Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-22
SUICIDE BY FIRE.
A Sad Story OF Insanity and Death-A
Once Happy Home Ruined
BY the Awful Death of a Maniac Wife
Death of the Husband.

NEW YORK, February 2l.-The Herald
tells of a tragedy which began in Bsstrop,
Tex, and ended in this city. The eircum-
stances are of peculiarly painful nature.
Jacob Ross Greene was until q month ago a
thriving young man in the town named, in
Texas. He was engaged in the livery busi-
ness, and was reputed 10 be worth from s2O,-
900 TO SIS 900, a sum which in that locality
caused its nossessor to be looked upon as a
man of wealth. His father was the wealth.
lest man in the country, his possessions be-
ing estimated at over 500, 900. The SOD, who
was thirty-fiye years Of age, had married
some years previously, and was the father of
four children-two boys and two girls-the
eldest OF whom was about thirteen years old
and the youngest five years. He was de-
votedly attached to his wife and the two had
lived very happily together since their mar
riage. About five years ago his wife, after
a severe attack of illness. betrayed evidences
of mental trouble. This continued but for
a short time, when she apparently gained
her usual health.
MANEUvERING FOR HER OWN DEATH.
About The middle of last month the wife
gsin began to talk and act queerly, and the
fears OF the husband were once more aroused.
He became more assiduous in his attentions
TO her, and was careful to be in her company
as much as possible, fearing she might do
herself bodily harm.
On the morning Of the 18th OF January
the mother prepared The children for school
at an hour earlier than that 10 which they
were accustomed. The little ones demurred
10 being sent of 80 early, but the mother in
sisted, and they finally started for the school
house. Something demanded Mr.. Greene's
attention at the barn, which stood not tar
from the house, but his wife was acting so
oddly that he feared TO leave her alone for
a moment. Calling the servant girl, he in
structed her TO pay close attention TO the
movements of her mistress, and not to let her
out of her sight. This the girl promised to
do. There was method in the NJ Gdness of
the unfortunate woman, however, and
her tactics betrayed certain crafty shrewd-
ness. No sooner had her husband left the
house than she directed the girl to attend to
certain household duties in the kitchen on
the floor below. The servant hesitated to
comply, but upon her mistress reiterating
her command peremptorily she did as she
was directed. Then the unfortunate maniac
for such she had become-proceeded to
carry out the purpose which she had evil
IDENTIFY been planning.
TERRIBLE DELIBERATIoN.
Selling a large lamp, full of oil, which
stood upon the mantel she poured its con.
tents over her head and saturated her cloth.
ing with the infsmmsble fuid. Their she
applied lisu,-i ,nascti, and IN al instant
was a mass of Hamss. The affrighted SER
want, hearing the agonizsd screau@ of the
unfortunate lady, hurried up the 81 airs, but
when she tried to enter the room found the
door locked. The poor deranged mind had
laid lis plan we'll. Mr.. Greene, too,
heard the shrieks and his heart at
once misgave him. Rushing out of
the barn and looking toward the house he
beheld sight that almost frozs his blood 10
his veins. Standing at a window which
looked out upon low balcony was his wife.
me flames curlinS up about her, while she
made frantic efforts to open the easement.
A dozen bounds brought him to the spot,
and dashing through the window he took up
his wife in his arms, carried her over the
yerandah, and threw her upon a grassy
lawn, rolling her over and over in the effort
10 exilgsish the flames. He finally sue
ceeded, with the help of the servant, but not
until his hands and arms had been badly
burned. The flames, however, hid done
their cruel work. The unfortunate won an
fingered in terrible agony from s O'Clock in
the morning until 2o'clock in the sfternoon,
when she died.
FRUSTRATED BY THE SHOCK
The husband was physically and mentally
prostrated. He was placed under medical
care, but though his burns were severe and
painful they were nothing to his mental an
guish. For six days he did not sleep and re-
fused to eat On the morning of the sixth
day he developed symptoms of mania, and
I in a very short time thereafter became a
4 raving ma aiic His physicians recommend
ed that he be brought to New York for treat
] ment, and about the LIST of this month he
was put abosru a train, in care Of his father,
Mr.. r. S. Greene; his uncle, Perry Greene,
/! and his brother, ID. S. Greene. Upon their
, arrival here sevtrsl attempts we're made TO
secure hotel accom- modations for the suffer-
ing man, but without success. He was
finally taken 10 Bellevue Hospital, where he
remained couple OF days, but as nothing
could be done for him there he was removed
to Bloomipgdale Asylum. This was on the
afternoon of the Sth instant. He remained
there until the 11tb, late in the evening Of
which day be died, having refused to par
take of any food and being unable to sleep.
The cause of death was certified by the ply
stefan who attended him 10 be acute manis,
complicated by pleuro-pneumonia. His
friends explain 1t more simply by saying
that he died of a broken heart.
| FROM THE BLooMINdDALE RECORD.
| Upon the record book Of the Bloomingdale
Asylum is this minute: "Exhausted by the
journey from Texas, while he was in d
highly msniacal condition, together with al
most entire insomr olency and fasting. Al
though known here only three days, his
death wss particularly regretted, and much
sympathy is felt for his bereaved father. He
is reported to have had collegiate educa-
| tion, TO have been a consistent member of a
| Christian church since he was eighteen years
| of age, and TO have been an ab.tinent man
in a community in which drinking to excess
| is supposed to largely prevail, to have been
an upright and prosperous business man, a
good citizen and Exemplary and faithful in
| The relations of son, husband and father"
The body OF the unfortunate man was
taken on Monday last to his old home. His
father remained in this city until last even.
ing.