, 1873-04-28
6ELF-DESTRUC7lON.


american, april 10, 1878.
sELF-DEsTRUcTioN.
Lieut.. Dennison, OF tho United statcs
Navy, Shoots 1Tinaso1f Through, tho
1ucad-.-Tho Sud Sequel to a wealthy
Wldosyss' Marriage.
From tbs San Franctseo Chronicle.
Lieut.: Erasmus Douuiaon, OF tho United
Htntoe Navy, attaohed to tho steamer Baranuc,
I IRsv RsG s rsba a his @ ns ss StdS Sna,no 1T noo a sa
yoara old, WAS son Of ox-Postn,astor- aoneral
Dcnnlson, OF Ohio, and brother of Horny NJ.
Denniaon, Paymastor United States Navy. Ills
terrible ond may bo attributed to two cauHea-
rum and domestic unhnppineBs.
Dounlaon graduated at tho Unitod States No
val Academy In tho claas Of 1860. Ho served.
on several vossa1s In tho navy, going up through
tho different grades to that OF Lioutenant and
in tho fen Of M ls1o he obtained leaye ct absence
1Ie wont thoro, roamed around Franco, Cor
many, Italy, and finally brought up in Vienna:
There ho fell In with d fascinating lady from
Of Commodore Woodworth Of tho navy. Ills
naval connection gave him a right to DO polite to
tho Indy, and ho exoroisod tho right to It's full
est extent. Commodore Woodworth, who was
Immensely rioh, was obliged to remain in Cali
vito WAS fond Of travel ho permitted her, with
the children, two In number, to travel around
Europe to her hoarta content.
Mrs. Woodworth waB lady about 80 years old
worry beautiful, and, as consequence, though
knowing that Bhe waA n1nrried, Dennison fell
madly il love with her. This passion lastod for
many months before he declared it, aud flually,
In donanoo Of pEopriety, though perhaps inno-
cent Of any actual wrong, Mra. Woodworth por-
mittad him to bo hor constant companion-in
fact, mnde him, so to Bpoak, Il member Of hor
family in Vionna. aud elsewhere in Europe
wherever shc travelled. Finally, this European
Commodore Woodworth in this city, about two
years or loss nso. His widow at once returned
from Europe, young Donntson coming with llor
as far as Now York, and sho coming acrosB tho
continent.
4 low woeks after her huabands death, and
nftor settling somo mattors connected with his
eatate, Mrs. Woodworth returned to New York
and took up ler residence. Six months aftor-
wards, In diroct opposition to tho wlshes Of hor
her hueband's memory, she married young Den
ntson. Tho affair croated considerable stir In
fashionable circles, both hero and in Now York,
and excited Q world OF unfavorablo comment.
About that timo, Or shortly aftcr tho honey
moon IT their Was such O thing then In their
caao), Mrs. Dennison resolved to return to San
Francisco to look aftor har pocupiry interests,
and in ordor to hayo lor husband as near lor as
possible sho mnnaged to laayo him orderoa to
But there we're many little differences between
them, which finally, led them both to beliovo that
thoy had matle n mistake. Twas not oil coulour
du rose, their mnrriod hfo. In tho first place,
like mnny other naval officers, young Dennnison, ni,
was somowhat conviyial in his habits He wns
an adopt In tho performance OF that miracle by
Which little water was turned into great doal
OF vino. This caused his wife many a heart
going. Then, TOO. thoro waro certain pangs
Of regret e6n her part. Though 1throe
or -four yoars Older than he, She had
loved him dearly. and she could not under
ity than he did Of the joys Of his Hrosido. She
folt lonely aud neglected.. Again, there woro
pocuniery shadows thatwero constantly spring.
ing up between thom. By tho terms Of her
hneband's wiz, Mrs; DennlAon waa made an
executors, to goyorn the property. But BY hor
marriage with Dennison sho threw away this
right, d fact Of which Bho was evidently not
aware when she put her head inside tho matri-
nlonial noose. The knowledge Of tho position
she waB thus plneel in ohafed her spirit md this
fact, together with her young husbands intem-
peranco and extravngance, madc her ono Of tho
unhappiest Of women.
Then cano series Of tars and vranogles and.
another niaery. BY hor hasty marriage Mrs.
Dennison had thrown away her share to goolly
slice Of tho Commodore's property. Tho loas Of
this, a. eho afterward found out, did not COM
young gentleman, and thoroupon she WAS moro
unhappy than over. Besides, Bho accused him
OF spending hor money rochlessly, and, In fact,
actual misrepresentation Of q goodly portion Of
It,. Do this as it may, Mrs. Dennison found hor-
compelled to Loosen tho oxponsos Of tie family.
at this DeuniGon. who wanted to keep up style,
and who, it is said, only married tho riaow for
her money, got indignant, and becamo more
reoklcsB than eVor.
About this time tho couple lived In rented
house on Stockton street. Their life was ono OF
exceeding bitterness, each accusing the other Of
being the onuse Of their mutual misery. Ono
day laat summer Dennison went into neiglibor-
ing drug store and told the druggist to put up
bottle Of the doadliest poison he could COM
pound. Tho druggist took a.look at tho young
man, and, diyininR that hla purpose waa not
good ono, put him up bottle Of harmless mix
vent home. That night he and his wifo had
another difference, aud then he told llor le
was going, to kill himsolf. He swallowed
down On aatiu sofa to die. This scene created
constornation in the household. Mrs. Denniaon
Bolzed tho bottle, and sont QUO servant to tho
drug store to find out what lts contents wore.
laughed whom the servant Informed him what
had hnpponod, and ho told Aer to run home and
toll hor miBtross that her husband was in no
danger: About this time tho sarsnao was
ordered on csuine. and for months Mrs. Donni-
aon lived In ponce. Tho saranao wont down on
past winter.
On Thursday the ship returned and anchored
In tho bay. Lieut.. Dcnnison came asiioro aud
repaired to hia wile's residence on Stockton
To Ills utter astoniHhnlent ho found his homo
broken up, and the house In charge Of an agont
Of tho man from whom 1t WIS rcntod. Upon In
qulry ho loarned TINT Hrs. pcnnison was tAen in