Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-27
A VERY PRACTICAL JOKE,
which Cost the Life of an Afianced
SuitOr
From tho Morning journal.

From the Morning Journal.
PITTsFIELD, MASS, June pa prac-
tical Joke played by young lady on two
affianced lovers caused the suicide at
West Stockbridge of Robert Stinson, the
Young con of ex-Judge Stinson, of Norris
town, Pa. Stinson was % years old,
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 month ago he started from home to
make her a visit On his way he stopped
at Oswego, N. Y, were he acted as best
man at the wedding of college chum
named Morrow. The next week he spent
in taking an active part in the festivities,
rowing, dancing whist and tennis.
One evening while rowing on the lake
with Miss Morrow she began to tease him
about his devotion to certain young lady
in Massachusetts, and said she. thought
the Young lady ought to be informed of
his eallantries to OswegO beauties.
Young Stinson laughinglY told her she
had better write a letter to his affianccd
and gave her Miss Edwards address.
A day or two after Miss Edwards re-
ceiyed a letter from Miss Morrow to the
effect that Robert StinsOn had mystsri-
Ously disappeared and his OswegO friends
believed he was drowned in the lake. At
this startling intelligence 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 dispatch reading:
'9Robert has returned alive and well. 1t
was all a jOke."!
Then it was discovered that the letter
had a tinely-wTitten postscript which
reads
strange things happen in this world and
this letter is all rats.
Indignant at such thougbtless cruelty,
Mr.. Edwards commanded his daughterto
end her relations with Stinson. ln day
or two, however, came a letter from him
generating himself from blame. Then
MI. Edwards telegraphed him to come to
StOekbridge and explain. He did so and
soon after his arrival, week ago, he fully
proved his innocence. Then the we'd
ding of the lovers was fixed for Septem-
Der.
The news of Stinson's death had, how
ever. spread like wildfire in the little
town, and every one lac met quizzed him
on the subject. So great did the annoy
ance become that the young man told a
friend that the gossips and inquisittYe
people everywhere were driving him
crazy.
Meanwhile his father, hearing Of the
approaching nuptiais and wishing to have
them postponed sill his son was admitted
to the bar, sent his second SOD, Harry, to
StOckbTidge to propose postponement.
The two brothers met here on Friday
and had long interview. They were to
meet again at 4. After leaving his brother
Robert appeared very Respondent and
visited several barrO0ms. Being totally
unused TO liquor he was before noon in q
pitiable condition. In this state he took
the train for West Stockbridge and went
directly to call upon his sweetheart.
Greatly shocked at his condition the
young lady concealed it from her family
and ministered TO his wants. At 6o'cbOck,
however, he escaped from the house unno.
ticed. He bought a revolver, and after
writing two letters at the depot sent
dispatch to his brother, saying:
II am gone"
Then he lighted cigar, told the station
agent be was going to his aunVs, and
went out. Next day he was missing.
The whole town turned out and he was
found by the railroad track with bullet
hole in his temple and all but two cham
bers of his revolver empty.
The letter he wrote to Miss Edwards
was simply note saying he was going to
his aunts and would see her in the morn
ing. She is wild with grief. The young
mans suicide was doubtless due to tenn
pOrary insanity caused by 0ver-applica-
riOn to study. annoyance at the practical
Joke played upon him and morttcati0n
at being seen by his betrothed while in
toXicated.