The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-10
A PENNSYLVANIA TRAGEDY.
WHY WALTER GUM COMMITTED SUICIDE.
From the Philadelphia Herald, June 81


From the Philadelphia Herald June g.
FoxrowN, Pa. June 8, 1875
On the Goth ult we published the particulars OF a
of suicide in this place. which was LEFT surrounded
in mystery Walter Gunn young music teacher, but
a stranger the place. left his boarding house the
18th OF May and, hiring boat, rowed down the river
He found some hours later lying in tho bottom of
the boat, which had lodged Legs's Island two miles
below. He shot through the head. revolver lay
his right hand with two chambers empty. In his
left hand he held ocket containing the portrait OF
young lady letter bearing date was found in his
coat pocket II enclosed death notice clipped from
newspaper announcing the death OF Eliza CliT aged
twenty years, at Piqua, Ohio, and contained these
words, written n woman's hand cit is much bet
ter. God is WISE" To this there was no signature.
In the pocket Of the deceased found piece
Of an envelope, which was scrawled with lead pen
Gil. ''lniorm James Passmore Covington, Ky.n
Letters were written to James Passmore, but no
ply received, and nothing iurthey was learned Of
the history OF the suicide until Tuesday last On that
day James passmore the village. lie had been
away from Covington, and on his return two three
days had found the letters informing him of
suicide OF walter Gum He cleared up the mystery
surrounding the deceased by the following story
GuNN's ASrEcEDENrs.
Walter Gum was the Of a former rich aud prom-
narrator GUMS acquaintance that city, while
travelling Europe with his mother cousin, Miss
Eliza Chn then seventeen years old. Passmore and
Gum became warm friends and the latter became
oil the travelling party An acquaintance between HIM
and Miss CHI npencd into love. and. with the consent
oi MIS-. passmorc, tho two were bethrothed
Mr. passmorc, who is twenty-five years Of age, dc,
scrbes his mother as proud and extremely dignied
n,r only brother, who died in The confcd.
crate army, leavn. motherlcss child destitute
ami among strangers. Mrs psssnorc was tlen
living in Louisville, and had her little niece for
warded her She reared her one Of her own
children, giving her thorough education and giving
her to understand she grew up that she TO be
oint heir with The WIDOWS son James to all her wealth
The widows ward grew into beautiful woman, but she
Of delicate constitution " was for the purpose
OF beneating her health that the trip to Europe
made
tn PASSWORDS sailed for America IN the carly part
OF 1873 Walter Gum was TO follow them IN the inter-
val However tho latber OF the young Engilshman
died. and The astounding revelation was made that his
affairs we're in such shape that II was doubtful II tue
assets OF the estate would pay the debts OF the deceased
merchant This proved 10 be tho fact and Waiter
Gum. who supposed TO be heir TO fl0J,000
left without any available resources He ut
munlcatcd the news OF his mslorturcs to the Pass
and his aIianccd, aduing that he intended
TO America and cndeavor to retrieve his fortunes
The young had evidently not for moment
questioned the ically OF his American friends despite
his great revcrscs He was, therefore stunned TO
ccve stately letter from Mrs Pnssn,orc in which she
told him that all further communication with HIN
all thought Of an alliance between him
ard her niece DC Abandoned Miss clin wrote him
factor she mus, sever all connection " it'll him.
Gunn, Knowing that Miss Gill indebted 10 her
aun Tor everything she possessed in the world,
lite itseli, easily perceived how that she had
been induced 10 sacrifice her happiness rather than
appear ungratcuI 10 her guardian. he therefore
solved AT sa Tor this country and try effect
OF personal appeal on the proud Mrs Passmorc. with
James Passmorc the young Euglishman had main tanned
most cordial correspondence, ana had his fullest SYM
palhy From him lie learned, Just before he sailed, in
The latter part OF August 1915, that they
n.
young Gum stai,e at once to that resort. lie met
Mrs Passmorc. she refused iison To his appeal
Through his friend James passmorc the Englishman
succeeded in obtain candcstne meeting With Miss
CHI, but she could give him no hope she snid that.
although her affection ior INN stronger than ever,
she could not wed him Ia the lace of her aunts oppo
sn;on. Gunn with lew hundred pounds which he
land returned to New York. Hc knew that MS vny
hope Of securing Miss Ch his wife in possessing
least comfortable fortune. He made number OF
investments but they all turned out dIsastrousy. aud
he was again lett pcnncss IL was IN this strait that
he began tho teaching OF music and languages dill
isrcnt places. He believed that eventually fortune
would smile ON hun, that the obdurate guardian OF
his bctrothed would relcnt
pEATuBfow.
II was while thus engaged III small place In Central
Pennsylvania, IN the fall OF 1874 that he received let
ter ron james Passmorc which stated that MISS Cn
had just recovered rcm attack oil brain lever,
that her reason detnroncd aud tcars
tctincd that her insanity would be permanent From
that time the whole nature OF Gum changed. He be-
came mis anthropic aud reserved, and spoke seldom.
even 70 his most Intimate acquaintanccs Through his
GINS condition, but they all the same
change
In The early part OF last month Mrs PASSWORDS
physician advised her to take her to private
asylum Ia Central Illinois While the way the young
lady attacked with lever and died P,qua, Ono
IL was The announcement OF her death that found
the person OF Watcf Gum after the suicide. The
letter contaniug Il was written by Mrs. Passmorc.
la relating the history OF the young Entishman Mr.
Passmofc WAS frequently convnIsed with sobs He
gave orders 70 have The grave whcrc the deceased was
buried protected ana kept order. aud will have
monument erected TO his memory.