Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-03-17
ANOTHER SAD SUICIDE
Miss Fanny l.. Uecring Ends
Her Earthly Career
with a Revolver.

About 3 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon
the people in The vicinity Of Plain Church,
and Tontogany and Bowling Green, were
greatly exci,ed over the report that Miss
Fannie l.. Deering had either been MUIR
dered or had committed suicide. All kinds
of wild rumors, as usual, were anoat, and
| when Sheriff Reid passed through Tontog-
any on the evening train he was urged
to arrest the father, Rev.J X. Deering, I'M.
| til further examination OF the case could
be had. But he declined to do so.
The evidence before the Coroner's Jury
and the appended letter shows that it wasa
clear case of premeditated suicide. A few
weeks prior TO the tragedy, Miss Deering
made an attempt upon her life by taking an
overdose OF laudanum, but the stomach re-
jected il and her purpose was not accom-
p ished.
| The causes which brought hbotit this sad
result may be briefly told. A number Of
years since Rev. Mr.. Dsering tepnrntated
from and obtained divorce in one of
the eastern states from his wife, Fan
ny's mother. He came to Toledo, and
). while there became acquainted with and
married the widow of the late Charles
Powers, resident Of Perrysburg, and after
a residence here of two or three years he
was called to preach for the Presbyterian
congregation at Plain Church, some three
miles south OF Tontogany. Theyaremoved
and located there over two years ago.
1t seems that Miss Deering sympatliized
with her mother in their troubles, and was
anything but an amiable daughter towards
her father. Atthe age Of II years, having n
deformily of one of her limbs, which made
her quite lame, she devoted her attention to
music and entered the Conservatory of
Music at Oberlin for the purpose of prepur-
ing herself to teach. AT the end of two years
she graduated will, honor, after which she
located in Toledo, in 1874, and commenced
the practice of her profession, with high
hopes aud tatterng prospects. She accn-
! mulaled several Numbered dollars and loan
edi, to her step mother, who was supposed TO
be worth considerable property, and took
her notes therefor. She would not trust
, anything to her father. She kept placing
her earnings with her ster.mother in this
way until the sum had accumulated Ia
near ST 400. She had an ambition to go Ia
Germany and complete her education in
music, and had arranged to start last sum
mer She had been assured that the money
"A Ia e.. phar el,o tod
n But when the time came it could not b,
0 raised. The time was set when it would b,
q q paid and she partiently waited, but wa
0 again disappointed. 1t was then sh
learned that the property of Mrs. Deerinl
5 was IN a shape that she might not be able t.
}. repay the money she received.
Itappears that Mrs. Deering was in Ell
more on the day Fanny committed the ras
act, with the hope of negotiating the mon
ey to meet the obligation, which amounte
e to about 81 600, a portion of the amour
a having been paid.
!, Aiss. Deering became discouraged, gay
!. up her classes in Toledo and went up to re
II side with her father, apparently with I'll
. hope of harrassing them until they woul
e pay the amount her due. 1t soon becam
Q SO unpleasant that they secured and pai
l. for her board at a near neighbor. Thu
is matters stood for some months past, until
e few weeks before the rash act was com
l. mitted she returned to the parsonage. o
u Monday she had charged her fathernev
n y to speak to her again, and in wrangle {
>. words threw glass OF water on him an
slapped him across the forehead.
,t None were present on Tuesday but he
IL self and father. She arose about So'cloc
II as was her usual custom, and dressed he
,e self, but remained in her room. Hem
al Carr brought her two letters, which aft'
e reading she said: ut is too late" I'll
last words she said to her father: "Wht
You go to Mr. Minton's | won't her to rea
letter have written to you." He hu
occasion to pass through her room about
in o'clock and she was covered up in her be
apparently asleep. About 10 o'clock
rt was passing out to the barn to water 81
in horse, when lie heard the report of pisto
He thought nothing of it MS he frequent
n heard such reports. At noon he took
'is uncl, but did not disturb Fanny. MI
Lowe and her daughter, neighborS, car
in te Jhe house about 230 p. NJ. to 8
", 'e Fanny, and Mr.. Deering directed the
to go To her room. twas then they disco
wv cred that she was dead She lay on Ii
II left side covered up in bed, with II 80 ca
Der revolver lying near the wound. 81
2. had evidently put the revolver to her IL
h breast, just opposite the heart and pull
n the trigger. The ball passed through
at portion Of the heart and lodged ju-t und
IN the skin near the shoulder blade. She Ii,
evidently died without II struggle.
=, This ends another lamentable TRACED
h. Miss. Deering wrote several letters
IA. friends Oh Sunday, giving explicit dire
in ions ms TO the disposal OF her property Al
arrangements for the fun eral. She reqnes
in ed that the body be embalmed, placed in
to plain coffin and put in vault for 8
as months, then inferred in tlle.cemc,ery he
he Plain Church. She also desired that II
funeral services take place ut the parse
x, age and that Rev. A. p. McGaw, Of Toled
r. preach t he sermon. Her request was Gu
'ss red out as far M consistent. The iuner
lie took place at 10 A. NJ. yesterday, and q
there was no vault in the county the
er mains OF the unfoit mate girl were buri
u in the Plain cemetery.
NJ But one etter cruld be secured for pu
go licatlon, and this was put in as evidence
the Coroner's inquest and thus secur
- by a representative OF the Bee and publis
~, ~ ed lust evening from which we copy.
=" was addressed to Mrs. II. w. Condit al
~. dated Oh the 18th inst. 1t commences wi