The New York herald., 1879-10-22
POVERTY AND POISON.

A YOUNG MARRIED WOMAN SEEKS TO END HER
TROUBLES WITH DOSE OF CORROSIVE SUBJ
LIMATE-No LIKELIHOOD OF RECOVERY.
Captain Clnchy. of the Eighteenth precinct sent
despatch to Police Headquarters yesterday stating
that Clara Douglass twenty years of Of No.
335 East Twenty-second street. had attempted to
commit suicide by taking poison. When
he investigated and the family
history Of the unfortunate woman made
known most pathetic story Of poverty. mis-
fortune and suffering revealed. Mrs. Douglass
father prosperous builder OF this city and her
uncle is said to be partner in downtown hotel.
She married. at the age Of twenty three years,
Mr. Harry f. Douglass. who had been q well-to-6o
business man. but met with reverses in the panic OF
1873. Taking his young wife with him. he moved
into humble lodgings, and tried by economy to sup
port himself on his small salary a ltho-
grapher's assistant. He worked industriouslys
but never recovered his old-time prosperity.
Moreover Mrs. Douglass, who had from soino I'M
known incurred the dispeasure of her family,
was abandoned by them to her own resources. In
the course of time her responsible became tn-
creased by the birth of boy. and girl named Viola.
Her husbands salary being Inadequate to support
them in the apartments they occupied IN Madison
street they moved to East Twenty-second street,
where relatives resided. Mr. Douglass was
thrown out of employment two weeks ago. and but
for the charity of the neighbors they would have
been reduced to starvation. This sad condition OF
affairs led to dts of dependency aud constant de-
preston of tho unfortunate woman's spir-
it's. Yesterday morning, AS usual, her hus.
band left the house in search Of employment.
Shortly afterward the landlord made his appearance
and demanded the half-month's rent which due.
Mrs. Douglass had not cent i'll the house, and so
told the landlord. The latter intimated that she
would have to pay up or vacate the premises. He
had not been long gone when u kndhearted woman
who lives the same hoor and who has been in the
habit of rendering services to Mrs. Douglass. called
and asked il she would not accept OF cup of tea.
Being met by refusal, she returned about half an
hour afterward and found Mrs. Douglass looking
In ill health and very feeble. When questioned she
denied. however, that she was sick. During tie
colloquy between the two women, little Viola was
toying with bottle which stood upon the table.
The phial contained corrosive sublimate. which was
used AS rat poison. Mrs. Douglass finally con.
fessed that she had drank some of it to put end
to her troubles. Word of the occurrence was
at despatched to the Eighteenth precinct
station and the arrival of the police the hap
less in unconscious condition. An
ambulance conveyed her to Bellevue Hospital. where
she received prompt medical treatment 1t is feared
however, that she will not recover. In the mean
time her children taken care of by charitable
neighbors, while the unfortunate husband hung
around Bellevue Hospital like one possessed, de-
manding to be informed of his wifes condition.
He at last persuaded to return homo aud LOOK
after his children.