Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-03
KEEPING A PROMISE TO DIE.
Strange Romance Of a WOman's Love
and Death.

Utfdnye Romance Oh q WOmam'S Love
and Death
The fact of the suicide in Pitts burg Of Miss
Fannie Bryant Newton, the copyist for DR.. Grin
E. Newton. who also committed suicide two
weeks ago. has been announced. She swallowed
fifteen grains Of morphia, and after writhing in
agony and resisting every effort to save her life
died in the afternoon. Eight years ago. when
she was only IL years old, she was employed in
the office of DR.. Newton, who was then promi-
nent and prosperous physician Of Cincinnati, as
copyist. Though not particularly handsome,
she was refined and accomplished. The doctor
at that time was SO years old. married, and had
several grown-up children. who moved in the
best circles of Cincinnati society. Two of his
daughters are actresses. After some years the
doctor lost his fortune In reckless speculation,
and his wife began divorce suit against him on
account of his relations with his copyist. He
separated from his wife and went to Pittsbur9,
taking his cOpvist with him as his hOusekeeper.
He established an office at No. Isl I'd ave-
nue.. and soon built up good practice His
wife's lawyer from time to time sent him letters
which greatly affected him. About two weeks
ago he was found dead in his bed, and as he
was confirmed morphine eater the cOrOner's
jury rendered verdict that death had resulted
from an overdose of morphine.
From letters left by Mrs. Bryant. who claimed
that she was married to the doctor, and called
herself Fannie Bryant Newton. it now appears
that the doctor had deliberately committed sui
eide and had left dose of the fatal drug for her,
which she had promised him to take. In these let
tiers. which are addressed to DR.. Thurman. a WE'LL
known physician. and Mrs. Miller, her landlady
she also states that the marriage ceremony was
performed by the doctor declaring her to De his
wife i'm the presence of three witnesses. She
adds minute directions for the care of he four
teen-mOnths-old child. Having determine upon
her death. she wrote the following letter 20 the
undertaken:
.'Piasburg. Pa. Sept. 29.-Mr Burns-Dear
Sir: Please 10 call. as soon as you receive this,
at No. Isl 81 avenue and take charge of the
body Of Mrs Fannie Bryant Newton, who sui
cided this morning. / have left deposit of
money addressed to DIR. G. III. Thurman, and
placed the letter. with inclosed money. in a
valise under my bed. l want you to furnish
everything at these prices. as follows: 'Casket
exactly like my husbands DR.. NewtOn's $50:
embalming. S1Ohearse and three carriages 80.
The money is to be paid you at and by DR.. Thur
man. | want to be buried in the Allegheny
cemetery, Pittsburg. i'm grave lot. In amount
the grave lots cost s., but have left go with
DIR. Thurman. that, should it only cost S. the
other 50 will go to my boy. Get the death GER
tifcate in this way: Fannie Bryant Newton,
born upon the Sandusky plains. Ohio. suicided
at her residence, No. Isl I'd avenue, September
~, 1883 l have been at Isl I'd avenue five
months. Former residence Cincinnati. Mr..
Burns. you will find soap, sponge.
towels. and sheet in the top drawer of
the dressing case in the room right
by the window. / am all bathed and dressed
just as / want to be buried. Please to put out
black and white Grape. as am still young. Use
the black pail and no sheets over or around me.
i have taken fifteen or twenty grains of NOR
phine, and / hardly think that my fate will be
dissolved from 1t. have left IS with Thur
man for digging my grave. If any infiamma-
ton OF the abdomen or elsewhere sets in and
you think / will become unsightly, please to
place me in the casket at once and close the lid
down. If / am net put in the casket before
night upon Saturday, see to it that some one
sits ND with my remains, as there are great
many mice in the room. i expect my sister
here, and should like to look natural / may,
in some of the letters that left, have mentioned
that L want to be sent to our family burial
ground at Bloomington, Ill. But under no
circumstances do | wish it now. l wish to be
buried right here i'm Pittsburg. / have left
pail of fresh water in the room for embalming
purposes trust that you will find everything
all right. Thanking you tor your prompt atten-
ton at the doctors death. | am respectfully,
Mrs. FANNIE BRYANT NEWTON"
Then she took bath, attired herself in clean
and weil-fttng garments. placed the pail of
water near the bed. and after writing the sew
eral letters and kilograms found in the room
addressed to the coroner the following note:
Il have taken fifteen grains of morphine
with suicidal intent. You need not hold an in
quest"
These preparations being completed she swal-
lowed the poison. When disco vered in her
throes of agony IN the little back room she kept
muttering:
''Oh. let me die; cannot i've and must not"
She placed her hand over her mouth and held
IL firmly to prevent the insertion Of the stomach
pump.
To those around her shortly before her death
che said 1T would be charity for me to die /
promised the doctor 1 would do it, and 1 have
done it,
Mrs. Fannie Bryant Newton is said to have
been a granddaughter of John Campbell, the
founder of the Campbellite church. Her mother,
at Bloomington. ILL.,. is on the point of death
all in good circumstances. One Of the sisters
reached Pittsburg Sunday evening" and took
charge Of the remains.
ANOTHER HISTORY OF MRS. NEWTON.
dispatch from Bloomington, ILL.,, says: 1.-THE
suicide in Pittsburg few days ago of Mrs. JO-
eephine Bryant Newton is of great local interest
here. Josephine Bryant was the youngest
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Bryant, now living
at Parnell, Dewitt county, Ill. She was a pretty,
quiet and modest girl with oval face, dark
brown eyes and brown hair Her whole family
were brilliant. but cratic. She was related, by
her fathers side. to William Cullen Bryant and
by her mothers to Bishop Alexander Campbell.
brother committed suicide here several years
ago. Josie for years was an hOnored and sue
cessful teacher, but became enveloped in scan
DIAL. resigned. and went to Atchson, Kansas.
Her cousin. DR.. Grafton. formerly of Farmer
City. ILL.,, shot and killed himself about two
years ago at LeayenwOrth, Kansas. Two of DR..
GraftOns sisters are now noted society women
CT Colorado. one is the wife of Hon. Thomas
Patterson. ex-United States Senator. Of Denver;
the other. Mrs. Thos. Campbell. is the wife of a
noted Leadyile lawyer and banker"
THE PRESIDENE'S LATE WIFE.
Where IIr. Arthur Met His Wife and