Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-05
TEIH CHlLDFOIsOxEa.
Death of n Fo1r Year Old Som Of
Mr.. Slusser, By the Hand
OF HIS Aunt.

is the person who attempted to destroy
herself yesterday, and succeeded in
killing the four year old son Of Mr..
J.V. Slusser, of this city. Her mo-
tive was to prevent the anticipated
separation of herself and the child,the
latter being the son Of her sister, who
was the first wife of Mr.. Slusser.
The elder son and now only child Of
Mr.. Slusser, is boy ofthirteen years
or thereabouts, and he is spoken Of by
those who knew him here as an espe-
cially promising boy, Of bright intel
lect, and exceedingly popular with
those who knew him about the rail-
way Office where he served as mes
senger for period. The mother Of
the boys died something near a year
ago, and for period the lads lived
here under care of a housekeeper.
Several months ago the latter married,
and Mr.. Slusser then took his boys
to their aunt in Louisville. Upon
hearing that Mr.. Slusser had been
married to Miss Fleming at New
Orleans on Monday last, Mrs. Newton
administered morphine to the child
and herself. leaving a note on the
table stating that she did it because
she feared the child's father would
take the boy away from her. The
husband Of Mrs. Newton arrived home
and found his wife in what he thought
to be a dying condition and
the child actually dead. The
elder boy was not injured as was
rumered yesterday. A telegram
announcing the sad affair was sent
to Mr.. Slusser yesterday morning at
some point down the railway, as he
was coming home from New Orleans,
in company with his bride. The dis
patch failed to reach him, and it fol-
lowed along behind from station to
station. Mr.. s. and wife reached their
home, No. 242 johnson avenue, near
the Church Orphan Asylum, and were
there several hours before the terrible
news was impaired to them. At last
accounts it was believed that Mrs.
Newton would recover from the effects
of the dose she had taken, but the
fatal drug had done its work upon the
child when the deed was first discs p
cred. Mr.. Slusser. who is the mas k
mechanic at the Louisville Il Nasn-
vile railway, in the northern part Of
this city, came here from Louisville
several years ago, and he is mentioned
as a most worthy and accomplished
gentleman, man, indeed, not
only an industrious, competent and
skillful executive officer, but most
excellent and valuable citizen. His
newly married wife, formerly Miss
Fleming, is the niece of Mr.. E.
McDavitt, we'll known citizen Of in
huence here, and the lady is men
toned as most estimable person il
every respect. They have the sympa.
thy Of many in the unexpected be
reavement, so suddenly brought upor
them by the strange freak ofone who's,
fancies were evidently wrecked at th,
| time she did the deed.
Card From MIR. MSDaVitt.
EDITOR LEDGER-In consequence,
| of the incorrect and confused state
ments made both in the LEDGER ant
Appeal in regard to tho poisoning o
| Mr.. Slusser's little son in Louisville
| | must ask correction in both papers
Mr. Slusser and wife, formerly Mis-
| Mollie j. Fleming, my niece, arrivs,
: here yesterday morning from New Or
leans at 10 o'clock. There were tire
dispatches awaiting him at his Office
notifying him Of the death of his dea
little boy. He and his wife cam
J direct from the depot to my house an
{ remained until after dinner, and con
sequently did not get the diSpatche
until after dinner. One of the reason
: given 10 the papers for the woma
poisoning Mr.. Slussur's child was tina
e she expected to marry Mr.. Suisse
! herself, when she already has huE
, band. Another is that she is a siste
4 Of Slusser's first wife and had adopte
s the little boy and was afraid she woul
: have to give him up, in which there
Z not a word of truth. She had nc
adopted the child, nor was she relate
? to the former Mrs. Slusser, but a
n acquaintance with whom Mr.. Suisse
boarded his son at Louisville, Ky
while under medical treatment, b
being an afflicted child. His ethC
son is at school in another part Of th
n city, from whom Mr.. Slusser receive
a two dispatches yesterday. What coul
have prompted this miserable woma
TO commit the act is unaccountabl
without she is deranged at the though
Of losing the liberal board Mr.. SlusS,
was paying her.
Il Mr.. Slusser left lest night f
Louisville in much distress, for |
was devoted to his peor afflicted lit
boy.
A!low me TO say that it wou
always be much better to get Il
\ facts as they exist before hastily pu'
I fishing such cases as this to the mo
! LITIGATION Of friends,
L. McDAvIrT.
Mr.. lMcDavitt's last paragraph
G.-A l.. .J.,..n -