The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-09-29
LOVE, DISGRACE AND SUICIDE.
The Man Loved a Woman Below Him
In Social Position, and What ,
.... Became Of it. .-Wi

The Man Loved Woman Below Him
IN Social Position, and What
...: Became Of it. ...Mi
.------~--,---. -
Hiram L. French, a revenue officer at
Atlanta committed suicide on Friday
last, and the AtLdntG Constitution gives
quite readable account of the whole af-
fair. We make the following extract:
The deceased was born in New York,
but came to Georgia when quite young1
AS business man Mr.. French was very
successful, and during his life he made
perhaps some half dozen fortunes, but
lost them again through the tncapacity
to say mo-" and his general trusting,
confiding nature. He would credit ev-
erbody who would ask him. He was In
184S in copartnership with Rev. David
E. Butler, in the wholesale grocery bu-
lsinas.asss esfded IN tie city of Ameri-
Gus, Ga His wife died about ten years
fago. His son Henry was gallant OFF,
Ger in the Confederate army, and was
killed during the war. The political ca.
reer of Mr.. French was an eventful and
prominent one. He was a member of
the Legislature from Oglethorpe county
before the war, was also member Of
the famous secession convention,
which took Georgia out of. the union,
aud has several times been elected may
or of Americas. ...- .. .. ~. sss..s
He espoused warmly the .Hlost
Cause" and entering the scofifede derate
army, was made captain for gaa lantrysI
He possessed many sterling honorable
- nd vi Ia
universally to be deplored that: the un-
his letter should have caused him to
ceived to be dishonor.
ATLANTA, Sept. 18th, 1875, $50 P. M.
COL. JACK BRowN-MY DEAR
FR1END:-You will doubtless be aston
ished on finding me q dead man! But
have calmly considered the matter
and am satisfied I have outlived my
day. Far better had it been for me had
died last winter when was 80 low.
It is said thata person never commits
suicide only when demented. This Is
mistake. am this moment as ra-
tional as at any period of my life.' l
must die to prevent disgrace. You can
imagine my condition.. 1 am in love,
and the dear creature is now in this
city, at the house of woman on
Thompson street, near the Ice House.
do not know her name, the Gland la
dy's.) I caused her to come here, to
leave her parents, promising to marry
her, but to do this I must forever give
up my dear children. This I cannot do.
NIT what YOU may consider rash act.
Now, my friend, want to give my
diving statement. A,and j. McNeeky is
q uirtuo,ls suonaan. She has confided to
me under q most solemn promise Of
marriage. She is not to be 6ldmed-I
alone am the guilty party, and I atone
for it by bidding adieu to all on earth.
T particularly desire that Immediately
after you find my body that you will 60
to her-tell her all-pay her board, fur
1aish her a0ith money to go home d'ad see
her on the train.
There will be no necessity of an in
quest over me as take grains of NOR
phine, which I this p. m. purchased for
this purpose. have no directions to
give as to what disposition to make Of
my remains. care nothing about this.
do not desire any expenses that can be
avoided. What ever money you may
be- required to expend will be refunded
you, as have enough property to salts
fy you. .'.. 80 - ..."'~
Break the sad news to my daughter,
whom love dearer than life. I, am
ashamed Of (my self.) / could have been
respected, had not been so very impru-
dent. You know my foibles-please
make allowances.
must now bid you adieu. It is so
dark cannot write more.
And may a merciful God pardon me!
Truly your friend,
The appearance of the young lady
about whom the trouble is, that Of lit
tie, active country girl, unused to the
ways of the world. She was neatly
dressed in we'll fitting gray, or drab,
dress and white linen collar. There
was nothing either gross or remarkable
in her appearance. :,
Miss McNeely said that she had
known Captain French all of her life,
but that he had been paying his addeess-
es to her for the past two years. They
have been engaged, or he has been un-
der a solemn promise of marriage to her,
for wear past, and the matter would
have been accomplished long since, as
she states, but for the violent and deter
mined opposition of Captain French's
daughter. For q portion of the time
they had been meeting together and all
the relations of man and wife sustained.
From this intimacy the usual expected
result has not appeared. She said that
Captain French was the only man she
ever loved, IL loved him with all my
heart" she said, land I know he loved
me and would have married me, but
now am ruined forever! Oh I would
rather be dead than the wretched person
am! I am 8 lost woman and Will new
er know another moments rest In this
world !" ..'
She spoke Of the opposition. to their
marriage made by Captain French g
daughter, and claimed that all their
trouble and the death of the unfortunate
man were due to this. She said that
Captain French wrote for her to come
here, and they would be married in this
city, and out of the reach Of his daught-
er's influence, -.
On Sunday they came to Atlanta to-
pether and she was placed to board In
the house where she now was. He vis-
tied her and spent much Of his leisure
time with her. She said:
"When he returned on Monday night,
I told him was not satisfied with the
place and my condition. I cried and
begged him to let US get married and
live right, and he promised, saying
II had good wife once, I know that
she was good and is in Heaven, and I
will have another before Sunday night
He said he knew 1 was good woman
., Il Il to ho hannU ~
She said: "Capt. French stayed with
me Thursday night, and wrote a letter
to nv parents. He said when he got up
yesterday morning, that must try to
be happy, now that we were so soon to
be married. He then, calling me his
darling went away, and I have not
coon n Inn ciDoa ~