Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-05
A WELCOME DEATH.
Extraordinary Preparations for Sui
eide BY Woman-Resisting
Medical Aid.
Detailed Instructions for the
EmbalminS of Her BOdy-A
Strange, Sad history.


the fifteen grains of morphine whicl
she had deliberately taken bat a feV
hours before. at would be charit
for me to die; told the Doctor woul,
do it, and | have done il" she said
with determination that left no doub
as TO her intentions when she took tn
poisonous drug. With an almost su
perhuman effort she placed her han,
over her mouth and held it Their
firmly to prevent the insertion OF th
tube of the stomach pump. Her re
sistance, however, was OF no avail
neither were the attempts of tn
physicians to restore her, for in few
hours aiterward she became uncon
scious, and al three O'Clock expired.
PREPARATIONS FOR SELF MURDER
The appearance Of the room and o
the body showed that the woman haC
attended to many Of the details usually
assumed by the undertaken or biz
assistants 10 the event Of death. She
had taken a bath and then dressed
herself in clean, we'll fitting garments
Near the body was a pail OF water
which she had placed there for the
use of the undertaken for embalminl
purposes, and on a table was a package
containing letters and kilograms. One
of the former was addressed to the
Coroner, and was as follows:
81 have taken fifteen grains of NOR.
phine with suicidal intent; you need
not hold an inquest"
The others we're addressed to a ply.
stefan Of this place, an undertaken and
to the landlsdy of the house
| THE woMAN's HISTORY.
There is a sad story connected with
the self destruction of this woman
Eight years ago she was employed in
the Office Of DR., Grin Newton,a prom,
inent physician Of Cincinnati, as
copyist. Though not particularly
handsome, she was refined and accom-.
plished. As years rolled by the Doc,
tors fortune was lost in reckless spec,
ulation in stocks, and then di4cord
entered his household, 1t was charged
that his attentions to his interesting
copyist we're not such as should be
shown by married man, and a sepa.
ration between himself and wife took
place. This was followed by divorce
suit, which is said to be still pend.
ing.
A PHYSICIANS H0UsEKEEPER.
! The Doctor then came to this city
bringing Fannie Bryant, the suicide,
with him as housekeeper. lie estab.
! lished an office at No. l5l Second
avenue, advertised extensively and
built up good practice. His depar.
ture from Cincinnati, however, did not
relieve him of annoyance and fire.
quently received letters from his
wife's lawyer which seemed to affect
him very much. He was a confirmed
morphine eater, and when he was
found dead two weeks ago the Coro.
ner's jury rendered a verdict that
death resulted from an overdose Of
that drug. 1t was not then known
that the morphine had been taken will
suicidal intent.
DYING BY HIS OWN HAND.
| This was discovered from the letter.
left by his hOusekeeper or ALLEGED
wife, who states that she had promised
the Doctor to commit suicide and tina
be had left the fatal drug for her. TIL,
couple were very much attached I,
each other, although he was sixty year
Of age while she was In her twenty
fifth year at the time Of her death
She claimed that they we're married
but it seems that merely a mock cere
mony was performed, they having beer
declared man and wife 10 the presence
ct three witnesses-One child, fourteen
months old, survives them.
THE DOCTORS OTHER FAMILY.
The Doctor by his first or Lawful
wife leaves several grown up children
who move in good society 10 Cincin
natl. Two daughters are said to be
shining lights on the stage A brother
who is a physician, resides in New
York.
Mrs Bryant Newton, as the suicide
called herself, is said to be a grand.
daughter oil John Campbell. the
founder OF the Campbellite church, d
which the late President Garfield wa.
a conspicuous member. Her mother
is now living at Bloomington, ILL.,, and
is at the point of death. There arc
several brothers and sisters who sur.
vive her and who are in good circum.
stances. The telegram which she Lett
was directed TO her relatives and mott
ned them Of her death. An answer
was subsequently received requesting
that the body be sent to Bloomington
AN EXTRAORDINARY LETTER.
In her letters to Dr.. Truman and
Mrs. Miller the deceased woman STATE,
that she had promised DR.. Newton n
commit suicide, and she gives minute
directions for the care Of her child
Following is the letter to the under.
taker:
"PIrrsnuGo, September %, 1889.
''To Mr.. Burns
/ DEAR SIR-Please to call. as soon
as you receive this, at No. l5l Second
avenue, and take charge Of the body
OF Mrs. Fannie Bryant Newton. who
committed suicide this morning. /
have left a deposit Of money addressed
to DR.. -, and placed the letter with
enclosed money, 10 a yalise under nv
bed. l want you TO furnish every.
thing at these prices, as follows: Gas.
ket (exactly like my husbands. Dr.
Newton), $50; embalming, $40; hearse
and three carriages, $40. The money
IS to be paid you by DR.. -
want TO be buried 10 the ALE.
gheny Cemetery, Pittsburg, in
a grave lot. Ia amount the crave lots
cost 50 but | have left $40 with Dr.
Should it cost only s., the other
20 to go to my boy. Get the death
certificate in this way: Name, Fannie
Bryant Newton; born upon the San.
dusky Plains, Ohio; suicided at resi-.
dence No. l5l Second avenue. Sen.
TENDER %, 1888. | have been al Ma
l5l Second avenue FIVE months for.
mer residence, Cincinnati. You will
lind soap, sponge, towels and sheet In
the top drawer Of the dressing case in
the room. right by the window. am
all bsthed and dressed, just as | want
to be buried. Please TO put out hlaek
and white Grape, as | am still Young
Use the black pail and no sheets over
or around me | have taken fifteen or
twenty grains Of morphine, and |
hardly think that my fate will be dis.
solved from it. have left S. with
DR.. - for digging my grave. II
any inflammation Of the abdomen or
elsewhere sets 10 and you think that /
will become lnsightly please TO place
me 10 the casket at once aud close The
I'D down. If | am not put in the cas-.
ket before night on Saturday see IN
It that some one sits up with my re.
mains, as there are a great many mice
10 the room. | expect my sister here
and | should like TO look natural /
may, in some Of the letters that / left
have mentioned that | wanted 10 he
sent to our family burial ground AZ
Bloomington but under no circum.