The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-11-22
fROM nYMEN DO SUICIDE:
Fred Barber Comnits Suieiae suo Days Alter
Supposed Illegal Marriage.

Fred Barber Comnlts Suicide suO Days Alter His
Supposed Illegal Marriage
LOCKPoRT, n. 2, Nov. 19.-Fred
Barber, of Ehehield, England, who
committed suicide at Suspension bridge
on Friday night last came to the Pros
pect hotel on the 14th inst. with wo-
man giving the name of Mary Patter-
son Hill. and later in the evening was
married to her by Rev. Mt. Stowitt, a
Presbyterian clergyman OF the falls.
They were believed to have been gone
TO Hamilton. from which place Barber
returned TO the bridge alone On Friday
night and shot himself assIePorted.
The following letter which was found
in his satcheI and was produced at the
coroner,s inqn0st on Saturday shows
that Barber was infatuated with the
woman, but that he, could not legally
marry her: -
November I3.-MY DEARHrs-True
vet, although this will be. now feel.
the last time shall ever dare to adj
dress you so. can't hurt myself to
see you again, As my heart OveTcomes
my head and makes me say and promise
things which we both know are impcs-
this world. Up 60 my landing in this
country was an honorable man but
since then I have been diShonorable
| fool in my Intercourse with you. Had
the sense to see the drift of your let
ters would have realized that you
wished to put something to me and
make me understand that what we
wished for could not be. On Saturday
| you were straight and honorable aud /
/ on
| given me the opportunity over and over
again to say would withdraw my at
| tentions and even last year you were
straight and true. In your presence l
am unable to think of anything but
| yourself. cannot look in any other
direction. You know aud know well
| that any ceremony that We might go
through as marriage would be illegal,
either here or at home, and what IS the
use then of putting ourselves in a more
equivOcaI position than at present.
There is some arrangement
you tell me at present with
your friend in Montreal for your
going home again, be it so. lie is d
man OF true thought and feel myself
as compared to him worm. have
thought myself sincere; God help me,
1 where is the sincerity.l / have no
right to address you. You are super
ior to me, both in thought and action,
and everything else. l keep thinking
from you having my letters all tied up
that you had made up your mind to
this and intended it should be so. For
get me. Polite, wipe me out as not
worthy to tie your shoes.
feel it is so. would
persecute you again, but shall
look upon it as an honor TO he able To
do anything 1 can for you at any t,me
if you wish it. know / deserve shoot
ing for the crime of trifiing. but God
knows it has been without thought OF
being SO, and yet cali see now what
have done. L can also see that after
my Vacillating conduct of yesterday
you couldn't respect me AS a man OF
moral courage and as one you could
look up to. This all seems well and
feel 1 have done You wrong. Forgive
me if you can, but our loving inter
course shall cease and then perhaps
: you will be able TO look up Il
the man whom ] feel have
Wronged horribly. Punishment will
overtake me and deserve it and shall
not try to run away from it. 1ou ask
ed me for your letters which have dur
ing the last three months been com
fort to he [ can't describe, and l am
in honor bound to comply with your re
quest. l have not slept all night, an
sick and don't know what to do. | DARE
not see yon. break this off for God!
sake and orr own happiness. What
We proposed tO do would only briDt
more unhappiuess than We have evel
experienced. l cannot say more Ou
legally marry we cannot and the Othel
way means destruction to ourselves anG
our children, whatever we may thinl
wheE talking to. each other Good
bye, God bless you my darling. Still
your own loving FRED,
Some Toronto gentlemen who have
known Barber for year past and wh'
came to the bridge after the suicide
thought him widower, but Coroner
: Cornell understands that be had q
[ wife living in England. His view is
consistent with the foregoing letter
which was not mailed and it is believed
that his remorse over being lured int
a marriage with the Hill woman i'm
PEELED him to suicide. The Hill wO
? man has disappeared and no one at thu
bridge knows anything about her.