The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-16
LOVE AND SUICIDE.

cLERGYMAN's DAUGHTER BETRAYED BY
BLAcK-HEARTED DRY GOODS cLERK-HE
TELLS HER She HAS MARRIED A BIGAMIsr
AND DESERTS HER-THE BRIDE or THREE
DAYS COMMITS sUIcIDE--A MoURNFUL
sToRY-THE DEcEIyER IMPRISONED.
Woodruff. Steuben County May Is 1875.
Tnis village was thrown into great excitement
on Thursday by the report that Mrs. John FarriS.
daughter OF Rev. Joseph Thomas, OF the Woodruff
Presbyterian church, had committed suicide At
watkins by thro wing herself IN front OF a locomo-
tive on the Northern Ce nTral Railway The truth
or the report was substan dated yesterday by the
arrival here or the lady's mutIlated remains.
The death OF Mrs. FarrIs, or more properly Miss
Thomas, was more than 3 suicide. 1t
was domestic tragedy, instgated by the unpar-
alleled vllIany OF man TO whom she was mar
ried about two weeks ago. and Tor whom she
lett happy and cutivat ted home, followed by the
Congratulations OF large circle OF friends, 10 ma
that she had been most heartlessly deceived.
LayjnIa Thomas, the deceased, was twenty -four
years OF age, and up to the time OF the marriage
mentioned was the centre or an admirlng circle.
composed OF the best society OF Woodruff. She
was handsome and accomplished. although ner
parents were In comparatively poor ctrcum-
stances. few months since she formed the ac-
quaintance OF man named Jonn Farris. q few
years her senior. who came to TINS place rom
Ithaca and cerked in a dry goods store. He was
OF pleasing address and winning manners and
soon won the heart OF Miss Thomas. Her paNns
thinking wei. OF Farlis 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 brief wedding tour. They went to Watkins.
a
ing two or three days there the young wiie no.
ticed decided cnange In the conduct OF her
husband. From being kind aud loving he be came
cross ana neglectnl, and finally. on the third
d2v, appeared before her CONSIDERABLY IN
.oxlca:ed. she VAS was a'most a- eramen ~
lovingly demonstrate with him. when he
pushed her from hun, an:, 10 her horror, coolly
previously married and his wlle was living a.
Ithaca. He also saln that he intended TO leave ner
ami 90 back TO Ithaca, and that the best thing
she could do would be 10 enter q house of prosIi-
tuition, even suggesting TO her the name of one
away, leaving the neartoroken young woman
without paving the bills that had been contracted
what her supposed husband had told her was TOO
thief
Having no money Miss Thomas lett her trunk at
the MOTEL security ior the payment OF the bill.
sac could not gather courage 10 return 10 ner
rage would make, anc 50 she determined 10 seek
work In Watkins for time she found employ
ment as domestic on Saturday last, at the mouse
OF Mr.. lvtd solomon, prominent business man
oil watkins, to whose iarAny sne Iela:ed the story
OF her great wrong. ON Monday Mt. sooinon
went to the hotel arrange for raEing Miss
Thomas trunk away. wnen me discovery was
made that it had been broken into and rined.
Farris had returned TO the motel on sunday and
procured admission to the room lately occupied
by nim and me deceived Mss THOMAS and suspI.
cIon at once fell on MIN as the thief. Miss Thomas
had in tine frank nne gold watch, when was u
wedding present from her mother, gold cnain
md her taQ lrv garA all CT tyar
rant was issued Tor the arrest OF Farris ana ne
was captui ed and lodged in 1all. aud ON Tuesday
was sentenced TO SIX months IN jail.
Miss Thomas remained at Mr.. Solomon'a. doing
the work OF q servant and refusing TO proceed
against tue villain who had DESTROYED her nappl-
ness. she rarely spoke aud seemed 10 think that
sne was shuUned Dy all VINO saw her. Gu
"Wednesday evening last. after she nad finished
her supper work, sne told Mr.. Solomon that she
was gong mp stars To write letter TO ner
mother he rev ot nn sna at s1s came
door. One OF the family, supposng she was going
TO the Post once, called alter her and told her
mat was not the way. sue made no reply ana
kept her way. Not long thereafter sue
was seen near the canal lock- look
ing down into the water, and subsequently,
walked down tue railroad track. ABOUT eignt
O'Clock tnis same evening, as freight Train No. 20,
going south, was running at rapid rate about
| mile below watkins. the engineer saw a woman
standing about ten Ieet from the TRACK, snort
distance anead. he supposed she was waiting Tor
the train 10 pass. When the locomotive was within
lew leet OF her the engineer saw that she was
very pale ana the next instant he was horror
strick 10 see ner spring directly IN 'front.' OF the
engine. Before ne could sound an alarm N struck
her and the whole train passed over her before II
cvulu he stopped. rne remains were picked up.
the lace and head alone OF the unfortunate suicide
being Tree from mutaion. Coroner Thompson
took charge OF the remains ana held an inquest,
when the ABOVE facts were elected, principally
from Mr. and Mrs. solomon. To whom the wlole
OF Miss Thomas pitiiul story was known. The
feeling against toe brute Ferris was intense when
the lacts became known, aud but for his being
la the protecllon or the law there ~ no DOUBT
hut an attempt woud have been made TO give
hun summary punishment The Jury IOund q
duct TO the eject that the deceased came TO
death py the manner described while laborsng
under temporary insanity" Her body was gwen
in charge u Mr.. Solomon. who forwarded IL 10 ner
parent at this place. They are almost crazed at
the tragic FORMULATION OF their daughters life,
which they thought was TO be one OF great happI-
ness during her married life.
ARCADIAN CLUB DINNER