Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-05-26
LOVE AND SUICIDE.

lack-Henrted Dry Goods Clerk-He Tell,
Her She Has Married a Bigamist nnt
Deserts Her-The Bride of Three Gay.
Commits Suicide-A MOurnfnl StOry-Tht
Deceiver Imprisoned.
WOODRUFF, Steuben County, n. Y.
May 15.-This village was thrown into
great excitement on Thursday, by the
report that Mrs. John Farris, daughter
OF Rev. Joseph Thomas, of the Wood
hull Presbyterian Church, had commit
ted suicide at Watkins by throwing her.
self in front of a locomotive on the
Northern Central Railway. The truth
OF the report was substantiated yester-
day by the arrival here of the lady's
mutllated remains. The death of Mrs.
Farris, OF more properly Miss Thomas,
was more than a suicide. It was a do
nestle tragedy, instigated by the un-
paradleled villainy of a man to whom
she was married about two weeks ago,
and for whom she left happy and cul-
tivated home, followed by the congratu-
lat1ons of a large circle of friends, to
find that she had been most heartlessly
deceived.
Lavinia Thomas, the deceased, was
twenty-four years of age, and up to the
time Of the marriage mentioned was the
centre of an admiring circle, composed
OF the best society of Woodruff. She
was handsome and accomplished, al
though her parents were in compare
lively poor circumstances. A few
months since she formed the acquaint-
ance of q man named John Farris, few
years her senior. who came to this place
from Ithaca, and clerked in dry goods
store. He was of pleasing address and
winning manners, and soon won the
heart of Miss Thomas. Her parents
thinking we'll of Farris, there was no
obstacle to the marriage Of the two, and
the ceremony was performed at the time
above mentioned, the father of the bride
himself officiating.
From Woodruff the newly married
pair started on a brief wedding tour.
They went to Watkins, and stopped at
the Langdon House. After spending
two or three daye there the young wife
noticed decided change in the conduct
of her husband. From being kind and
loving he became cross and neglectful,
and finally, on the third day, appeared
before her considerably intoxicated She
was almost crazed at the conduct Of
Farris; but attempted to lovingly re-
monstrate with him, when he pushed
her from him, and, to her horror, cool
ly told her that she was not his wife, as
he had been previously married and his
wife was living at Ithaca. He also said
that he intended to leave her and go
back to Ithaca, and that the best thing
she could do would be to enter house
of prostitution, even suggesting to her
the name of one and Offering to conduct
her to it. He then went away, leaving
the heartbroken young woman without
paying the bills that had been con-
tracted at the hotel. Inquiry on her
part proved that what her supposed hus-
band had told her was too true, and
that he was notorious scoundrel and
thief. r. d ~
Having no money Miss Thomas left
her trunk at the hotel as security for
the payment of the bill. She could not
gather courage to return to her home
and face the scandal her unfortunate
marriage would make, and SO she deter
mined to seek work in Watkins for a
time. She found employment as do
nestle on Saturday last, at the house Of
Mr.. David Solomon, prominent bust
ness man of Watkins, to whose family
she related the story of her great wrong.
On Monday, Mr.. Solomon went to the
hotel to arrange for taking Miss Thorn
as trunk away, when the discovery was
made that it had been broken into and
rifed. Farris had returned to the no.
tel on Sunday and procured admission
to the room lately occupied by him and
the deceived Miss Thomas, and suspi
cion at once fell upon him as the thief.
Miss Thomas had in the trunk fine
gold watch, which was wedding pre-
sent from her mother, gold chain and
other jewelry, which were all stolen. A
warrant was issued for the arrest of
Farris, and he was captured and lodged
in Jail, and on Tuesday was sentenced
to six months in jail.
Miss Thomas remained at Mr.. Solo
mons, doing the work of servant and
refusing to proceed against the villain
who had destroyed her happiness. She
rarely spoke, and seemed to think that
she was stunned by all who saw her.
On Wednesday evening last, after she
had finished her supper work, she told
MIR. Solomon that she was going up
stairs to write letter to her mother.
A few minutes afterward she came down,
with her hat on, and went out of the
back door. One of the family, suppos-
ing she was going to the post-office,
called after her and told her that was
not the way. She made no reply, and
kept on her way. Not long there's after
she was seen near the canal lock, look
ing down into the water, and snbse-
quently walked down the railroad track.
About eight o'clock this same evening,
as freight-train No. 80, going south,
was running at rapid rate about a
mile below Watkins, the engineer saw a
woman standing about ten feet from
the track, short distance ahead. He
supposed she was waiting for
the train to pass. When the
locomotive was within a few feet of
her the engineer saw that she was
very pale, and the next instant he was
stricken to see her spring direct
ly III front of the engine. Before he
could sound an alarm II str11ck her and