Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-09-01


jorcan dialect is funny, but we suspect
the prose translation fails to give the
epigrsmmatic force of the original.
"PAULINE, To THEE l GOMEZ
A Romantic suIeide-The Last let
ter OF a Dying Lover.
On Saturday afternoon a romantic auc
touching suicide was committed at th,
South Orange Mountain House, Orange
Mountain, New Jersey. The victim wa.
a fine looking gentleman Of about forty
years, and dressed in the uniform of q
naval officer. Three days previously
this man, who gave his name as Henry
Montrose, and announced himself a
acknowledgements in the United
States navy, arrived at the hotel without
baggage. He said to the proprietor that
he was expecting the arrival of a mum
Der OF friends in a few days. The stran.
ger soon became a favorite at the hotel,
but he seemed to be a victim to melan-
choly, and exhibited occasional freaks oil
eccentrieity. On Saturday afternoon
the stranger kept his room, and at 3
o'clock he was found sitting by bis table
in a dying condition. A physician was
summoned, but the suicide died after his
Farrival. On the table by his side was a
glass, a hypodermic syringe, an open
letter and an old sccount-book, with
some Of the leaves torn oct. County
Physician Ward was notified. He
searched the papers and effects Of the
deceased man with a view to ascertain
ing his identity, but without success, all
evidence OF his identity being destroyed,
1t seems that the name he gave was an
alias, and that his representations were
made with a view to hide his identity.
The open letter found on the table GOV.
cred six pages closely written, and was
addressed to DR.. Thayer, Portland,
Maine, The penmsnship and the com
position were scholarly. The burden Of
the missive was a passionate appeal to
the spirit Of his beloved Pauline"
who, it appears, died some time
ago. From the letter it would appear
that the spirit Of Pauline was a constant
presence to the miserable lover, re-
preaching him for living aud Turing him
to the spirit land. This hallnciDation is
an explanation of the suicide, It was
only a short step from S%piritualism to
insanity. The letter concluded as fol.
lows: " leave this letter unsealed that
they may add to it that l have taken my
passage. Pauline is again calling me
and asking me why | stay so long. l
must 90. Darling, my love, my life-l
GOMEZ do not fear or falter. Reach
me your hand, dear one, and so, doctor,
goodbye The following in pencil was
added, probably after the writer had
taken the fatal potion: "The last act in
the grand drama Of life is almost fin
ished. | have this moment swallowed
the deadly draught that will give my
spirit joy. | will soon have passed to
that bourne from whence no traveller
ever returned bodily. Uncle Fred wrote
you and gave his address, please inform
him. am calm, and am counting my
pulse. 1t is now 1870, wiry. My head
feels full, and my lower limbs tremble
1t shall soon be over, and | shall have
fathomed the great mystery. | will
come to you, Doctor, or advise you, as |
learn how. The light begins to fade.
Oh, Thou Divine Father | have taken
the life thou gavest me, but, trusting to
thy mercy, | go without fear" In the
letter was mentioned a rose given to the
suicide by Pauline, and which be desired
to be buried with him. The little faded
flower, with a single gerauium leaf, was
found inclosed between two pieces of
adhesive plaster, on which was written
"Semper Fidele" and pauline, to thee
| comet In the torn account-book the
following was written in pencil: For
family reasons | have omitted signing
my name, and also have destroyed
everything that would have re-
vealed il. l don't care for my
body, for my spirit. my very self, will
be at rest in the arms OF my beloved
Please bury the rose with melt is the
credential Of my fidelity. Perhaps in
years to come some one, a beloved sis.
ter, may inquire for me. Preserve O
lock OF hair, a handkerchief, or anything
else about my person, to give to her, and
say / joyfully sailed. Father, | go with.
out fear, trusting 10 thy infinite mercy.
Thou canst comprehend thy earthly
children when men cannot" On an.
other leaf was written: THAT there may
be no doubt about it, and to save trouble
to those aetiug in an official capacity, |
say that | have taken two deadly pois.
ons. Kind people, think as leniently Of
me IA nossihle. have nnthing In live
for upon this shore; all that is dear to
me is beyond | 60 without fear. Am
sane and Of sound mind" The body
was taken to Compton's morgue, at New.
ark, and the county physician sent a
Geographic dispatch to the doctor to
whom the letter was addressed.
On investigation it was found thai the
deceased had registered at the Cont,
mental Hotel, Newark, on August 81, as
Claude l. Avenstine, U. S. n" A
handkerchief was found in the pocket oil
the suicide bearing the initials G. L.. A,
These facts left no doubt in the mind OF
the county physician hat the name reg.
istered by deceased at the Continental
Hotel was his right name.
Last night a telegram a received by
the county physician from DR.. Thayer,
Of Portland, Maine, giving the name Of
the suicide as Claude l. Avenstinr, oil
the United States Navy, and that be left
q wife ia Portland. DR.. Thayer's dis.
patch also contains a request that the
body may be kept for a few days, when
frianIa mill ae.iva - toLa obar.xa 81 -