New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-07
LEAPING FROM HIGH BRIDGE.
A DESPERATE WOMAN COMMITS SUICIDE.

GOING FROM A PAWNSHOP 10 IAhb ihh 'AinA
JUMP-CAUsE OF HER DEsPONDENCY
A poor woman, whose life has long been full
OF trouble brought 1t sad end yesterday by jumping
from High Bridge Her body fell from the frightul
height upon the ice which covered the river and al
though IL recovered from the water, the back
was broken and life extinct She was Mrs. Maria
Branchu who, thirty years ago. came from france
with her husband. she then young bride, not over
twenty years old and her husband was man OF some
means In the ensuing years his fortune dwindied
away. Unlucky specuations, investments ard inven-
tions which promised fairly but proved deusve ate up
his money and left him almost pennilcss Five
children born, and must be provided
for. They two girls and three boys. TWO
of the in Boston. The mother was of a
morbid disposition. She brooded the bus
of her husband and with despair her
inability to provide for her children.
Mr. Rranchu, after the loss OF his fortune, earned
livelihood jOurneyman painter but times were hard
work often scanty, and there was no help Tor IT,
The few Jewels and trnkcts which the wife had worn
in her prosperous days had to be taken to the
rawnbrokers. Three times she attempted to COM
NIT suicide. The last attempt was made
year ago, when she tried To swallow Paris green The
family this time living in their present home at
No. 40 West One ne-Hundrod.and-twenty hth-st, where
they occupy second noor AT about the time Of her
last attempt suicide Mrs Branchu carried pair OF
earrings and ring to the pawnshop OF Morris Davis,
at No. 1851 East Onenundred- -andtwenty-f y-ftth-st.
she received 81 for them. They were evidently
objects in her mind with precious memories,
spite the fact that her husband had been out OF
work Christmas. she went yesterday with 20 TO
the ticket After paying the amount OF interest
due on the little loan of 81 he interest amounted to
$2 the old desire escape from her trouble seems
to have come upon her again.
just what road reach the Of her fatal
leap be learned but postman who was deliver
ing letters along the road which leads from the
Northern Railroad bridge northward along the Harlem
River a woman with pale, pnched face trudging
along in the ganclng from time to tine at the
thread black that flowed between the ice In the
river stopped she passed him and asked In ac-
cents which betrayed her French birth the road
TO High Bridge He directed her to continue
in the road which she was following little later the
same woman inquired OF woman in the street OF High
Bridge village no she could reach the top OF the great
pile OF masonry which lowered 100 feet above their
heads. Once directed she climbed wearily the
steep hill and gained the roadway top OF the bridge.
None the passers noticed her she walked to the
point directly above the middle of the river. only
low iron railing separates the ootway from the awful
depth below
The desperate woman did not hesitate Laying aside
her muf and well-worn cloak sho made single
spring without attempting to climb over the railing
Her body crashed through the Ice and her troubles were
over as the icy closed her. Those who saw
her fall that the body struck ono OF the abumeus
in its descent. She dead before assistance
could reach her. Tho Second Precinct Police
station is within a hundred yards of the spot
where Mrs. Branchu fell IL was only few moments
before Captain Saunders and his were at the rivers
edge. The Ice was thick enough to bear them and
several OF the policemen walked the ice to the spot
where body had disappeared. pushing rowboat In
front hc The body easily recovered and placed
In the boat II limp II 1t had been broken on the
wheel Blood was flowing from wound In tho back
and It evident that the backbone had been broken.
- ada. laug
even IN the presence Of the dead woman. Policeman
shaw who was Of the rescuing party slipped the
ice and plunged head over heels into the hole from
which his companions trying TO lift Mrs Branehus
body. lie 10 the surface again, sputtering and
blowing altogether atOnshed at his unexpected bath
The dead woman taken to tho station and her
clothes searched. In pockets found the pawn
which she had just received. and which bore the
number %. .jss - bill, rs cents IN silver aud por
ton OF an envelope. The envelope bore the address,
Mrs Maria Branchu, No. 40 West Onehundred-and-
twenty-hfth-st The stamp one OF the French Re-
public for % centmes. and cancelled with the words
" st. servans Decombrs 1889" Ofhcer Bingham
Dispatched 10 Mrs: Branchus address The door
was opened BY girl OF ABOUT twenty years NO sooher
did she the policeman than she exclaimed, mother
where did your mother gor asked the officer.
on, she went TO the pawnshop bat now shois in the
the vsT and The %OtAeFsss s:,Dsa s Op5s
as beat he eond, and -, asked ,vi;, to od%c see
parative camness Although he had no donbt that tho
woman was his wife he went with the officer back TO
High Bridge and there formally identified the body In
the afternoon 1t st lying on stretcher on the
porch or the police station and the face still wore an
expression OF suffering and determination.
tribune reporter called at Mr. Branchu's rooms
They neatly kept and sunny, but there was hlte
In them beyond what was absolutely necessary. lhe
husband himself ia small man with iron-gray hair and
beard, and face stamped with refinement lie told his
story quietly, while brigheyed little Fellow OF ten
years stood beside him. anu listened without seeming 10
understand.
This is tho first suicide which has been attempted from
High Bridge. Some years ago man named DOnheiiy,
who was a bartender In the village Jumped from the
bridge while intoxicated He hshed out OF tue river
and found to have escaped without injury. Encour-
aged by this success he attempted the leap again while
sober This time he broke several ribs anu suffered
Internal ures. which, however did not prove
fatal His last jump made four ago. and Mrs.
Branchu Is the first who has leaped from the