Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-07-16
Crucifed Herself.
Desperate Deed of a Beautiful
Young Woman.
SAVED FROM A DREADFUL DEATH.

Wealthy and Happy French Family
Ruined by the Conduct of One Scoundrel
A Daughter Nails One Foot and One
Hand to a Door. but Is Detected While
Trying to Finish Her Awful Task.
New York, July 16-The recent commit
tai to the Blackwell's Island asylum for the
insane, while suffering from suicidal mania,
of Miss Leon Steuvenal, adds another pain
full incident to the sad story of the misfort-
unes which have befalIen refined and dis
tinguished family that was once rich and
happy. Leoni, who has been living with re-
latives at Bayonne, N. j., few days ago,
while suffering from religious and suicidal
mania, brought on, it is believed, by brood
ing over the family msfortunes, attempted
to cruelty herself She procured a hammer
and nails, and in the retirement of her room,
after having stripped OFF all of her clothing
undertook To allix herself to the oak door as
upon n cross,
Had Fixed One Hand and Foot.
When discovered she had already nailed
one foot and one hand to the door, and while
the blood was streaming from these wounds
she was making frantic efforts to fasten the
other hand and foot The wounds were
quite serious, but in her frenzy she seemed
To feel no pain Upon due examination by
physicians she was committed to the insane
asylum. Every foot of the extensive landed
property once owned in Milford and the
vicinity by the rich retired wine merchant
her ia ther, has passed under the sheriff 5
hammer into the hands of strangers
History of the Family.
The unfortunate patient is one of three
marvelously lovely, amiable, and accom-
plished girls, who were reared in the neigh
boring village of Milford, Pa Their father.
John b. Steuvenal, was once an extensive
importer of French wines and liquors in this
city. Having acquired fortune he retired
from business and settled down with his
young family in IA handsome mansion in Mil
ford. He invested large sums in real estate
in Milford and vicinity Mr. and Mrs. Steu-
venal were French 10y BIRTH and were highly
daughters all the careful nurture and educa-
tional advantages that wealth could procure.
Serpent in Their Eden.
The misfortunes of the family dated from
the appearance in Milford of dSsoluts
young French adventurer. styling himself
Count de Beaumont. He managed To engage
the affections of Miss Nicotine, the eldest
of the Steuvenal sisters, and the pair were
married by Father Richard Brennan, then
Of St. Mary's church, IN that town. now pas
tor of St Rose of LinIa's church, New y ork
city. The marriage turned out "A most un-
happy one for the beautiful bride Within
two years the dsSolute count broke her
heart aud sIuandered large share of the
family fortune, and then abandoned her and
went back to Franco. She lived but short
time after the cruel treatment and deser-
ton, and was soon followed to the grave 10y
her parents
Fate of the Other Children.
The remainder of the family removed back
TO New y ork about ten years ago. Two o..
the sons are dead, and the whereabouts of
the third is unknown One of the twin sis
tiers, Leonora, contracted what is said 10
have been an unfortunate match with
Signor Bario Fontana, an Italian teacher of
languages and music