The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-29
A FEMALE INCENDIARY.

Arrested for the Act.shs Astempt. Suicide In
Quite sensation, says last evenings New
York Commercial Advertiser, was caused this
morning at the Central Police Office, by the fact
that Minnie Davis, who was locked up on
charge of arson, had attempted to hang herself.
This woman was arrested on Sunday night,
charged with setting fire in her room. No. 81
West Twenty ninth street. 1t appears LnaJ few
days before she had her furniture, etc, insured
for $1,000. She had been locked up in the cells
at the Central Office until last night, when she
begged the officers to let her have another room.
They allowed her to go into the doorkeeper's
room, which is also one of the cells, but some
what better furnished than the others. She
thanked them for their kindness and was
locked in.
About eight o'clock this morning Detective
Doran had occasion to visit the cells. On at
tempting to open the door of the room where
Miss Davis was confined, he found some heavy
weight against it, He Immediately pushed open
the door, and entering, found Miss Davis hang
ing with towel tied round her neck, and at
tached to the door knob. She had to lift her
feet from the floor in order to swing free. De-
tective Doran cut her down, and sent for the
doctor, who on arriving, said that she could
not have been long hanging. Shortly after the
arrival of the ductor she was able to speak.
This is the fifth would-be suicide that Doran has
cut down since he has been attached to the
police force in this city. Three letters were
found in Miss Davis room, which she had writ
ten during her imprisonment. One was to the
Fire Marshal, and the others to her lover and a
friend. In the note to her lover she makes him
present of half dozen gold bosom studs. She
is rather prepossessing looking young lady,
and dresses very neatly. She pretends to be
| bowed down with grief. The following is q
verbatim copy of the letter which she left for the
| Fire Marshall
December 27, ls7O-TO the Honorable Fire Marshal
ALI have TO say ia thiH am not guilty OF setting
IRE TO my things at No. o4 West Thirty ninth street,
and would not have done such thing for the world.
Mrs. liagadorn told me the day before the fire that
she had her things insured for $4,000 that she would
burn them up TO get the insurance money and said
that would not be mean enough to do such a thing.
II the wind did not blow the curtain in the candle
then somebody else must have set them on fre. for
/ am sure when went to beds there was no fire In
the room. Will you and everybody else interested
in this affar be so kind as to forgive me all that
Please send for Mr.. (here she put the name OF her
lover, which we omiD ana give him the letter that
have left for him, and II he feels disposed TO let
you see it, all right, that explains everything. WIN
you be so kind as TO let him have my things and pic
lures? He has always been good and kind to me,
| and want him to have my things, for love him
better than love my life, please TO give him my
body, and assist him II he requires 1t OF you. Please
send for my things that In the cell over JEFF
| ferson Market and let him have everything / am
| will not forgive me am sure that God will.
Mrs. - will see the dav that she will be sorry for
| the injustice she has done me- She has caused me
| TO be locked up, and has caused me to suffer
| she could.
| Imust close by saying that win not be much
longer in this world TO suffer- and ask all TO for
give me; and beg you never to nave my remains
obliged to you, gentlemen, for being kind TO me
this evening, and for giving me such comfortable
| room. ind II much better than the cold cells.
GoOd-oy TO al, MINNIE DAVIS.