The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-07
SUICIDAL TRAGEDIES.
A Mother Administers Morphine to Herself and
Daughter at Atlanta, Ga, and an Old
Farmer Shoots Himself Through
the Heart at Lithonia

ATLANTA. Ca, March 6. 1874.
This morning, Mrs. Duffy residing at No. 20
Wheat street, discovered Willie Pettibone leaning
against the fence between her residence and Mrs.
Petitioners, apparently IN deep distress. She ran
to him, and upon being told that his mother was
dying rushed into Mrs. Petitioners. She found
Mrs. Pettibone in deep stupOr, and her little girl
Ella in the same condition. Mrs. Duny took little
Ella out of the bed and bathed her. DR.. Charles
Pinckney was summoned, but Mrs. Pettib0ne ex-
pred before his arrival. The facts con-
nected with her death are as follows: She
wrote to Mr.. G. J. Howard for 81 worth
OF morphine the day previous, sending gold neck
lace a pledge for the money. The druggist
refused to SEND So worth, but sent 81 worth-fory-
eight doses-in quarter OF a grain Doses There
were none but Mrs. Pettibone and little Ella there
last night About seven O'Clock Mrs. PettibOne
took eleven and three-quarter grains OF morphine
and administered the same 20 Ella, against the
chd's remonstrances. Mrs. Petttbone died this
morning, but the child Is in good way of recov
cry. Mrs. Pettibone previously wrote q letter to
her mother, residing In Connecticut and to her
son Wlllie explaining that pecuniary trouble was
her reason Tor taking her own life and that OF her
daughter. She also asked that herself and daugh-
ter be buried in the cemetery here by the side OF
her husband.
THE CAUSE OF HER DEPRESSION.
Mr.. Robert A. Pettioone, her husband, was
He had his life insured and the sum Of 500 Was
paid to her. Her son, Willie, is about sixteen
years Of age and her daughter, Ella, about SIX
she equally divided 1t between herself and chill
dren. Judge Daniel Pttman, the executor,
Mrs. Pettibone allowed her father-in-law, then
engaged in business on Decatur street, to use her
$1,000 He failed and thus she lost her all she
life OF herself and little daughter. In addi I
had had an attack OF smallpox. During the illness
OF the daughter no one visited her. Her rent was
unpaid and the rent agent threatened to put her
sey committed suicide in the same house by the
same means-porptine.
IL ANOTHER SAD SUICIDE.
Lithonfa quiet village on the Georgia Railroad,
twenty-fou miles below Atlanta was the scene OF
another suicide this morning; The man who has
was born In DeKalb county and has lived nearly
all his life in Lthonia- He was a farmer by occu-
wh the nIn family Of one OF "'s his ,eSs sons
until to-day. Mr.. Braswell was about seventy
three years Of age. and leaves large family
who are plunged into the deepest woe by this ter
ripe DEATH one OF his sons. W. s. Braswell, is a
prominent merchant OF Lithonia. Mr.. Braswel
mad for some time been afiiicted with nydroceie,
and his sufferlngs were uncomfortable. He had been
Du * R H. gO1S
rary. His suffering seems 10 have suggested to
him the idea OF obtaining relief by suicide. That
anxious relatives week or so back. On Friday
last he attempted to throw himself under q train
at Lithonia, but was prevented by force. In the
room he occupied every dangerous implement had
been removed, including his razors, and he was
continually watched. Unfortunately small double
barrelcd shotgun. belonging to one of tho chill.
dren, was overlooked.
THE SECOND TRAGEDY.
This morning the family rose at the usual hour,
and sent word TO Mr. Braswel to come to breakfast.
He replied that he could not come to the table, but
asked them to send something to him. cup OF
coffee was accordingly sent to his room. While
the family were seated around the table they were
alarmed by the report OF q shotgun, and rushed 10
Mr.. Braswells room, where ghastly ana leariul
spectacle awaited them. There, stretched upon
the oor lay the father in the last agonies OF death
the blood slowly trickling from large wound on
the lett side just over the heart. He never spoke
after he shot, and death relieved hlm rom all
suffering in u few moments. The gun was loaded
with squirrel shot. From the range OF the load
upwards II is supposed that Mr.. Braswell cooked
the gun, placed the butt upon the floor and leaned
against It, with his left side resting upon the
muzzle. In THIS position he pushed back the tr1g-
ger by means OF q small stick hitherto used IN
holding up his window
The sad occurrence has cast pail of gloom over
the entire community. The children Of the I'M
happy man were among the most respected ctti-
zens Of Iitnonia, and have the sympathy Of all In
their sad aflicti0n.