Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-06-25
Suicide ofa Shaker Girl.
IFrom thc Uudgon m. v Rcgia,er. .I,,uo

lFrom the Hudson IN. " Register, June l9.l
Last Thursday we made brief mention of
the drowning of a Shaker girl at New Leb.
anon under circumstances which lead to the
belief that she committed suicide. Our New
Lebanon correspondent now gives us such
lurther particulars as he is able to gcther af-
ter the most dilllgent and persistent inquiry.
The Shakers are very reticent in relation 10
the affair, and seem inclined 10 keep the
facts as much to themselves as possible. II is
known, however, that last Saturday aIter-
noon boy, while .trolling around pond in
the vicinity OF the Shaker settlement, discov
cred something unusual floating in the water
near the bank, and endeavored TO draw It 10
the shore with stick. Upon seeing that il
was corpse he gave the alarm, and several
men who were working in the neighborhood
came TO the rescue and drew the body from
The water 1t proved TO be that OF Miss Ann
Calvert, about twenty-one years of age, who
belonged to the Society OF Shakers. The
appearance of the body showed that 1t had
been In the water not more than half an
hour. The Shakers took possession OF 1t.
and the corpse was buried on Tuesday with
out notifying the Coroner, or holding an in
quest Justice oil the Peace, we believe.
who is intimate with the Shakers, was called
10 examine the body, but we have not
learned that he made any report. Our cor
respondent says 1t is very difficult 10 ascer-
tain the real cause of her death, and that
there are many conflicting reports. Some of
the Shakers state that the girl had been un-
well for several days, and exhibited symp-
toms of mental insanity; not feeling able 10
eat her dinner on Saturday, she started TO
take walk near the pond, and they express
lne opinion lhnt she accidentally fell in.
Others say that she first struck herself on the
heau win hammer, and fell in the water;
while others belieye that she deliberately
threw herself into the pond in fit OF insan-
lty. This one TACT is certain, that she died
an unnatural death; but In the absence of q
coroner's investigation, the direct cause re-
mains mystery. Deceased was of English
parentage. All her family belonged 10 the
Society OF New Lebanon Shakers, but her
father and mother left some years ago, TAX
ing with them some of their children. Her
talher, We understand, diel about year
ago, and her mother is now living some
where in Massachusetts, and is reported to
be insane. She now has a sister and two
brothers still residing with the Shakers.
Her sister says that on Saturday night she
saw vision of "AIother Ann" and con.
versed with her. The spirit, she reports.
told her that she was tired OF this world.
aud deliberately drowned herself that now
she was in better world, and never felt so
happy as when she was under water, The
testimony however, would hardly be admls.
sible 10 any subunary tribunal, but we give
II for what il is worth. As would be natur.
ally supposed, the citizens of New Lebanon,
outside the Shaker settlement, are very in.
indignant that supposed suicide or murder
should be committed in their very midst,
and that the coroner, whose duty il is to in.
Yestlgate such matters and issue permit of
burial, was not even notified OF the circum-
stance