
without reference to the fate Of his wfe's erring
sister. w hat disposition will be made of the
case remains to be SEEN"