Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-08-19
CRAzED BY THE HULL MURDER.
A WOman's Fatal Leap while under the
Impression that there we're Bur-
glars in the Room.
New York Herald. 1stbl.

New York Herald, 18TH.
Catharine 4. Davies, 80 years of
age, who resided with her husband
and three children at No. 250 West
Twenty-fourth street, became de-
ranged from reading of the Hull
murder, and on the Goth OF last July
jumped from her bedroom window,
imagining that there were burglars in
the house, and received injuries from
which she died on the 8th instant.
Deputy Coroner Miller took testimony
In the case yesterday, from which it
appears that the deceased was of
highly nervous temperament. Re
Gently her whole concern was to guard
the house against the approach of
burglars. Before retiring to rest she
made the round of her apartments and
assured herself that the windows and
doors were secure. Her husband is a
private detective and keeps his Offices
at Nos. II and 10 Nassau street. He
occupied the second floor of the dwell
ing, his brother-in law residing on the
first floor and basement. Owing to
the nature Of his business he is fire.
quently out late, and this fact had
tended to increase his wife's nervous
dread Of being left alone at night.
Recently friend Of the family, Mrs.
y Brien, who resides at Pamrapo, N.
j., has been visiting the Dayieses.
On the night in question, when Mrs.
Davies was about retiring to her room,
her husband being absent, she re-
quested Mrs. o Brien to occupy part
Of the bed with her. This request
was complied with, and the two wo-
men, with Mrs. Davies little girl,
Katie, who is seven years of are, went
to sleep together. About IL o'clock
Mr.. Davies returned, and upon his
entering the bedroom his wife re-
Quested him not to turn on the gas, at
the same time informing him that
Mrs. o Brien was present in the room.
Mr.. Davies thereupon placed a pillow
on the floor, near the open window of
the back parlor, which they had made
their sleeping apartment, and there
lay down to sleep. There are two
windows in the room which open down
to the floor apd lead out to balcony.
| The latter is about five feet in width
apd is protected by railing about
four feet in hight. The night was
warm and Mr.. Davies threw the win
dows open to admit free current of
air.
When he had first entered the
room he noticed pet cat running
about the floor. Some time afterward
the cat had jumped on the piano in
the parlor and upset two miniature
easels which supported photographs.
The folding doors were open, and the
noise of the falling easels and the
bound to the floor of the affrighted
cat awakened Mrs. Davies from her
slumbers. Her first thought was Of
burglars. She Immediately awoke
Mrs. o Brien, and asked the latter if
she had heard the noise. She next
took her little daughter in her arms
| and rushed for the open window. In
| her fright she did not notice her hus
band, who was sleeping on the floor
opposite the second bedroom window.
Once on the piazza, which is outside
the window, she told the child to
Jump for her life, and then flung her
| self headlong over the railing to the
| yard below, q distance Of about twelve
feet. She struck on her head against
the coping that surrounds the grass
plot and was rendered unconscious.
The child followed her mothers in
structions, hurling herself headlong
from the balcony; but, fortunately,
| she struck on the PROSTATE form of her
mother and so escaped with but slight
| injuries. Mrs. 0'Bmen was the next
to bolt for the window. She had
| meditated taking the dangerous leap
also, as she was imrressed with the
belief that there were burglars in the
apartment. When she reached the
balcony she saw the forms of mother
and chiid ling in a heap in the yard
| and the sight deferred ner from fcl sci
| lowing then exawBle. She screamed
for assistance and Ii this way alarmed
Mr.. Davies, who all the time was
, sleeping soundly. They went imme.
diately to the assistance of Mrs. Da-
yies and her daughter The former
! was unconscious and bleeding from a
severe scalp wound in the back of her
head and her spine was dislocated at
the base, Her little daughter was
suffering from shock and sprained
ankle. Medical attendance was sum
moned and the injured woman was
gradually restored to consciousness
She became delirious at times after
| ward however, but in her lucid mo-
! menls she said she was tempted to
take the fatal leap from belief that
burglars had entered the house, She
4 fingered in great agony until last Fri.
day. when she died. Her body was
inferred in Woodlawn Cemetery.
: lngiving her testimony Mrs 0 Brien
1 SAID that all the children of the de-
ceased were s5wpambulists. This Mr.
, Davies denied He said that his
| dqughter Katie, since the night Of tbs
accident, has beer suffering from nerv-
GUS prostration, aud frequently wakes
, in the night time a victim 70 some un-
defined terror, but that his two other
/ children have not betrayed any Of these
peculiar symptoms. Mr.. Davies him.
J self has been cop6ped to his room