Morris tribune., 1885-04-01
A SAD SUICIDE.
FEARING INSANITY, A BEAUTIFUL
GIRL BROWNS HERSELF.
Rather Than Live and W Burden to
Her Parents-A Note Pinned on
tho Door Reveals Her
Purpose.

gives further particulars OF the SAD Suiclue
Of Miss Brown, OF Rockford, Ills, which
took place Thursday night and was noted
in these dispatches:
Miss Carrie Brown, daughter OF Horace
Brown. very wealthy and prominent citi-
xen, drowned herself In Rock river late at
night. She had remained up after her father
and mother retired, quietly occupied with
her sewing, and seemingly In the
best Of spirits and bade them
good night In her usual CHEEKY man
nsr. In the morning at half-past 9, Mrs.
Brown went into her daughters room and
was startled at not finding her there. Tho
bed had evidently not been occupied. Rush
i ing down stairs the agonized mother found
the lamp standing in the hall and the front
door unlocked. Further search in the young
lady's apartments revealed two II otes pinned
upon the inner casing Of her chamber door.
One was sealed and bore the address Fired
w. Lee, Dos 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 a gloom has come
over me. when can not make myself get up
an interest in anything. Last spring came
to the conclusion it must be because it was
so quiet up here, and thought If went away
and became interested in my mnsic lwould
be all right. ] was mistaken, for am worse
this winter than ever before EVENT. hoarse-
ness had not interrupted my practice l
while 1 am in this condition.
1t is only q matter Of time be-
fore should lose my mind. when would
be 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 feel as Mrs Cooper did when thought
Lizzie was going to lose her mind, that she
had rather have her die than have hsr
mind impaired The river bed in front will
be my resting place tonight. Please don't
dress in mourning for ms. and want you to
20 on the same as usual l would like to
have Mr.. Woodbury. preach my funeral ser.
mon. Good-by, dear ohes
This was written In q beautiful, fine hand,
with the greatest care as to penmanship and
punctuation. The other sealed letter was to
her afflanced Rushing down to the river
bank, her father found striped shawl,
doubtless left to mark the spot where she
made the fatal plunge All day long gangs
Of men have been dragging the river, firing
cannon and dynamite. but without finding
the body.
The fall referred to In the note occurred
in boarding-school in Philadelphia In Octo-
Dor, 1881. While in q state Of somnam-
bulism Miss Brown arose from her bed, aud
whom 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 BE-
low. Before aid arrived she dropped, strik-
ing on her feet Two gentlemen passing by
carried her within. The tendons OF her
- 1,I 1oI
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 were to be married very
soon. The deceased moved in the best cir
cles of Rockford society, and was a universal
favorite, She was IS years old. Her 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 presilen Of both the Rock
ford National bank anil the Forest City
In.urance company, owner OF Browns
hall and other public buildings, an
pos essed OF large fortune. In
1889 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 a severe cold, she returned
home 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 as ever. Mr.. Brown has offered
800 reward for tho recovery OF the body.
Before reaching the river Miss Brown was
| obliged to walk a quarter Of q mile. climb
two fences, cross a creek twenty feet wide
with tho water knee-deep, cross the railroad
track, and walk some distance to the water.
ALI 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 tho water.
in the hope that the conclusion would bring
the body to the surface. Tho relatives from
| Chicago and Iowa are now in the city, as
sisting in the search.