The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-29
SUICIDAL.
Charlea Dickens, sister.insIaw Takes an
Overdose of Morphine.

The Chicago Republican of Sunday last says:-
"Among the many gifts possessed py Oharles
Dickens as wondrous dellneator OF the various
phases of humanity, the one Of ell others IN
which he particularly excels is, perhaps, Iue
portrayal OF scenes in which the wearled soul
OF some tired earth wanderer breaks from Its
mortal fastenings and floats to its rest, Tue
lifting OF old Betty Higden' as high as heaven
the beautiful, touching style In which the death
OF Little Nell, is depicted and the thrilling
manner in which Sidney Carton is represented
as freely giving his Young life TO save the hus-
band of the woman he loved, are all notable
Instances of the great novelisps descriptive pow
ers In the line mentioned. 1t stated that ne
or Or scenes; en that they are ali merely
altered repre- entaiives OF people that actually
exist, of events that have really transplred. i
such is the case, there s possloillty tna1 nag nag
cago Christmas morning he might have found
al the materials ready at hand for an excellent
story in his own peculiar vein, wlthoui haVIhg
tS 60 very far outside OF his own Ianlly. Eue
incident In question would hardly nave Iur-
n,shed him the requisite points for Christmas
carol, favorite theme of his just at this season
OF the year, for no less subject than the deatn,
under very peculiar circumstances, nod 0a tbs h
attention of his fertile fancy and tacle pen. Az
the time of Mr.. Dickens late trip to this coqn-
try it was generally announced through the
public journals tha' n ne roarcGd aai cir. ir
cumstances, in Chicago, and although
the assertion was often denied by the greater
portion of the Eastern press, 1t was still a fact,
and when the DISTINGUISHED literary visitor
turned his face towards England again, almost
the only blot upon his conduct 10 America
was his steady ignoring of his Chicago rela-
tive and his persistent refusal to visit her. Mrs.
Augustus N. Dickens has resided with her three
daughters for the past two years at NO. 56S
North Clark street, and although not living In
an absolute condition of penury,it has been well
known that she has not had the necessary
means to sustain herself in the position she held
in society prior to her husbands decease. For
over eight months she has suffered severely
froEa acute neuralgic pains IN the head, and
has been in the habit of taking large doses OF
morphine to produce her required amount OF
sleep. Last Thursday she was observed to be
in great depression of spirits, aud in the evening
requested one of her friends, q Mrs. Barnet, to
step to drug store and procure some morphine
for her, claiming to be in great distress from her
old malady. The drug was obtained, and on
retiring it seems that she swallowed much
greater quantity of it than usual, for at about
IL O'Clock the ext morning she was found lying
dead i'll her bed The body was discovered by
Mr.. Barnet, husband of the lady already men
toned. He entered the house through the
ba kway, ac the request of Mrs. d ckens' chil
dren, who had just returned from spending the
night with some of their young friends, anC
being unable to get into their home through
the front door. had applied to Mr.. Barnet fol
assistance. An inquest was held upon the
remains yesterday forenoon by Coroner Cleves
and verdict rendered 10 the effect that the de
ceased came to her death by an overdose o
morphine administered by her own hand"