The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-10-13
A LEAP FOR DEATH

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A LEAP FOR DEATH.
a BEAUTIFUL GIRL THROWS HERSELF FRosr L
FOURTH STORY wINDOw-A HARD IOr-xo.
HONOR IN MAN OR PITY IN woIAc
IN tne Baltimore Sun OF October Is found
sad story of an attempt at suicide: AloEk
haif past III O'Clock yesterday morning. 4
girl, giving the name of Belle De Forest
threw herself from a fourth story hack win
dow Of 81. Johns restaurant. No. = North
Charles street, into the brick paved court
below, distance of A. feet, and receivsss
very serious injuries. The cause OF the act
is somewhat involved i'm mystery. ike Tbs
antecedents and former circumstances of
the girl, but is believed to have resulted
from morbid condition. brought about
by want and disappointment. II seems
that she had been in want. and bsd
been permitted by Mrs. Valentine. vrife
OF the proprietor of the house, to occupy a
Iourth story room until she could do better
She was yesterday notified that She N.ov,ts
have TO vacate, but expressed no surpriss Or
regret. The window through which sIe
! made the descent was so small that She had
| to push herself through feet formost. A
young Italian barber and a barkeeper heard
her iall, and ran out, to find her lvinr mr.
conscious on the pavement. Dr. Atkinson
was summoned and she was conveyed 10 the
washington University Hospital Here IL
was found by DIR. Reynolds that no ZONES
mad been broken, but her back was badly
bruised and she was at times in delirium On
the table in ner room was found letter ad
dressed TO former student of the MARYLAND
university Hospital, who is now ia New
York, but who, she SAYS had corresnopGed
with her since her departure The eristle
was written In delicate hand, and incloseG
lock OF SOFT, Drown hair. 1t read as fol-
lows:
SEPTEMBER =, 1874
DEAR WILL-Judge me not too harsbly,-
can not live after that cruel deed, but
will not blame you. 1t was my fault. I
will ssk but one favor from you. the last
shall ever ask: See that am buried mon
erly. L have no one ID seek this from but
you. Oh, if could only see you once more
would not murmuri Goodbye. darling
Sometimes think OF one who loved vog1-
loved you too well. OH l can not writea0r
more, my hand trembles so. Again. good
bye, my own darling, and ask God to tor
give me- am ever yours, even in desth
belle"
,Belle De Forest is the name printed OF
CARDS FOUND IN HER ROOMS.
and she has also been known by that name
during the year and half she has lived in
Baltimore. She is of medium height, II
years Of age, though looking older, has largs
hazel eyes, light brown hair, and is pretty
She has undoubtedly had hard lot in life
Her intelligence is quick and her converse
ton good. She is very reticent in regard to
her antecedents, and will only saw that ber
parents were French; ht T father was killed
in the late civil war; her mother died of con-
sumption soon afterward: that her early life
was spent in Richmond Va, but latterIy
she had lived in Pittsburgh, Pa
She says that she broke her arm
while coming from Pittsburgh to Baltimore
was taken to the Maryland University Hos
pital, where she lost her heart with young
student. After leaving the hospital, she
found employment in a confectionery store
on Lexington street; then as nurse with
Mrs. Trimble, on Saratoga street. which she
left, being too laboriOus, and found shelter
at the st. Johns restaurant
The reporter saw her after she had been re-
stored TO consciousness. She was weeping
very bitterly, and said: "Why will not the
people allow me room in this world to earn an
honest livelihood? God knows / have tried
hard to bear this worlds sufferings and to be
as good as any of my sex, but He also knows
that where I have trusted, have been de
ceived, and that where / thought there lived
honor aud manhood, there was nothing but
evil selfishness." During this outburst,
spoken in sObs but very earnestly. the tears
followed each other down her cheeks. and
growing more earnest she raised her rounded
white arm, and shaking the partly closed
hand continued: II have never vet met s
woman that would pity or help me, nor have
1 found one man who acted with honor to
ward me. Do you know that / have laid
upon sick bed month after month without
any one to give me water except / cravsd itf
Yes, | want TO die, and / will die, althOngh
it seems fate is against my wishes. Last
week / took ITO grains of bydra,e of chlCral
but il did not seem TO hurt e,and now am
alive yet" Last night she was easier ano
less vehement. d. Reynolds thinks she
will soon recover.