Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-10
FROM RICHES TO BAGS.
Suicide of Woman at Memphis Who Was
Once Southern Society Belle.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. Aug. 9.-In squalid
bedroom in a Main street tenement, a
woman who once occupied high social
position in the south was found at an early
hour this morning lying dead, half
emptied bottle of morphine and vial
which had once contained chloroform
lying by her side. Mrs. Mary Ada
Scott was daughter of General
Sparks, the author of the poem, "Some
body's Darling" When quite young Miss
Sparks married gentleman named
Fowlkes. He died, and, in 1870, the widow
was united to General T. NJ. Scott, in the
city of New Orleans, by Rev. Thomas r.
Markham. The SCOTS were social lights
in the Crescent city for number of years,
but financial reverses followed until Mrs.
Scott was reduced to absolute want. She
came to Memphis III lSS2 and since then
managed to exc out a precarious liveli-
hood by hiring out by the day as a
seamstress. A short time ago Mrs Scott
eyes became affected and she con
suited an oculist, who told her
that under the strain she was subjecting
it to her vision would be lost entirely
within a few months. The poor woman
was in despair. To cease her needle-work
meant starvation: to continue meant
blindness and ultimately the same horri-
bic fate. Suicide seemed the only alterna-
tive. She chose it.
Last night, lust before retiring, Mrs.
Scott said to Mrs. Ella Sharp, who occu-
pied room near her:
Pm gong to bed. and pray that may
be dead before morning"
Mrs. Sharp knew her neighbor to be in
low spirits but had no idea that the words
were prophetic Besides the wearing ap-
parel which Mrs. Scotts trunks contained
there We're several packages of letters, all
of old dates. Most OF them Were written
during the war and were from distin-
gulshed people. Among them were several
from Mrs. [. s. Grant, and one from
Jefferson Davis, sympathiZing with her
in the loss of her husband There were
also several manuscript poems written by
General Sparks in the collection. and
many other interesting documents She is
said TO have possessed valuable records of
the war, which would have thrown light
upon many dark places IL Its history, and
IL is believed they were stolen from her by
a Mrs. White, who was also highly con-
nected, but who was recently indicted for
shop-iifting, gave bond and disappeared
Mrs. White knew OF the documents, and
has been heard to say Mrs. Scott could
make enough money out OF them 70 sup
port her in comfort the remainder OF her
life if she only knew how TO use them.
Mrs Scott was once a belle of New Or
leans, and Tor a time after her second mar
mage lived in af.iuence near NicksbGrg.
She has relatives at that place and al New
Orleans and steD-daughier IN the re-
corder's Office az Washington. Her proud
spirit was never broken by her reverses.
Several years ago Mrs Sharp, knowing
her destitute condition, wanted 20 maks
il know TO the public through the daily
press and invoke the spirit OF
charity IN her behalf Mrs. Scott
vetoed the proposition firmly, SAYING
that she would accep. nothing from
the public wh.ie alive. though they might
do what they would toward giving her
proper burial after death Mrs Sharp and
the ladies in the neighoorhocd- who knew
the DECEASED well. are ayerss to the idea of
her being buried as a paurer. and as she
lefs absolutely nothing. they purpose hav-
ing the remains eulbai-,ed and kept
until a sufficient sum IS donated By CHI
Gems 10 dstray tue expenses OF oecea-
burial. or the dead woInza's relatives are
heard from
In connection with Ms Sooess death Il