The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-05-30

On OU0 Vi tu0 Iubb Ouuuuy6 vi hYEu,
some mischiof-breedcr dropped an anony-
nous note to Mr. Harold, through TIE
postoffice, intimating to him that an i'm
proper intimacy existed between his vito
and Mr.. Johnson. Mr.. Harold and Mr..
Johnson had been personal and warm
ffiends for thirty years. Their families
had been intimate for most Of that period.
Mr.. Harold had lived happily with his
wife for nearly forty years. She had his
entire confidence and deep love. For
thirty years she had been an active, ex-
emplary md most consistent member OF
the Presbyterian church. As soon as he
read the letter he went promptly TO her,
showed II to her and assured Der he did
not believe word of 1t. Mrs. Harold
read the letter, and wns 80 indignant that
she could hardly restrain herself. At ono
time in the evening she was found almost
crazy with excitement with gun in her
hand, and declaring she intended to shoot
her traducers. SO excited did she
become that she almost lost
her reason. She repeatedly assured
her husband Of her innocence. But the
idle Gossips who infest Greeneville and
other places took up the scandal and
talked about II constantly. In hundred
different. ways was 1t presented. So
pOstttvciy WAS IL hsscrteu, tHht como Few,
always ready TO believe i'll Of their bettere,
believed IL. Mrs. Harold seemed borne
down by these repetitions of the scardal.
About this time her only son, o lieutenant
10 the United States army, young man
Of high character and excellent traits, came
homo on leave Of absence. 1t was thought
best to keep him ignorant Of the SANDER,
as II Would only make his visit unhappy.
A few days after his return, word came 10
Mrs. Harold that her mother was danger
ously i'll. 1t was determined that Mrs.
Harold should 60 to the sick bed in
Rhea county, rather than her sister living
with her, as the visit would take her from
the scandal and give her rest. Her son
accompanied her.
THE SUICIDE.
They reached the mothers house after
short trip, during which Mrs. Harold
seemed very Respondent. But her son,
still ignorant of the Islander, attributed
this to his mothers condition.
When they reached Mrs. Heiskell's Cher
mothers name) she was found to be some
better. On the second morning after reach
ing there, Mrs. Harold rose earlier than
usual, went TO her mothers room to attend
to her, and then was seen TO take from her
sons satchel his small pistol. Her mother
supposed she was getting IL for him. TAX
ing the pistol, Mrs. Harold went out some
distance from the house into q thcket,
and there shot herself through the left
breast, and through tho heart. Three
shots were heard, the alarm was given, and
soon after she was found in n dying condi-
ton. 1t was supposed the first shot was
fatal, as it set fire TO her clothing, which
were burning when found. She was car
ried to the house, but died before she
reached it, never uttering u word. Her
remains were taken home for interment.
Tho suicide, following so close the other
excitement, threw Mr.. Harold an invalid,
into dangerous state, from which he is
hardly yet recovered.
WHAT Is THOUGHT OF IT.
Mr.. Harold, who is a quiet man Of few
words. fears now that, though he assured
her more than once Of his confidence in
her. she had some fears that he and others
did not entirely believe her innocent, and
that it weighed so heavily on Ler as to
unbalance her mind. Her son never
heard Of the cause Of his mothers taking
her life until the Rev. s. v. McCork'e at
her funeral sermon very justly and prop
erly referred in severe language to the
terrible lesson the event afforded the idle
/
trouble.
We found all of the good citizens OF
Greeneville, irrespective Of religion or
politics, denouncing the slander az false.
Mr.. johnson declared the lady never had
been in his library. He said she had been
q friend Of Mrs. johnson for half life
time, but that he had not spoken to her
! for week before or at the time Of the al
legged visit to his library.
A citizen of Greeneville, esteemed for
his veracity, showed us a pair of pants
Mrs. Harold had made about the time
of the scandal. She had made them for
tailor who occupies Johnsons old shop
next door to the library, and second from
Mrs. Harold's. 1t had been necessary
while making these for Mrs Harold to go
several times to the shop and thus passing
back and forth by Johnson's library, il
supposed to have been used as some foun.
dation for the story.
As said before, Mrs. Harold was an ex.
emplary christian woman of high charac.
ter, universally esteemed for many noble
qualities, Ardently attached 10 her husband
and children, and a lady Of great energy
and warm heart. She was literally broken
down by these false scandals, and in an
hour OF mental arrangement, with burn.
ing consciousness Of Innocence, and with
out power TO resist the temptation, SD.
took her life. The family have the deep
est sympathy Of all the good people O
Greeneville, and the satisfaction of know
= ing that no one who knows them or who's,
good opinion they care for believes tn
scandal.
The author of the ISLANDERS, we under
stand, has fed. If ever found he ant
those who have encouraged and aided hin
should be punished.
!. We have thus given tho SANDER an
, the facts to the end that the story nigh
be arrested. A general denial ought to b
- enough, but denial in detail, and circum
!; stances refuting the ISLANDERS, can do n
i, harm. These are our motives for agai
y referring to the unfortunate affair.