Morris tribune., 1885-04-08
A SAD SUICIDE.
FEARING INSANITY, A BEAUTIFUL
GIRL DRoWNs HERSELF.
Rathor Than Live and TH Burden ia
Her Parents-A Note Pinned ON
the Door Reveals Her
Purpose.

OF MISS brown, Oh ItOCAkOTo, Aus., WnicD
took place Thursday night and was noted
in these dispatches: g,
Miss Carrie Brown, daughter Of Horace
Brown, o very wealthy and prominent citi-
son, drowned herself In Rock river late at
night. She had remained up after her father
and mother retired, quietly occupied with
her sewing, and sesmingly in the
best Of spiritA and bade thenn
nsr. In the morning at halt-pasS 9, Mrs.
Brown went into her daughters room and
was startled at not finding her there. The
bed had evidently not boon occupied. Rush.
ing down stairs the agonized mother found
the lamp standing In tho hall and the front
door unlocked. Further search in the young
lady's apartments revealed two IL otes pinned
upon the inner casing Of her chamber door,
One was sealed and bore the address Erred
W. Lee, Des Moines, Iowa" The other was
not inclosed in any envelope and read as
follows:
DEAR ONES AT HOME: The fall had in
Philadelphia must have affected my head,
for every winter since then gloom has come
over me. when can not make myself get up
an interest In anything. Last spring came
to the conclusion 1t must be because it was
SO quiet up here, and thought il went away
aud became interested in my mnsic would
ba all right / was mistaken, for am worse
this winter than ever before. Even il hoarse-
ness had not interrupted my practice,
could not have made much progress
while am in this condition.
for, ts .hSnd Sn los. ms',Sf @na o1 ah.n tine would
bs burden to you or another for years
Something tells mo have no right to make
SO much trouble and be Of no use. feel
that it is Gods will for me to take the
course am about to take. am sure you
will fsoi rs Mra Cooper did when thought
had rather have hsr die than have her
mind impaired. Ths river bed in front will
lie my resting place tonight Please don't
dress in mourning for M, and want you to
60 on the same as usual I would like 10
have Mr.. Woodbury. preach my funeral ser.
mon. Good-by, dear ores.
This was written In q beautiful, fine hand,
with the greatest caro- as to penmanship and
punctuation. The other scaled lettsr was to
her afflanoed Rushing down to the river
bank, her father found . striped shawl,
doubtless left to mark the spot whore she
made the fatal plunge. All day long gangs
Of mon have been dragging the river, firing
cannon and dynamite, but without finding
tho body. .s..-.-. ...... .--...
The fall referred to In the note occurred
in boarding-school In Philadelphia in octo-
ber, 1881. While In q state of somnam-
bulism Miss Brown arose from her bed, and
when she awoke found herself hanging by
her hands from an iron projection in the
second story window, and directly over the
stone pavement Of the street twenty feet bs-
low. Before aid arrived she dropped, strik-
ing on her feet. Two gentlemen passing by
carried her within. The tendons Of her
limbs were stretched and misplaced.
AMI it was six months before she was able
to walk. There was no indication at all
Of her mind being impaired, and she
never limited at such fear. Her father
was most indulgent, and her engagement
with Mr.. Lee met the full favor of her
parents. They wero to be married very
soon. The deceased moved in the best cir
clss Of Rockford society, and was universal
favorite, She was 25 years old. Hsr home
was on the river bank, in the midst of
spacious grounds, and was luxuriant in all
its surroundings. Her father is prominent
capitalist, vice president Of both the Rock
ford National bank anil the Forest City
Insurance company, owner OF Browns
hall and other public buildings, and
pos :essei of large fortune. In
1880 she graduated from tho east-side
high school, and for the last six months has
been in New Rork city pursuing her vocal
stu lies Owing to severe cold. she returned
homo about three weeks ago. Friday after
noon she was driving about the city with q
young lady friend, to all appearances as gay
and happy AZ ever. Mr.. Brown has offered
800 reward for tho recovery Of tho body.
Before reaching tho river Miss Brown was
obliged to walk quarter of mile. climb
two fences, cross a creek twenty feet wide
with the water knee.deep, cross the railroad
track, and walk some distance to the water.
All day long Saturday parties have been
dragging the river for the body Of Miss Car
dragging the river. Giant powder and
dynamite have been exploded in the water.
in tho hope that the conclusion would bring
tie body to the surface. The relatives from
Chicago and Iowa are now in the city, as.
sisting in the search.