Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-04
\ STIFFENED CORPSE.
A Young Man Of Good Connection Gem
mits SHicids In q Reem Of
Gainesville Hotel.
Unre cfprocated Affection for q Beautiful
Young Lady the Cause OF tho Rssh
Act-A Pathetic Letter.

Special to the Gazette.
GAINESVILLE, TEX, Jan. 3.-This
morning at about $50 O'Clock the guests
OF the Lindsay house In this city, were
startled by the announcement Of porter
that one OF the guests of the hotel was
dead in bis It,, which upon investiss-
ton proved to be j. NJ. Massey OF Deni-
son. Massey arrived in the city Monday
morning about 10 o'clecs, and repaired
to the Lindsay house, where be regis
tered, called for room and his break
fast, and then went out in town, where he
was seen at frequent intervals during the
forenoon. He was assigned to room
thirty eight, but failed to put in an ap-
pearance at either dinner or supper,
and 1t is not known. what time
In the afternoon he went to his room. At
q late hour last night c. T. Townley, one
OF the proprietors Of the hotel, retired to
his bed in an adjoining room to the one
occupied by Massey, shortly after which
he heard groans proceeding from the
room as though some one was in dis
tress. Mr.. Townley called to the inmate
to know what was the matter, but receiv-
ing no response and supposing the occu-
pant was
ATTACKED WITH NIGHTMARE
paid no further attention to it and went
to sleep. This morning after breakfast
Mr.. Townley discovered the fact that the
deceased mad not been to his
meale, and sent porter to his
room to summon him to come down. The
porter repaired to the room but finding
q dior IncEod Cd 30 e.
and upon receiving no reply climbed up
to the transom over the door and peered
through, when his eyes were me. with
the horrible sight of corpse lying stiff
on the bed. He at once notified MI
Townley, who, in company with several
others, went to the room aud pried the
door, when they at once realized the fact
that ne had died during the night. They
also found on the table drachm bottle of
morphine with about half its contents
gone; also photograph Of young lady
snd letter addressed to her, which ex-
plains the cause Of the sad suicide. The
following is copy of the letter:
"GAINEsvIf LIE, Jan. 9, 1883.
"DEAR JESsIE-You have wrecked my
lite. Now l care not to live. When 1
placed the engagement ring on your hand
you told me that If there WAS any backing
out would have 1t to do, but find it is
you instead Of myself. The reason l
came to this place was SO could lock
myself in a room and then no one could
find me until
LAM DEAD,
which prefer rather than live without
you, and want you to know that you are
the cause Of my death. May God bless
you and may you find husband that will
love you as do. take my life tonight.
Good bye. [Signeo] J. M. MASSEY"
It is said the letter was addressed to
Miss Jessie Manning, beautiful and
highly ACCOMPLISHED young lady of Ana
darko, l. 7. Il is 6 well known fact that
the deceased has for the past year, until
short time ego, been IN the employ Of
Colonel Lee Hall ct the Anedalko agency,
where it is supposed he formed her &C
quslntance and became enamored of her
charms, which were not in turn recfpro-
Gated; hence the cause Of the rash act.
The deceased WAS between thirty-eish
aud forty years Ct age. and Was raised in
near Pottsboro,;in Grayson.
He leaves large family connection, who
are highly respected.
j. S. Holman, Justice of the Peace,
summoned jury and held an inquest over
the body at 9 O'Clock this morning and
verdict in accordance with the
facts. The family of the de-
ceased were at once telegrsphed OF his
death, and his brother, George Massey,
arrived in this city tonight to carry the
remains to the old homestead in Preston
Bend tor burial in the family burying
ground. Toe funeral will take place to-
morrow.