Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-12-08
SUICIDE.
A SoiIed Dove Takes Her Flight.


A SOiIed Dove Takes Her Flight.
An inmate of Annie Gallagher S
bagnio, named Laura Whitfield, commit
ted suicide yesterday by taking an over
dose of morphine. The unfortunate wo-
man was about seventeen years of age,
and native Of Pamela county, Misss-
sippi. She had been twice married, the
last time to a man named John Moore,
in Mississippi. She lived with Moore
about six months, left him, and came to
this city, bringing with her a child
whose parentage was mystery
She at once became an inmate OF
Annie Gallagher-Fishers disreputable
house, at which place she remained up
TO the time of her death While an in
mate of this establishment, she became
acquainted with man named John
Lester, a bar-keeper in a saloon on JEFF
ferson street, Lester formerly was a
citizen Of St. Louis, at which point he
deserted his wife. Testers wife also be-
came an erring woman, and came to this
city few days since. taking up her
abode at a bagnio on Market Square.
This complicated family arrangement
was the cause of the tragedy. Lester S
wife endeavored to win back her
faithless husband, and offered him
diamond ring worth $500 If
he would return to his first love. All
this coming to the ears of the frail
Laura, she determined to leave this
world of trouble and seek the peace OF
the grave. Another cause of the tragedy
is said to be that Laura's mother arrived
from Mississippi few days since, and
intended taking the child home with her
and rescue this little innocent from the
evil influences under which it was being
brought up. These combined causes
convinced Laura Whitfield that it was
necessary to follow the example OF
Cato, and commit suicide. On Tues
day night last she purchased a
bottle of morphine, and during the
night succeeded in swallowing portion
of the contents, but was prevented from
emptying the bottle by Mrs. Gallagher.
Early yesterday morning she succeeded
in finishing the bottle of morphine, and
was found lying across the bed in an in
sensible condition. DR.. White was sent
for and attempted to relieve the unfor-
tunate, but without effect. She died at
twelve o'clock yesterday. Coroner Moi
fatt was summoned, and from the evil
dence introduced at the inquest war
rant was issued for the arrest Of John
Lester. The evidence was very contra
dictory. Lester was heard to say that
if morphine would not kill, he had
something which would. He had been
with her the previous night, and had re-
turned again that morning. He had
bought morphioe at Johnson's drug store.
His examination was in progress before
the Coroner at twelve m. to-day, and the
result will be known sometime this eve
ming. 1t is usual to say something
about lone more unfortunate " when
parties commit suicide, but We have too
much respect for the memory Of Tom
Hood, and too high an appreciation Of
his wonderful poem, The Bridge Of
Signs" to quote a single line of it and
apply it to the case above mentioned.
There is nothing romantic in the affair,
and not a single incident connected with
it can relieve it from the infamy which
surrounded the life and which hovers
above the corpse of the dead woman.