Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-11-06
RUIN AND DEATH.
A Terrible story Of a Woman's
DownfaII--DrunIkenne Pow
crty and Death.

The Chicago Inter Ocean says: Sew
eral times within a year past we have
touched on the career of a certain wo-
man in the hope that an effort might
be made by some charitable soul to
save her, but if any such effort was
made it appears to have been abortive,
for only a few days ago she was taken
to the ArmOry helplessly drunk. From
there she went to the Poor House
thence to her grave.
Her lame was Kate Southwick, a
name known and respected to this day
in Louisville, where a husband and
son, while not daring to mention the
name Of the now dead, mourn in
secret the fate of a wife and mother.
Ten years ago she was a typical daugh-
ter Of the Blue Grass region; tall,
dark-haired, handsome, high-spirited
and accomplished. "reminiscences of
the wal were passing away and trade
in the South wa %reviving. Among the
most prosperous of the rising young
merchants in Louisville was Robert
Southwick, who wooed and won the
subject of this sketch. Things pros
pered with the merchant till he was
rated as worth half a million, and the
hospitable board presided over by his
fascinating wife is still remembered by
many still moving in the best circles.
The panic of 1873 affected Southwick's
financial standing, but not seriously, but
loss following loss, the year 1876 found
him bankrupt. Even at this point it
is not positively alleged that his mat
rimonial relations were not of the
brightest, but it is darkly limited hat
the demon of jealousy had taken pos
session of the heart Ofhis wife. Any
way, when the crash came, she left
him, but not for good, it was under
stood. She was to come to Chicago
for a change, till the tide of misfor-
tune had swept by, and her husband
had prepared another home for them
Possibly the pair had somewhat wea-
ried of each others society, and felt
that an enforced absence might make
the heart grow fonder," and better fl
them for a life partnership in some
what humber circumstances. Sc
Kate Southwick left Louisville, and.
bringing with her the boy that hac
been born to her, hen six years old
she came on here. She secured boarC
at a swell clearinghouse on Wabash
avenue, and, unprotected by husband
father, brother, or any male relative
enjoyed herself with the freedom anC
independence of a certain class o.
American ladies'. Dining at public
restaurants, attending the matinees
etc, alone or attended only by her boy
she soon became noticeable to the
plausible harpies who appear to hav,
nothing to do but hang around stree
corners and leer at women. Her fata
inheritance of beauty, and her unpro.
tected condition, rendered it almos
impossible that she should escape
. And she fell. Then realizing her ter
E rible crime, she Immediately did tn.
last known act of her life which i
, c~ommendable. She sent her chill,
: back to its father, and then plunged
!. deeply into dissipation and vice. The
f she was robbed Of her diamonds, prof
f ably by some of the harpies who ha
: captured her; then removed from tn
Wabash avenue clearinghouse an
t became the mistress of a gambler ii
his death separated them. Then wer
a down to the lowest depths, ever to be
d coming a bat, that fitted around b
n night, unfit to be seen by day, wit
$ her still fair face married by disease
9 Then she drank down the thoughts Q
home and husband and child, an
: then came the touch of the police
/: mans hand, and the iron-barred eel
Petty theft and habitual drunkenes
followed soon, then" the poor-hous,
and her death, mcrciful death.