The Van Buren press., 1872-06-11
SUICIDE AND MURDER,
A Double -Murder-Which ?

On Friday last there died and on Saturday wa,
buried lady, well known in this community and OF
good family connections. We refer to Mrs. Mary II
Eiiason the widow Of a gentleman widely known
here some years ago the mother of couple of inter-
esting young girls tn daughter and sister of moth
er, brother and sisters, who bitterly mourn her cruel
loss.
The manner of Mrs, Eliason's death is such as to
call forth the severest investigation. since nothing
less seems to be involved than either horrible
double m urder murder and suicide, all caused by
seduction.
And let it be stated at the outset that nothing less.
than the stern duty we owe to the community ms an
honest journalist and to ourselves as a husband and
father which impels us to make the following state
mcnt:
On Thursday the 9th inst., about noon, Drs. Main
and Duval two of oldest and most trusted physi
clans, were called to Mrs Eliason. They arrived
within ten minutes Of each other, between twelve
and one o'clock, and found the patient almost gone
from the effects Of some narcotic poison. In remoy
ing her from the bed, they found dram vial of NOR
phine halt empty.
The two physicians employed every means known
to science to restore their unfortunate patient and
excepting brief and unavoidable absence, continued
with her to the moment she died ext day, one Of
them being with her always and they should be
forced by law to unseal their lips and give full ev.
dence relating to the facts they doubtless know
them TO be.
In the interest Of humanity, dcccucy and morality
every other voice must be hushed. A fearful crime
has been committed in our midst. An accomplished,
warm hearted and highly respected woman has been
deprived of her virtue Of her life and that other
own offspring. The man who caused all this terrible
misery and crime is among Us and can doubtless be
easily identified If vc live in a community even
ymating to civilization and christianity, let
the law be put in force, lot magistrate. act, and
that at once. The whole community i. shocked.
Too much criminal carclessness and delay has al
ready been manifested Let the body Of the unior-
tunatc lady be cxhumed at once Let respectable
and scientific physician conduct tho examination be-
fore an igteiig,at jury, Let the testimony of Drs
Main and Duyal the attending physicians, and Of
other important witnesses that might be mentioned
be taken without delay, and the truth, toe horrid
truth, will doubtless como to light.
is terrible crime of this kind to be hushcd up !?
If So where is the safeguard for the purity of our
wives and daughters? What community, possessing
the slightest scfrespcct and regard for tho public
welfare, would delay for a moment to bring to light
the guilty party or parties.
Mrs Eliason doubles. died the victim Of an abor
tion-which is murder. Medical testimony will
doubtless prove also, that her offspring when dc
priycd Of life was Of age at which the law very
Justly recognizes the act as murder. That two hu-
man beings can bo put under the sod without even
the slightest judicial inquiry into the cause Of their
death, seems almost Incredible in decent commun-
ity. Yet such is the fact. Shall it remain SO?
The above from the Fort Smith Nelc Era seems
almost incredible and the thousand and one re-
ports afoat startled our own quiet town. From
the Herald Of this morning, we see that an inves.
tigation is being had and the truth of the matter
brought to light,