Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-09-21
NO. 76.
From the Memphis Avalanche, Aug. 20.
A wRETCHED CAREER.
A Respectable New York Girl Driven 40
Despair by POverty---She Kills Herself
and child

CAREER
A Respectable New York Girl Driven 30
Despair by Poverty Kills Herself
and Child.
At midnight, hetween Friday and Satur-
day, n double suicide was committed at the
corner of Union and Lauderdale streets, 10
this city. The parties were a white woman
and pebald baby Of uncertain parentage.
The story of the woman is another illustra.
tinn Of the truth of the trlte old saying that
there ia n large medincum of the brute in our
common humanity and it even furnishes
some grounds for argument 10 those who
hold 10 the doctrine that we are more or less
diabolical. The woman was born thirty
three years ago, at Utica, in the State of
New York, and was tendery nurtured, ac-
cordiug 10 photographed records, which
are in the hands Of Mrs Fein (colored),
with whom she lived for some months In
Memphis She was educated in a respecta-
bic academy near Oneida, in the above
named State and her name was Miss Anna
Beaton. When 10 her teens, iull OF life and
not devoid oil attractions, she fell in love
with bntman on the Erie canal, and went
with him to Buffalo, where they were mar
ried aq she said. The proceeded to Wis
consin, ghere they struggled along together
ior themselves locWs hdbitdndl in the world
This laudable desire was frustrated by what
appeared to be the hand of Providence. The
husband, George Deck, fell sick of fever,
and after lingering many months, during
which tho crops on the little farm went 10
ruin, he died, leaving the unfortunate sub
iect Of this item a helpless widow with one
child. She was compelled to sell out every
thing in order 10 pay her debts. When
the creditors were all satisfied, she was not
only penniless, but homeless sShe made the
best of her way TO AtGhison, Kansas, where
she remained for some months, making
precarious living with her needle. 1t was at
this place she first fell into acquaintance
with colored people. Her pecunary condi-
tion would not allow her respectable lodg-
iugs, nor, indeed, amy kind of lodgings; so
she was compelled to accept the kindness Of
fercd her by some chaIilably disposed COL
ored people, and live among them. Alter
time. finding that she could make no pro-
gress in the world at all, she took the oppor-
tuniiy offered her of coming TO Memphis, III
company with batch negroes, VINO were
seeking their fortune in this direction. She
| landed at the levee two years ago last Feb
ruary. Through the instrumentalltY OF some
oil her colored friends, she obtained situa-
ion as cook Immediately afterwards at the
| house OF Mr.. Cogan, in the suburbs of the
| city. She remained in that house SIX weeks,
| then, for some cause which we could not
learn left. After this she engaged in the
millinery business, with Mrs. Rogers, on
| Bealc street, and remained at this establish
mont until the old lady died, some months
afterwards. She then went 10 live on Vance
street with Lucy Fain, our Informant. About
six months ago they moved TO the corner OF
Uni II and l.auderdale streets. For the last
wear she had been "keping company" with
n negro from La Grange, named Bonner,
who is the reputed father of the infant that
she killed. The intimacy between them
seemed TO be very cordill. She became
member of the colured Baptist church, on
Rnale street. over year ago, where she was
in the habit OF teaching Sunday school. She
does not appear to have taugAt school Tor
living. Her associations were entirely con-
fined TO negroes
About ten DAYS ago Bonner left the city
for his home The unfortunate woman be-
came depressed and morose, and bowed
down with the sense of guilt and the weight
of her shame She gave strong indications
of derangement after the birth OF her chllu-
On Friday evening, being still very weak
! and wild in her manner, she got out OF ber
he'd and had the girl who attended to her 10
: make it up, then she laid down aud cent tho
eirl out on an errand. Between 0 and 10
> o'clock she sent the girl for Mr.. Hicks to
come and pray for her The girl returned,
r saving he would come soon. Before he ar
] rived, however, she suddenly raised herself
, up in bed, looked wildly around, then arose,
+ took the babe in one arm and with the Othel
a seized her little boy, George, who lay sleep
ing ON his pallet, by the arm, and saying
r "Come with mamma y pulled him into the
$ kitchen, which is in the rear ol the sleeping
] room. But Georgle, rs if diyiulng his moth
4 er's object, held back with ali his might
s and when she had got hlm as far as the dool
Il leading to the yard, lie seized hold of it, and
9 held on strongly, crying Justly in the mean
, while; then she she let go OF him, and goiue
II Immediately to the well, with the babe il
$ her arms, she threw herself in, head fore
y most
u When the woman went in the kitchen the
: col0red girl ran out TO call in the neighbOrs
: who found George still clinging TO the doc
d crying piteously. The clothes of the mother
1t in falling into the well, which had filteer
e feet Of water in it, got entanged around th'
o bucket, and were visible above the water
y With the assistance of Policeman Gorbet
:, Taylor and others, the body was taken ou
= about 12 O'Clock, hut the child was not re
o. covered until about 9. A coroner's inques
ID was held, and a verdict returned that sh
III had committed suicide, having first murder
10 ed her child Such is the sad history OF
he woman whose early days gave promise
i, an honorable and happy life. Early indi
al crel,on, and perhaps naturally weak di
III position set her, in youth, on the dowi
nd ward path that slopes the way to Grim
he which ended in the dark tragedy we hay
hg described.
10