The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-09-02
Two Girls attempt Snfcttse-Ome Is Sue
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Our dispatches briefly chronicled the at.
tempt OF two young girls in Belehertowp,
Mass, TO commit suicide the other day. The
Springfield Republican gives the particulars
of this strange case as follows:
OF course the death Of Nettie Barrett,
aged seventeen, by her own hand. at BeIcher-
town, and the narrow escape Of her com.
panion, Frances s. BrIdgman, fourteen years
old, from like fate, have created the pre-
foundest sensation In that quiet community
aud the funeral of the former at the Metho.
dist church yesterday was largely attended.
Indeed, the whole affair Is suca strangely
sad one that there Is wide interest 10 learn
all possible particulars concerning 1t. The
giIls were bright and attractive, belonging
10 the higher village circles. Miss Birrett
was sent 10 Belcaertown last April by her
mother, who lives In South Amherst, to con.
| tinue her education, and was to flave been
examined for the Higb-School Saturday,
and baptized yesterday in the same church
which witnessed her burial; and Miss Brldg-
man, " no has been her almost constan, com.
pauou OF late, was the adopted daughter Of
Calvin Bridcm1n.
| People who k1ow most about the case say
! that the girls were the victims of religious
!
tic Irritation. Miss Barrett had the reputa.
! ton Of having been rsther wild person,
/ and the girls were in the habit Of being out
! late ut nights. Miss Barrett was the leader,
and her conduct had become so notorious
that her guardian, Franklin Dickinson, had
Il serious talk with her Thursday on her be-
hayior. When she returned that evening
! she remarked 10 Mrs. D,Diel Pack nd, with
whom she was stopping, that they
" wouldn't be troubled with her being out
any more nights At o'clock she aud
! Mis-, Bridgman, who bad been secreted 10
the room, were observed by neigbbors TO
/ leave the house. They procured the fatal
morphine at the drugstore Of Mr.. Barnes,
the older. A few days before they had un'
successfully undertaken 10 get the poison OF
the sor, who refused 10 give il withouta pre-
! sclp,ion. Mr.. Barnes claims that he supposed
| il was Tor Calvin Bridgmar. AT what time
and how the girls got into Packard's house
again is mol known. About T:30 O'Clock
! Friday morning Mrs. Owen, with whom
! Frances Bridgmas was boarding during her
! parents absence, came over in the greatest
alarm about her, saying the night before The
| girl had left after bidding them tealful
! farewell. Mrs. Packard went immediately
/ to the rooD, aud there the victims lay, one
! terrible agony. The bed was covered with
! candy, and Miss Bridgman explained that
| they had overeatcn Of this. Efforts were
made 10 rouse Miss Barrett, who refused to
| take ANYTHING but cold water, and then de.
! terminedly said: "Now, 20 away; | want
! TO sic. D." When Mr.. Pa kird had left the
room tor help Miss Bridgman hailed little
! girl and threw down this note, written in
! confused, uncertain hand, and unsigned:
mir. BarneS,-WiIl you be so kind as to
send me as much chloroiorm rs here is mo-
/ ncy enough five cents worth:'
| She threw down also two letters directed
TO George II. Slauter, Belchertown, and
/ Wilbur r. Nichols, at Wilbraham Academy,
bidding them farewell, aud asking them 10
| act as Der bearers. Then followed an eX.
citing scene in the little bedroom. Poor
Nrttie Barrett was dying. Miss Bridgman
confessed that they had taken the morphine;
that the candy was only Iuse that there
had been scandslous stories 10 The town
about them; that she did not wish ever TO
sec Der rents again, and hoped ana en-
pected TO die. She quietly watched her dy-
ing companion, and waited for The expected
chloroform. With The death OF Miss Bar.
lett, however. came the desire to live, and
she requested salt and water to enable her
10 FOtDil more. Suc Vas Q'litC totoiolluoiG
Yesterday. and evidently improving.
The wonderful nerve and mingled frank
ness and cunning OF these little misses, as
displayed during the whole affair are
brought ou. by the scenes immediately
preceding the tragedy. Only five hours
before they entered the little bedroom
they gaiIy played croquet with some young
people, holding in their hands the candy
which they were to sprinkle on the BED.
bliss BriGgmau wrote what she thought was
her last letter to her father in simple, aztec
tiouac, yet determined words. She would
meet her parents in world where there were
no Scandalous tongues, and where they could
live in peace.