The New York herald., 1879-11-14
MRS. POTTS IN TROUBLE.
THE PEDEsTRIENNE ATTEMPTS SUICIDE AFTER
WRITING LETTER TO THE NEWSPAPERS.
PytrIADEIPIIIA Nov. IL 1879.

THE pEDEsTR1ENNE ATTEMPTS SUICIDE AFTER
WRITING LETTER TO THE NEWSPAPERS.
PHILADELPHIA. Nov. Is. 1872
At q late hour last evening the police officer on
duty at the New York junction observed woman
who acting in strange manner short distance
up the railway She standing in the mid
die of the track apparently indifferent to
the fact that train was due. The OH
Ger finally concluded to address her. aud
after some difficulty found that she was
Mrs. Potts. the woman who recently walked from
Philadelphia to New Orleans and back She stated
frankly to the officer that she had come to that
place with the intention of throwing herself before
the coming train. The reason assigned for the act
was the refusal of certain persons in Philadelphia,
who. she alleged, had promised to pay her $4,000 if
she completed the walk in q specified time. to pay
her tie money that she had earned. She said she
was discouraged and desired to die The officer took
Mrs. Potts to the station house. and search Of her
pockets revealed the following letter.
10 THE BALTIMORE AMERICAN. PHILADELPHIA TIMES.
New YoRK HERALD, CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, n. c.;
ATLANTA CONSTITUTION. Ga; New ORLEANS TIMES.
N. o.
NOVEMBER, II, 1879: 80 P. NJ
DEAR ,EDIroRs-I am about to do q rash act. which
hope the world will forgive me for doing. 1t is
nearly i've weeks since I returned to Philadelphia
from INV Southern tour stopped at the Allegheny
House my return until last Saturday, was in
debt for weeks board aud was politely told by
the proprietor that 1 could stay longer. On
Sunday stated my case to Mrs. Thompson. She
gave me 81 and told me to 30 to the Womens Chris
ment and lodging. On Thursday morning went.
but the clerk Of the Employment Bureau sneered
at when l told her who was, and she said she
could not find me any employment without refer.
ence. went away in search OF employment, but
no intelligence office would % give me employment un,
dollar. for knew unless got employment that day
would have no money to get ANYTHING to eat & nor
| O'Clock p. NJ, asked policeman what he could do
for me. He sent me to the matron at No. 4l9 Clin-
ton street. told her who was. and that wanted
| employment. She sneered at me and said that she
could do nothing Tor me. then went back to the
Womens Christian Association and gave forty-fve
cents for supper, lodging and breakfast what they
| charge. Yesterday morning went to the Employ.
the agent fifty cents. with the understanding that
| he to return it at night unless he
got me situation tsaa. during the day ~, % was
cents, and went to the Woman's Christian Assoca-
ton last night aud stayed. returned to the Office.
the agent would get something to do, but he did
not. and left about half-past two P. NJ and walked
the stoop OF empty house to write this My
vaise is held for board bill at the American Hotel,
In Baltimore with my notes mt In It tnat INTENDED 70
Twenty-seventh street. New York, and have
things at the Allegheny House; but what they to
me? for l have come out here to lay my head down
on the railroad tracks tonight to be am
in hopes this viii be found in my pocket and pub
llshed in all the aforementioned papers. when am
dead. 1 want my body given the medical students
| in Philadelphia. / perfectly sane but have
nothing to live nothing to live for. So good
| by to the world. Mrs. MATTE POTTS.
r. ST. have friends relatives; am q native
of North Carolina Lived at New York city for nine
years.
CARED FOR
Mrs. Potts was brought up at the Central ONCE
this morning, and for time there was some doubt
as to what could be done with her. but Chief Givin
finally recolected that there is old statute making
il n misdemeanor for q person to attempt to take
their life and on this held her for hearing 1t
was afterward decided, after consultation with
of the officers of the courts. to make arrangements
whereby she could be placed in . temporary home.
with her at the Central Office failed to
elicit any facts further than stated in her letter.