The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-04
PRICE TWO CENTS.
TWO LOVERS DESPERATION
A YOUNG MAN AND ms sTEETHEARr
DRINKING POISON TOGETHER.
Determined TO Die Becnnse their Pnrcnts OPP
posed their Union-Takina n second Bottle
OF Lnudnnum nfter the First had Failed

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Determined to Die Becansc their Pnrents Op-
posed their Union-Tskina n Second Bottle
of Lnudnnum after the First had Failed
A young man entered the Flushing avenue
police station. in Brooklyn. yesterday at noon.
and placing IN ounce vial. labelled Laud-
anum." on Sergeant Brennan's desk. said that
he had taken dose OF opium. and that he want
ed place where he could lie down and die easy.
The Sergeant perceived by his dropping eyes
that he was sinking into stupor. and quickly
summoning the doorman. ordered him TO
walk the man up and down the yard. When
Ambulance Surgeon Hemin2 arrived. antidotes
were speedily administered and the man was
kept moving about until ho was thought to be
out Of danger Papers in his pocket revealed
that his name was Benjamin Smith OF 1875 High
street. and that his sweetheart. Lilly Lent. OK
4s9 Graham avenue. Brooklyn. had also taken
poison. 1t seemed that they intended to die to-
gcthcr because their parents were opposed to
their marriage. Letters telling the story were
found scattered through the pages Of a note-
book in the young mans pocket. The first was
dated Sunday, June 2. and it read as follows;
+ Ben SG q So d HsS 5 sss SS STCSsy sssny.
as her lok; are agsn.t me tor ny bid ways LILY i;se
ny la'ncr Is noble man 81 hls', nun; My sseri
be honest Love home, aud obey alher and mother God
% y my Add Ioa Se and y SyI % & eo a me-, about S
s evf y sne II norI % nv S u9s 9sre a Amen nsr
'"s ''''' . '"s1' '''''' ''N NY '''''' BsS surn
On the next leaf OF the book these words are
written:
nv parents TO forgive me ail the trouble have
caused. Also my sunday school teacher Miss Crane.
God forgive my rash act
The same hand had written on another page;
when am found. will be dead My name do not
e
Hore the sentence ends. In another part Of
the book the following was written:
Iys last request on earth that she and me be put
~ the same grave. signed by her ON Monday. June
The last entry is ms follows:
LAUREL HIT. L. l., June 8. IsTa
took hall ounce. but /. did not XII her 50 viii bu,
more and gave her. God help me and her
Benjamin Smith is about 81 yenrs Of age. and
until last week he lived with his parents at 1876
High street. Brooklyn. His father is employed
in Fulton flsh market and has large family
He told his son that he must take care OF him
self. and last week he gave him some money
much to the surprise OF his wife. who was In
favor Of strictly disciplining the young man.
On Saturday Beniamin quilted the house. say
ing that he would return at night. He did not
return. and Mrs. Smith learned on Sunday that
he ntended to marry LILY Lent Although she
WAS sick. Mrs. Smith at once started for Miss
Lrnts home To- warn her parents against him,
She had heard him threaten to marry her, and
did not wish any girl to lis tied to one so WORTH
less as he had been. When she reached the
girls home she found that her son had been
there before her, and had gone with tho young
woman to Sunday school. He did not return
home on Sunday night. but his sweetheart came
home late. Early Yesterday morning she went
away again without telling anybody where che
was going. II seems that she must have gone
TO meet her lover. Tor Smith told the police TINT
she also had taken u large dose OF laudanum,
and was probably dead. Neither Of them wished
10 live any longer. and together they swallowed
the poison. It is thought that they did this
near Calvary Cemetery; As the first bottle. of
poison. which was obtained IN Greenpoint did
not have the desired effect. Smith bought
second bottle OF laudanum from Gustay
Aims ie street. and they tried il again.
AT O'Clock last evening Smith was returned
70 the Flushing avenue police station on a
Ollie the prisoner sad 70 a reporter ior THH
Sun that h. had known Miss Lily Lent Tor siI
months. Her parents mad forbidden him 10
come to her house. but he outwtted them -
making frequent clundestine appointments. aG
hs was determined to wed her. She was
He got lob u few days ago to paint threa
houses on Graham avenue. not far from Mr..
paid s45' He collected 500 on on aee5unt. eS t. and
made up his mind to he married. He made
pic Theatre. BROOKLYN on saturday. but she did
not teep TIA" appointment. THIS made him sad,
and he bought some laudanum. determined to
house. on Humboldt street. near Withers,
where he had previously spent some time. and
wrote note 70 his sweetheart The note did
not ren'h her but was sent back to
him. Mss Lent taen told him that he
must not visit her again. On Sum
diy afternoon he traced her TO tina
Union Avenue Baptist Church. where she was
out, She met him N Mesrrole street where he
told her OF his intention 10 leave her and kill
hims III. She snld that she would 20 with him,
and they crossed the ponuy Bridge and went
toward Calvary Cemetery. She proposed that
they should 10 into the woods ana drink the
poison. They went into a clump VI trees and
drank the laudanum. tut II had no cff,t upon
them beyond making them Sick. Then he
went TO Il drug store In GresnpOint and
also took. but with no more sHt sfl.tory result.
Miss Lent became very lll. ana both went to u
house near by. where he represented her as his
wife. The family gave them a room. in which
they spent III" might together. Yesterday morn
ing hr quilted the house. and on going TO Gus
taNe Scuwnb's drug store be bought Ave cents
worth OF luudauum, which he also took. He
knew, nothing beyond this, he said. until he
found himself in u police stat on.
At Mr.. Lents house, last night. II iss Lilly
was reported 10 be sale. but the family would
say moth ng. She WIS returned home at Z. VI.
IN carriage. Hecompanl'd by her ther and
two other persons. She walked into the house
without assistance. HnI seemed 10 have recOv-
cred from the cil 'cis OF the poison. She was
found in the house where her lover had left her.
ss Lent is pretty, aud has lght hair Il iair
complexion, and bIue eyes. Her father is
buatmHn. and owns the house in which he lives.
Mr.. Smith doubts his sons story about the
quantity ot poison which he says no took.