Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-08-08

The Attempted Suicide of Miss Eliza
q. simpson


- TIE CAUsE-wHAT HER FATHER AND HEE
FAMILY PHYSICIAN SAY ABOUT IT-HERED-
IlARG INSANITY IN THE FAMILY-A
-n, E1iAGE fosTPoSRD-'' on, NO; he WAS
True, 1T WAS ONLY I WHO HAVE nEES
! FALSE CRITICAL CONDITION OF THE IN
FORTUNATE GIRL.
The attempt of Miss Eliza G. Simpson, r
teacher In one of our public schools, TO com nit
suicide by Jumping from a North river pier in
! New York. account of which was published
I in THE STAR OF yesterday, caused great sorrow
among her many friends in this civ where she is
| sOwell known and generally beloved. The sen
| satiOnal reports in the New YORK papers il II.
| believed do gross injustice to the Young lady.
/ reporter O. TEE STAR was detailed this morn
ing to work up a careful
/ HISTORY OF TIE UNFORTUNATE GIRL.
ana II would appear from the facts developed
tkat her attempt at self destrCct ton vas not the
/ result OF any wrO1g doing on her part, but Is
attributable to a diseased mind from which she
hds suffered ut intervals tor several years; and
especially was II aggravated by 4 ard study and
mental anxiety brought on by preparations for
TIE recent examination of her school aud her
ei,crts 70 have It crediabe. 1t Is stated Oh the
ttst authority that She inheFits occasional
al err alton Of mind from her family, both rather
and mother having suffered at times from this
cause.
HER PARENTS AND FAMILY.
HeT father is ScOtehman but married in This
city, Al1 Tor many years has lived OF CGpt0l
HILL where he has been a faitIfu, toiler All
ECnts' citizen. He has small bac'.- rujtL shop
On Pennsylvania avenue, near 9Th street east,
an a RESIDES on Il street :. E, between IT. and
JtL Streets Just back OF Ms shop Nv lara Ia bDr
ne has accumulated some property, and few
years since relatives of Mrs. Simpson lef5 he
enc real estate, which placed them in very
comfortable circumstances Mr. Si-1r,sor, rC.i.-
t-nUCd his shop, being patrorizsd bv an Who
knew him on account Of his honesty aud faith
fumes. They have six children, two BOYS AMI
,oGr alr;s. one Of whom >Charles) Is older than
Eliza. She was
EDUCATED IN THE PUsLIC SCHOOLS
OF the 81 district, and graduated at the head Of
her class i'm Miss Rsmsey's Female Grammar
10 aff r,z-.r =,
she was appointed teacher and has Since taught
IN that district with success. Last year she Lad
Secondary school No. 3, located in che WalIaCh
sehooI building, which passed very good
THE DISTRESS OF HER FATHER.
The interview of our reporter with Mr.. Simp-
son, the father OF Miss Eliza, was quite affect
ing, and the sorrow betrayed By the old man
SUFFICIENT to enlist general sympathy tor tue
Eliza was the
PRIDE OF THE OLD MANS HEART,
and that her aftiictioni Is a sad blow 10 him. Not
Tor moment did lie credit the statement OF tie
New oTk jOurnals(wh his attention was called
to their TeIOrts) that she had done wrong. Not
the faintest suspicion crossed his mind, he said
that his pure daughter had strayed from the
path OF rectitUde and virtue. No, sir lie ca
claimed, as he dropped the hoof OF the horse he
was shoeing, and wiped tea. from Lis eye with
his bF2vny hand,
''Eo, SIR; LIZA HAS NOT DONE WRONG;
she Is crazy, and always gets so when she has
time to cit and think; when she has her school
has nothing to do but think she becomes craZV."
Taking the hOOf OF the horse he had dropped he
resumed his work, exclaiming, 1.-THE poor giri;
1 know she has not done wrong. But, sir, YOU
know she l. my child, and cannot believe such
tLiIg. Don't publish anything to iniure her
She has not done wrong. know it." In answer
to questions, he stated that his daughter had
suffered before n similar manner, and EaG
caused him much sOlicitude on account OF her
mental condition. After her school closed She
appeared very well and went to PENNSYLVANIA
with sister teacher, and passed couple or
weeks. Upon returning home he noticed that
SEE SEEMED TO re MELANCHOLY,
and grew worse daily. Tie family physician. Dr.
Ford, was summoned, and he finally advised a
trip to her relatives in New York, believing th at
q change OF scene might be beneficial, and, ac-
coTdingly, her mother started for that CITY with
her last Friday to visit an uncle residing there
UPON learning the sad news Yesterday tie elder
brother, Charles, started for New York last
night.
Miss Simpson is somewhat
PEEPossEssING IN HER PERSONAL APPEAR-
ANCE;
OF rather small figure, and has fair complexion;
daTk brown hair and hazel eyes. Her manner
Is very pleasant and generally lively. She is the
very picture OF good girl and no one acquaipt-
ed with her will believe for mornent that She
Is guilty OF the sins of which she accuses herself
In her dress she was scrupulously neat No
teacher in that district enjoyed the confidence
and esteem OF associates to greater degree than
she.
WHAT HER PHYSICIAN SAYS.
Dr. FORD, her attending physician, stated TO
our reporter that he has been atten ding the fam
jay .oT the past eight or ten years. He does not
credit the statement of Eliza as published in
the Herald that she has done wrong, but believes
that
SHE Is TEMPORARILY DkRAHGRD,
aId does hot know what she is talking about
u e knew her intimately, and expresses the be-
llef That she is an excellent young ladv Her
@Loie ilie has been exemplary, and ne does not
tElnk II Possible 1Or her to have fallen 81 sud
denly. About two years ago he was called To
attend heI fOr Just such an attack, and has fire.
Iuentiy attended her for fits OF melancholy.
amounting almost 20 insanity. Especially ali
he notice tbs jUst previous u the last examina-
ton OF her school. For several years she has
tCen
TEACHER IN TIE PREsRTTLRIAN SUNDAY
SCHOOL,
Of which DIR. Chester j pastor ana ier associates
there unanimously testify TO her good qualities.
Miss SimF son was betrOtheG C. I, yC4uu man
named Rice, OF whom every one speaks IL IN
highest terms, and it was the wish OF both tia.
the marriage should he contaminated tnrs
month. ~ l. said that Mrs. Simpson opposed 1t
al e early PERIOD, and this caused Cisapp0int-
meht both 10 the daughter ami her intended
husband. and that SINCE that time she wa. very
nuci ""UIessed' IL Is reported that some years
ago, While suffering from Itniper@r. u .! IL
sanity, Size attempted 10 take her lie w narg.
iDs herself, but was discovered in time by her
friends.
II Is stated that Mr Rice has gone 20 New
York, ana II he has, his presence materially adj
IN restoring her mind to Leaithtul condition,
We have received the following ccrilnuuica-
tons fully COrrOberating what is said above As
TO tie excellent character of Miss Simpson, and
establishing beyond all doubt that she was la
boring under Wild insanity in her attempt upon
her life, and that her utterances az the time
pTejudICisI 20 herself were from the same cause
and had 10 foundation whatever in fact
TIE CASE OF ELIZA GRAY SIMPSON.
Editor St0r: Belrg wei acquainted with Miss
Eliza Gray SfnlI sCH, aS well as 20 the real cause
been representa- in the reports OF the .ytw York
papers Yesterday and to-day, | Deem i Iiv Guty