Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-04-15
A SUICIDE.
Married ON Tuesday and Dead
ON Thursday.
From the Baltimore American. Anil On

NAVm INV DatttmVfe Ameficans April VI
John Petri, a Baltimore county
truck gardener on the farm of Mr..
Alexander Brodie, committed suicide
yesterday under circumstances which
are unusually distressing, on account
of a touch of romance which they DOS
sess. Petri was a Scotchman who, By
patient and uDtiring industry, had
accumulated a snug sum of money
aud was In comfortable circumstances.
lie was a rigid teetotaller, a strict and
consistent member of the Aisquith
street Presbyterian church, and by
his integrity and honesty, as we'll as
his faithfulness as an employee, has
won the esteem and respect of all who
knew him, Coming to America from
Scotland when a young man he had
lived on the Brodie estate, which is
located on the Hillen road, a mile
from the toll gate, and about
two miles from the city, for twenty
tx years or more, and was a nephew
Of Mrs. Alexander Brodie, ST., whose
husband died some years ago. Petri
was always treated with the greatest
respect, was consulted in every matter
relating to the farm, and was always
regarded as a man OF unusual good
Judgment and practical sense. He was
quiet and unassuming, and was the
last man in the world who-anybody
who knew him would have thought
would have been the destroyer of
his own life. TO account for the SUI
icide is impossible, for the facts, while
perhaps giving ground work for a
theory, by no means explain the deed.
Before coming to America from his
bonnie home in Scotland, Petri had
been the sutton for the hand of a
young lady Of his native town. He
came to America 10 seek his fortune.
with the promise that when this was
secured he would return and claim the
hand of the girl he loved. Patiently he
worked and as patiently she waited for
twenty years or more, while he little
By little added to his possessions, and
upon the farm of his employer a house
was built to be the home of his Scot.
fish bride. All being ready, a few
years ago he went to Scotland to
marry the sweetheart, now a woman,
with whom he had kept up a faithful
correspondence during all his years of
absence. He found her ready for
the nuptials, but her mother inter,
posed and forbade the marriage un
less he would remain in Scotland, as
she could not consent to have her
daughter come to America. He was
obliged to give up his cherished plans.
which had been the comfort of his
whole life and work, and to return to
America without his bride. Yet there
was no noticeable change in his bear
ing or manner; he was the same unas-
Stunning and pleasant-spOken man as
before. In the family Of Mr.. Brodie
lived a servant, Celia Graham, of Irish
birth, whom Petri, though fifty years
old, woed and won. She is about
thirty-6ve years old, and is a woman
OF excellent character. Her religious
faith was Catholic and his Protestant,
and on this account objections to the
marriage were made by the friends
and relatives of both parties. A year
ago the marriage license was procured,
but the ceremony was not performed
until last Tuesday evening. 1t took
place at the parsonage of the Aisquith
street Presbyterian church, the pastor.
Rev. Mr.. Buchanan, officiating, she
consenting to have the marriage per.
formed by a Protestant clergyman. At
the time of the wedding both seemed
IN the happiest mood and spoke cheer
fully Of their future prospects. They
immediately took possession of the
house on the Brodie farm, but a short
distance from that of the Brodie fam
lily. Wednesday evening they were
by their employer, and seemed
as happy and oentented as pos
Yesterday morning Petri
rose about five O'Clock, and.
his wife he would be hack to
breakfast, went out. He was not seen
until, an hour later, his lifeless
and mangled body was found lying by
the yard in which the dollhouse frames
are kept. By his side lay a single
barrelled shotgun, belonging to Mr..
Brodie, with which the deed lad been
committed. That it was pr~emeditated
was clearly seen, as he had tied a
to the trigger ofthe gun, looped
it around his foot and thus discharged
the weapon, His foot was still in the
loop when his body was found. The
of the gun he had placed in
his mouth, and by the discharge a
hole several inches in diameter lad
been bored through his head. His
brains were scattered in all directions,
some Of them being found on the roof
of a shed fifteen feet high near at
hand. The discovery was made by a
young man employed on the place,
who had gone into one of the hot
houses, and who found one Of the
doors open and the body lying outside
near the threshold.