Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-12-21
END IN SUICIDE.

A. w. Pierson, of this city, in reference tc
whose relations with Mrs. j. w. Left.
witch public scandal has been rife for
some time past, has at last closed
the scene by committing suicide, which
he did at Oakland on Sunday morning
last A long time since the relations between
Pierson and Mrs. Leftwich became such that
her husband refused to longer live with herand
applied for divorce. The matter, however,
was adjusted between them and the suit was
withdrawn. The regrets and promises
OF the wife, it is stated, did not en-
dure. The ardor between her and Pierson re-
vived, and another application for divorce was
contemplated, when another conformation took
place. The recent scandal, in which it was
rumored that she again deserted her husband
and maintained still greater intimacy with
PIerson, when they finally sought refuge
! through death by laudanum, but were rescued
by having taken overdoses and from medical
| assistance, is well known and fresh in mind.
| The husband again forgave her, but finding
all hope of her fidelity had fed, he two or
three weeks ago obtained a divorce. Within
few days afterward she and Pierson were
married. and the sequel of their union is given
as follows in the San Francisco Ecaminer of
yesterday
Between and o'clock yesterday morning
roomer in the Bartlett House, 47S Seventh
street, opposite the railroad station, and be-
tween Broadway and Washington streets,
Oakland, hearing groans proceeding from the
room 20, adjoining his own room, informed
DR.. Stoekham. who also resides in the Bart
lett House, that some person in the room was
probably sick and in need of medical aid.
The Doctor Immediately went to room 30, on
the floor Of which he found Arthur w. Pier
son lying under the effects of laudanum. Mrs.
Pierson was also found in the room, and also
under the influence of laudanum, but her
severe vomiting indicated that the dose had
been an excessive one, and was acting as its
own corrective. DR.. Stockham, assisted by
DR.. Docking, did all that was possible to
rescue Pierson from the effects of the poison,
but the efforts were futile, as Person died at
twenty minutes to o'clock yesterday after
noon. Mrs. Pierson, although still sick, is
out of danger of death from the poison. 1t is
supposed that Pierson took the laudsnum
with suicidal intent, and it is alleged that he
has three or four times before attempted
suicide AT what hour the poison was taken
is not known, some of the people in the house
inferring from a noise made in room 20, be.
tween 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning, that
it was then taken, and there being also
story that it was not taken till shortly before
DR.. Stockham went to the room, and at
which time. as a gentle argument with
Persons bride to join him in the
social poisoning, he threatened her with
instant death instead with cooked pistol
which he had leveled at her. In the unstint-
ing generosity of recently made bridegroom,
but in one which defeated its own thoughtful
object, he gave her the larger portion. Cor
oner Hamilton took charge of Persons body.
and with jury will to-day make an inquest
into the cause of his death. The only appa-
rent reason for the commission yesterday of
the frequently-before attempted suicide was
the extreme poverty that the absence in the
roem of all kind of property belonging to the
deceased indicated, but the marriage so
swiftly following divorce of the bride, and
the suicide SO swiftly following the marriage.
are thought to suggest some more potent rea-
son, not yet disclosed, for the poisoning.