Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-10-17
"Judge Not too IIarshly.'.
From the baltimore sun.

| yesterday morning a girl, giving
the name of Belle De Forest, threw
herself from a fourth story back
window of St. Johns restaurant,
No. 50 North Charles street, into
the brick-paved court below, a dis
tance of As feet, and received very
serious injuries. The cause of the
act is somewhat involved in myste-
~, like the antecedeDts and former
circumstances of the girl, but is be-
! lieved 10 have resulted from a NOR
bid condition. brought about by
want and disappointment.
1t seems that she had been in
want, and had been permitted ty
Mrs. Valentine, wife of the propri-
etor of the house, to occupy a fourth
story room until she could do bet
ter. She was yesterday notified
| that she would have TO vacate, but
expressed no surprise or regret
The window through which she
made the descent was so small that
she had to push herself through
feet foremost. A young Italian
barber and barkeeper heard her
fall, and ran out, TO find her lying
unconscious on the pavement. DIR.
Atkinson was summoned and she
was conveyed to the Washington
University Hospital. Hero it was
found by DR.. Reynold that no
bones had been broken, but her
back was badly bruised and she
was at times in delirium.
On the table in her room was
found a letter addressed to a for
mer student of the Maryland Uni
versity Hospital, who is now IN
New York, but who, she says, had
correspended with her since her de-
parture. The epistle was written
in delicate hand, and inclosed
lock of soft, brown hair. 1t read
as follows:
SEPTEMBER -, 1874.-Dear WILL
Judge me not too harshly. l can
not live after that cruel deed, but 1
will not blame you. 1t was my
fault. will ask but one favor Of
you, the last l shall ever ask: see
that 1 am buried properly. l have
no one to seek this from but you.
Oh, if 1 could only see you once
more l would not murmerl Good
by, darling. Sometimes think of
one who loved you-loved you too
well. Oh! 1 can not write any
more, my hand trembles so. A
gain, good-by, my own darling, and
ask God to forgive me. l am ever
yours, even in death. BELLE"
Belle De Forest is the name prIn-
ted on 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, eighteen
years of age, though looking Older,
has large hazel eyes, light brown
hair and is pretty. She has un-
doubtedly had a hard lot in fifc.-
Her intelligence is quick and her
conversation good. She is very re-
ticent in regard to her antecedents,
and will only say that her parents
were French; her father was killed
in the late civil war; her mother
died of consumption soon after
ward; that her early life was spent
in Richmond, Va, but latterly she
had lived IN Pittsburgh, Pa. She
says she broke her arm while com
ing from Pittsburgh 10 Baltimore;
was taken to the Maryland Univer
sity Hospital, where she lost her
heart with ayoung student After
leaving the hospital she found en-
ployment in a confectionery store
on Lexington street; then as nurse
with Mrs. Trimble, on Saratoga Sc
which she left, being too .aborious,
and found shelter at the ST. Johns
restaurant.
The reporter saw her after she
had been restored TO consciousness.
She was weeping very bitterly, and
said: why will not the people al
low 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 [ have trusted l have been
deceived, and that where l thought
there lived honor and manhood,
there was nothing but evil selfish
ness During this bathurst; spok-
en- in sobs, but very earnestly, the
tears followed each other down
her checks, and growing more
earnest she raised her rounded
white arm, and shaking the partly
closed hand, continued: Il have
never yet met woman that would
pity or help me, nor have found
one man who acted with honor
towards me. Do you knoE that
l have laid upon sick bed month
after month without any one to
give me water except l craved itI
Yes, l want to die, and l will die,
although it seems fate Is against
my wishes. Last week l took one
hundred and forty grains of hYdrate
Of chloral, but it did not seem to
hurt ne, and now l am alive yet
Last night she was easier ahd less
vehement. DIR. Reynolds thinks
she will soon recover.