Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-21
A PHENOMENAL SUICIDE.
The Terrible Fate Of q New York
Clergyman's Daughter.

Gluclundu Lluee.
The suicides Of this spring have seemed
more luxuriant than usual, even in a sea-
son devoted to harvests Of that horrible
nature. In number and character both
they have so surpassed the ordinary run Of
events as to somewhat pail upon the public
appetite-the daWdler over his breakfast
glances down the columns Of the morning
paper, and never pauses over the announce
ment of suicide unless an unwonted dis
play Of glaring headlines promises some
thing phenomenal. 1t is something phe-
nOmenal that We are now to relate.
A few months since there came from
Ithaca, New York, to Woodruff, in SteUben
county, Of the same State, a young dry
goods clerk by the name Of Fains. OF good
and insinuating address, he soon found
himself a welcome visitor in such society
as the town presented, and the especial IA
vOrite Of the belle thereOf-Miss Thomas,
daughter Of a Presbyterian clergyman, and
a girl Of no inCOnsid arable beauty and &C
complishments. Affection Tipened into
love, and love into speedy marriage, the
father himself jOyfully performing the
ceremony, after such inquiries as led him
to believe that his daughters welfare had
been intrusted TO most worthy hands.
: The young couple started on their we'd
ding tour, and brought up at a hotel in the
neighbOring town of Watkins, where they
spent three days. On the third day the
husband, hitherto kind and attentive, ap-
peared before the bride in state of intOxi-
cation, and informed her that he had the
misfortune to have prior wife living at
Ithaca, and that as he was now through
with his second one, il would be advisable
for her to set up in business on her own &C
count. ThereupOn he departed from the
hotel without paying his bill.
1t needs not TO dwell upon the suferings
Of the girl, who very speedily discovered
that the story was strictly true. She left
her trunk at the hotel, and, determined
never to carry her disgrace back to her
parents, sought employment in a Well-tO-
do family Of the town, and found it.
Upon learning the outlines Of her story,
her new friends sent TO che hotel for her
trunk, only to discover that it bad been
ri1ed Of all its prize by the quasi husband,
who had subsequently returned for that
purpose.
The last act of the sad drama is brief
and tragical:
Miss Thomas remained at Mr.. Solo
mons, doing the work of a servant and re-
fusing 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 Wednes-
dav evening last, after she had finished her
supper work, she told Mr.. Solomon that
she was going up stairs to write letter to
her mother. a few moments afLerWard
she came down with her hat on, and went
out of the back door. One Of the family,
suppOsing she was going to the pOstOffiCe,
called after her and told her that was not
the way. She made no reply, and kept on
her way. Not long thereafter she was
seen near the canal lock, looking
down into the water, and subsequently,
walked down the railroad track. About 8 |
o'clock this same evening, as freight train |
No. 90, going South, was running at rapid !
rate, about a mile below Watkins the en-
gineer saw a woman standing about ten |
feet from the track, a short distance ahead. |
He supposed she was waiting for the train !
10 pass. When the locomotive was within |
4 few feet Of her the engineer saw that she |
was very pale, and the next instant he was /
horror stricken to see her spring directly in /
front of the engine. Before he could sound |
IN alarm it struck her, and the whole train !
passed over her before it could be stopped. |
The remains were picked up, the face and /
head alone Of the unfortunate suicide being 4
rec from mutilatiOn.
So ends the bare outline Of a story that
{ would be hard to rival in tragic elements.
4 beautiful accomplished, pure-minded
,irl, daughter Of a clergyman, tavOrite Of
Ter village, is married by a young man Of
.ppaTent promise. He brutally informs
Ter that he has another wife living runs |
way with her jewelIy, and leaves her to
Ieath as the only possible resort. The ad-
-Ocates of total depravity will find a
trong argument in the narrative, and
ynch law an almost perfect justification.