The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-12-16
SINGULAR SUICIDE

"
OF Womnu-Builds Her Own Faneral
PyrC, aud Burns to Death.
CINCINNATI, Dec. l5.-HRrriet Hines, q
colOrsd woman, committed suicido in q
most remarkable manner at Montgomery
night belove last. Montgomery is a small
village or suburb three miles back Of Wal.
nut Hills. The mode adopted for shut
ding of was seli.cremStion, and tho act
WAS performed in the most methodical
manner. Tho woman was undoubtedly
insane, but displayed no little cunning In
order 10 spcnTe the absence OF others,
thereby enabling her to carry ont her
designs. Mrs. Hines was first seen In
the vicinity Uf Montgomery during last
summer, when she claimed 10 come
from Cincinnati. For q while ghe made
Williams and washed for o living. About
four weeks ago shA moved into q small
irame wash.houBe attached 10 the home
Of Mr.. John /. Conklin, who live0 one
mile west Of Montgomery. She was Rs.
sisted by tho family In furnishing hei
home, and supported herself by washing
and working at the houseG In the vicinity.
She appeared to be very intelligent, and
took delight in reading the Bible and the
daily papers In speaking Of hor
past LIE she claimed to have
worked on e nteamboat and to have
seen great trouble. She pretended 10
hsyo son named Brasil, living in Gin.
cinnati, whose wsywardness, together with
being baset by 9piritualiOts, made her
fear abe would 30 crazy. Her actions OF
times led TO the belief ttat her mind was
affected and unsettled, and many Of her
sayings pRassd unheedod. She was an
tnveterate smoker, aud was also addicted
10 the use Of drink. Last Saturday she
went to noIghbor's to wash, but returned
homo and went to bed. She waG waited
on by the members OF the Conklin
family and on Monday physician
was called In, but tho woman re-
fused to take medicine. Nom
day she made the assertion that that
would be her last day. 1t Is also asserted
She expressed a wiUh for poison the came
day.
The Township Trustees we're notified,
and sNnt for conveyance to come from
the County IrhrmGry for her. The idea
Of going to the poor house was not to her
liking. About ten o'clock Monday
evening Mrs. Conklin and another lady
visited her, 10 geo II che needed anything,
but the woman claimed 10 be
drowBy, and preferred 10 bo alone.
Hall rn hour later tho fatn.
ily heard loud Dcreamg, and Mr.. Conk.
lin hurried 10 tho waShsroon, whero. he
was confronted with an awful spectacle.
Hattie was standing In the center OF the
rooms with arms folded across her breast,
while her clothing ves being consumed
by Gre, the flames blazing Sboye her head.
Mr., Conklin rushstL into the room, and
40 hO did 60 tho waman turned and
tried 10 speak, but could not. She
even attempted TO resist his efforts 70 carry
her out doors. As hO stepped outside Of
the door with his burden Rhe ceased TO
breathe. Active work was then nsOesaery
10 exklnguish the flames within the room
and save that and the adjoining buildings.
Upon the hearth Of an open fireplace
within the room burned papers woro
found, indicating that the vohian he'd
fred thOm aud stood upon them Until hDr
mo authorlIies Of Montgomery were
notified early Tuesday morning and
'SGnlrO William Hiatt held an Inquest
returning q ySFdtpt In accordance with
tho above facts, Tho remains were in'
tered In tho evening, Ht tho CloSs o. tue
Inquest ......-.--..,
NlIB. Hines was about sity years ot age,
and her apparel indicated that sue hGu
seen botter days than abe recently ex'
perlenCCl. At one time ahe assert
I'd that she Val tho colOred .wo'
man who laid In q trance lot several dayl
in This city several years ago, elhminl
TINT the case ALtfACIed much attention o.
| TINT ublB,