The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-09-21
A Well Planned Suicide.

ing conduct an inquest in one OF the
most determined suicidal cases ever
known. The person who was so bent
on self-destruction was young man OF
prepossessing appearance, who, 50 Tar
as can be ascertained, was engaged IN
reasonably good business, and was able
to procure every thing to aid him IN
making existence enjoyable that
mortal of moderate desires could ask
for. Il
Monday afternoon F. A. Jeffrey, of
Syracuse, N. Y, arrived at the Palmer
House and recorded his name in fine,
bold handwriting on the register, inform
ing the clerk who waited on him that |
he wished a room on the parlor, or
second floor. The clerk sent boy to
show him an apartment that was ele-
gantly fitted up, fronting on Monroe
Street, and the stranger expressed him.
self as we'll pleased with the selection.
Returning to the office he paid his bill
up to the 9Th inst. before breakfast, OBJ
tanning receipt for the money. Tues
day he partook of his meals after the
manner Of the other guests, and sever
al times inquired at the office for let
tiers. He was last seen alive immedi-
ately after supper Tuesday night.
The chambermaid employed on the
parlor floor of the hotel tried the
door of the room that had been engaged
by Jeffrey several times during yester-
day forenoon, but always found it lock-
ed. She at first paid no attention to
this, regarding it as nothing unusual,
especially on the morning after night
that had been devoted by so many
persons to celebrating the Nations
hundredth anniversary. About II 80
O'Clock, however, she noticed that the
gas was burning in the apartment, and
reported the fact at the Office. An ex-
animation of the door proved that the
kew was on the inside, and, several at
tempts to turn it proving futile, and re-
peated knockings eliciting no response,
boywas assisted through the transom.
The lad, on descending, discovered that
the bed bore no signs of being occupied
during the night previous, and his first
thought was that the room was entirely
vacant. A glance into the bathroom
, opposite the bed showed this impress
sion to be false, and revealed sight
, that he will probably bear in remem-
: brance until his dying day. Suspended
by heavy cord Immediately over the
bath basin, his feet dangling in horri-
, BILE mixture of blood, water, and dirt
that it contained, was the CHASTITY
: corpse of young Jeffery. There was a
: deep, wide cash extending almost across
, his throat, into which the cord had
{ penetrated; his mouth was distended
8 as if by terrible suffering, and there
9 was bullet wound in his left breast.
: He was attired in an old pair of pants
, and striped linen coat, from which
!. one sleeve had been ripped off. These
: garments were despatched with blood,
/, and the walls and floor of the bathroom
! also exhibited crimson stains, as if q
ferocious ARRAY had occurred there.
e Swinging by cords and dangling around
e the body were small one barreled
e pistol, razor, and an empty tumbler,
!. and hanging on the wall directly oppo-
e site the face of the suicide was a small
: looking glass, in which the young mar
may have gazed, observing his OWE
face while enduring awful agonies. In
vestigations made by persons who
were admitted by the boy and after
q ward by the Coroner, showed that JET
a ferry had hung himself, and suspended
d his two weapons Of death and the tum
), bier from gallows consisting of severa
is stats from the bed, bound tightly to
IL gether by cords, and fastened between
Is one end of the bathroom and the wal
e of the bedroom. Two medium-size'
$. trunks, packed, strapped, directed, an
" even sealed with wax, were lying in q
a opposite corner Of the apartment fror
10 the bathroom, and upon table, strew
ct with papers and cards, were two letters
le contained in envelopes, and addresse
ID respectively to the proprietor of th
it Palmer House and the Chicago Time,
y The following is copy of the former
% CHICAGO, July 4, 1875.
it. PROPRIETOR PALMER HOUsE-Dear ST.
u. Be kind enough to deliver my trunk to ii
ho American Express Company, and take til
ae dagger, pistol, and razor and send them
it the same time to my brother, e. p. Jeffer.
y. NV body is to await the orders Of r. \
y Pierce, NJ. D., Buffalo, N. Y. I have r
J ceipted bill for my room until the 9th inst
u, before breakfast. FRED A. JEFFERY.
Mt Should any letters come here for me plea
d. send them on to Syracuse. F. A. j..
ok The letters were remarkably pla
lis and distinct, the writing being that
lie business man. The communicate
on to the Times was written partly
er rhyme, and would indicate insanity {
the part of its author. 1t is the supp
d. sition Of the proprietor of the hotel th
to Jeffrey commenced preparations for Il
n destruction of his life early Tuesd,
be evening. He probably purchased
nd dose Of poison Of some kind at dru
&C. store and mixed it up with water in Il
nd tumbler, arranged his gallows and 50
/, a 4 v,o,,NoI <no v1O;snros,c p,ivkr,ro n