The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-26
FATAL FUN.
A Young Lady's Practical Joke Causes the
Suicide of Young Lover.

PITTsFIELp, Mass, June PA practical joke
played by young lady on two afiauced lovers,
caused the suicide, at West Stockbridge, OF
Robert Stinson, the young son of ex-Judge Stin-
son of Norristown, Pa. Stinson was twenty
three years old, a graduate of Lehigh- College
and bright, promising young man. He had
been studying law at home with his father and
expected to be admitted to the bar next year.
For some time he had been engaged to Miss
Clara Edwards of West Stockbridge and q month
ago he started from home to make her visit.
On his way he stopped at Oswego, N. Y,
where he acted as best man at the wedding of a
college chum named Morrow. The next week
he spent in taking active part in the festivities,
rowing, dancing whist and tennis. One even
ing while rowing on the lake with Miss Morrow,
she began to tease him about his devotion to a
certain young lady in Massachusetts and said
she thought the young lady ought 20 be informed
of his gallantrles to Oswego beauties. Young
Stinson laughingly told her she had better write
a letter TO his affianced and gave her Miss Ed
wards address A day or two after Miss Ed
wards received letter from Miss Morrow to the
effect that Robert Stinson had mysterously dis
appeared and his Oswego friends believed he
was drowned in the lake. At this startling in
telllgence Miss Edwards swooned and was found
by her family with the letter in her hand. Her
father telegraphed to Oswego for particulars,
and soon received a dispatch reading Robert
has returned, alive and well. 1t was all joke"
Then it was discovered that the letter had
finely written postscript which read: Strange
things have happened in this world, and this let
ter is all--rats.n Indignant at such thoughtless
cruelty. Mr.. Edwards commanded his daughter
to end her relations with Stinson. In a day or
two, however, came letter from him exoner-
ating him from blame. Then Mr.. Edwards
telegraphed him to come to Suockbridge and ex
plain. He did so, and soon after his arrival, a
week ago, he fully proved his innocence. Then
the wedding of the lovers was fixed for Septem-
Der. The news of Stinsons death had, however,
spread like wildhre in the little town and every
one ne met Qulzzed him the subject. SO
great did the annoyance become that the young
man told friend that the gossips and inqusi-
tive people everywhere were driving him crazy.
Meanwhile, his father hearing of the approach
ing nuptials and wishing to have them postponed
till his son was admitted to the bar, sent his
second son, Harry to Stockbridge to propose a
postponement The two brothers met here on
Friday and had long interview. They were to
meet again at o'clock. After leaving his
brother Robert appeared very respondent and
visited several bar-rooms. Being totally unused
to liquor he was before noon in pitiable condi-
ton. In this state he took the train for West
Stockbridge and went directly to call upon his
sweetheart. Greatly shocked at this condition,
the young lady concealed it from her family and
ministered to his wants. At o'clock, however,
he escaped from the house unnoticed. He
bought revolver, and after writing two letters
at the depot, sent dispatch to his brother say
ing: Il am gone" He then lighted cigar,
told the station agent he was going to bis aunts,
and went out Next day he missing. The
whole town turned out and he was found by the
railroad track with bullet hole in his temple,
and all but two chambers of his revolver empty.
The letter he wrote to Miss Edwards was simply
a note, saying he was going to his aunt's, and
would see her in the morning. She is wild with
grief This young mans suicide was doubtless
due to temporary insanity. caused by over ap-
plcation to study annoyance at the practical
joke played upon him, and modification at be-
ing seen by his betrothed while intoxicated.