The New York herald., 1879-10-15
FLORENCE M'DONALD.
LAST LETTERS OF S. NJ nIckEy's woULD-BE
MUEDEREss-HER UNDOUBTED DETERMINA-
lion TO KILL HER FRIEND-wHAr IS SAID
OF HER IN SYRACUSE.


MUEDEREss-HER UNDoUBTED DErERMINA-
lion TO KILL HER FRIEND-wHAr IS SAID
OF HER IN SYRACUSE.
[By TELEGRAPH TO THE HERAIp.l
SYRACUSE. N Y, Oct. H. 1879.
To-day = letter was received by friend in this
city from Florence Mcdonald the girl who shot
Sylvester NJ Hickey and afterward killed herself at
Cincinnati on Sunday. 1t shows the infatuation of
Florence for Hickey. and contains pathetic pas
sages. 1t is dated the Sth but it not
mailed until the 12th. Sunday. From the appear
Of the letter is supposed that she began it
Thursday but did not conclude 1T until Sunday. 1t
is written in q trembling hand and many words are
scratched out. Florence was probably greatly agi-
tated when she wrote it. Two or three sentences
bear close resemblance to- the inscriptions in her
diary under Thursdays date. The letter is as fol-
lows:-
DEAR FRmSpI arrived safely at Cincinnat tonight
think IL is the drtiest place am going to
tell you something thai never had the 70 tell you
actress. This has everything heart wish. She
has taken from what have 70 win He was
aSss % her S G T. Think
than you knew FLORENCE.
The last sentence. it is supposed was written on
Sunday. the writing is slightly different from the
other part The letter was mailed on Sunday, as
the postmark shows. 1t was proposed by some Of
tho women of Florences class to raise by subscrp-
ton sum of money sufficient to defray tho ex-
penses of the burial and bring the body to SYRIA
cuse but it was announced that Hickey had offered
to attend to the internent, and the idea aban-
doned.
SPEAKING WELL OF THE DEAD.
A friend of Florence, woman who acted almost
as mother to the girl, related many interesting
incidents tonight in relation to Florence. Said
times last summer. / asked Florence what is the
matter? She pressed her hand to her heart and ex-
claimed, %. my sweetheartr l never heard the
Hickey. She always spoke of him in endearing
terms" Once she said. ''Is could go to convent
desire to 60 to convent and take music les
sons. She said that Hickey told her that IL
she would learn he would take her with HIM to
play the piano at the entertainments. Within the
past few months she often remarked that she wished
she had learned musicwhen she had al opportunity.
as If she knew how to play, she could be with
Hickey all the while. "a week ago last Friday night
she attended an entertainment, and as she listened
to the music she exclaimed, Oh, il could only play
the piano like that could always be with Syl" She
always spoke of Hickey as Syl. l do not know
where her father and mother are. We were talking
about them week Sunday. inquired where
they were. and Florence said either in Illinois or
Wisconsin. When she left the house last Wednes-
day 1 inquired. "when shall we see you again?''
She replied. '.well. maybe never" laughed and
said. II guess you VIII WIN DC ..v back .,, IN IN
less than two weeks, sne re1omed ..1ou VIII DC
sprang down the steps and hurried up the street.
In the fall Of 1873 Florence employed in milli
tached to young engraver. and the woman who
employed her also had an affection for the man.
which soon led to Florence's dismissal.
Two visited the photograph galleries and
other places to-day in search Of portrait Of Flor
ence. They probably intended to turn the tragedy
to profit by obtaining copies and hawking the pic
lures about the streets like fancy wares.
ANOTHER LETTER.
The following IL letter sent by Florence while
she was in Buffalo to q friend:-
CONVENT or rHr CiooD SHEPHERD. Sept. 16, 1879.
DEAR FREXD-I arrived in Rochester Friday evening
ali right the matinee Saturday afternoon and
to the in the evening. sent Rochester
papers / got in Buffalo yesterday morning and
directly to the Convent of the Good Shepherd
Mother Superior says that do not ,, Look las as
that only tho blues, but she that is roal
heartfelt trouble and guess she Is right Mother IL
kind and 1t Is peaceful here that II Is like
would have the advice mother gave Eve years
ago left here. Then would not have had all
this care suffering The will be here the
2Ith and wish you could come up here II you como
take 4 carriage and come to the convent after
me and we will go the Mansion House
gether and to the theatre in the evening.
may go the hotel before the gath u do will lot
Give regards that INQUIRIES about II
raned all day sunday IN Rochester, but with Sy
did not mind It. Please write mo as soon rs
this and tell me Ii you will come to Buffalo and how
Tho letter il written in o feminine hand, and
its appearance indicates that the writer pos
sessed of good educatonA
despatch was received ut halfpast eleven o'clock
tonight asking whether Florence's father wanted
her body sent to Syracuse. Florence had not o
single relative in the city, and there il in the
city to take charge OF the remains.