Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-01-29
SINGULAR CASE 8F SUICIDE IN
THE TOWN OF LOW

10 " III: = ~ = = ~ " IT
January Goth, 1868.

our town. The deceased was the wife OF
John Quinn, who married her as his sec
ond wife last Christmas, They had alithe
necessaries of life, and had commenced
housekeeping on their own farm, and to
all appearance long life of happiness be-
fore them. Mr.. Quinn was engaged draw
ing wheat for mo to juneau. On the morn
ing previous to the sad deed, Mr.. Quinn
left his wife in fine spirits, with his little
girl, seven years old; and he, my son and
myself started to Juneau, each with load
of wheat. The little girl says Der step
mother Immediately commenced washing
her feet, hands and face, did up her work
as usual, and then sat down and wrote a
letter 10 her husband, then told her little
girl she did not feel well. and was going
NO the bedroom to lie down, kissed the
girl, went into the bed room, told the
girl to button the door on the outside, and
not to open it, and when your father comes
tell him [ am in the bed room.
: The little girl waited white, and feel
ing lonely, asked her mother for pencil,
which was handed to her through crev;ce
under the door. The girl saw it was
bloody, but wiped it off, and used it
awhile, and then fell asleep. How long
she slept she does not know, but awoke by
hearing pounding and groans in the bed
room. The noise Immediately stopped
The girl then cried, &C Mother, mother, ;"
but no voice answered. The girl then ran
to my house, half mile, and told my
wife Der ma, she thought, was dead. By
this time my son had got home from
juneau. He and my wife were the first
that entered the house, opened the bed
room, and found the deceased with her
throat cut, aud dead. [ was soon there,
and such a spectacle may my eyes never
behold again. The room and her person
were covered with gore. Mr.. Quinn soon
after came home, and bis feelings at The
time am unable to feel or describe.
Drs. Miller and Brown we're immediate
ly called in, made an examination, found
razor under her, with the case lying on
the bed in the room The bed wss un-
disturbed, and to all appearance she sat
down on the floor, with her back to the
door, and then committed the shocking
deed. A letter was found on the bed I'M
der the pillow. ri
The deceased was an aniable young
woman, daughterof Joseph Flint of Lowell,
twenty three years Of age, and had a large
circle of friends, who all attest her intrin-
sic merits. Her funeral was attended
yesterday by the largest congregation
have ever known in our town, on such An
occasion ". II. Green, IN the Beaver
Dam Citizen, jan 23d
The Following is the letter written BIZ
Mrs Quinn, md 1T under the pillow OF
her bed +: HT r-.l -.#
Ny DEAR HUSBAND 1t Is hard for me to
write this to you, but it Is just | feel. !
have chosen death from my own hand, rather
than let you live lifeline in misery, and
with me. This morning my heart is as black
as the cap you wear I sincerely thank you for
all you have done for me since first | became
acquainted with you, up to the present morn
ing; and may God bless, guide, guard and
keep you through life; may you always have
peace, and happiness follow you wherever you
go, Take good care Of our Eliza, az you al
ways have done. She has been a dear good
child to me since she come home to US. My
dear husband, how [ wish could encirce you
With my arms once more ere ! commit the aw-
ful deed, for the last time What I have to
say now wish you to feel that is the truth,
and that only. 1t is not because am sorry |
married you. No, God forbid it. No. my dear
husband, you have been all to me that heart
could wis Nor is it because | am not a girl
now. Neither do wish to be with my father
or any of my relations; for what is all that to
b,y b.a,r md
bic mind, to meet you when you come in from
your days labor. Oh, my dear one, may God
keep your mind right, that You may be able
to bear each and every trial that He may sec
II to cause You to bear. Now [ will give to
you, and the people, the just cause, that you
may not be accused of the deed which my own
hands have done; Firstly, because | am OF
healthy; and | feel | am a burthen to you
and Will be as long as | live, instead of COM
fort. Secondly, because | am not worthy OF
you no, nor am / worthy Of the least blessing
my Saviour is bestowing upon me- Thirdly,
because [ am tired Of living; yes tired of llv-
ing. My dear husband, when you read this
you may think my heart was cold towards
you, and had no love for you but have;
love you with my whole heart, and am willing
10 suffer death from my own hands, than cause
you lifetime of misery; and | cannot see
anything else but that, for I have tried to
throw 1t off my mind, but it is there, as black
as ever. Lam very unhappy, and have been
for LONG time. My mind is constnually har-
raised with wicked thoughts toward myself
My bureau wish you to give to Eliza as a
keepsake from me. Now, in conclusion, /
bid you good by; and may God bless AMI
guide you through life, and take you home to
rest forever more. And may he bless you all
q thousand times, for the love and XII ndness
you have shown toward me, Do not mourn
for ME, but be happy to think I am gone.
From your own loving wife.
--...@- .1 MRS. RACHEL QUINN.
To her dear husband, John Quinn. Ii
: GENERAL GRANT AMONG HIS OLD