St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-01
MRS. TUFFNELL ALIVE.
Her Condition the Probable Re-
suit of INDULGENCE in Morphine.

suit OF indulgence in Morphine.
A GLOBE reporter called at st. An
thony hospital last evening at 10 o'clock
and was told that Mrs. Tuffnell, who
tried to end her life with bullet in the
GLOBE building on Saturday, was still
living, but very low. She was not ex-
pected TO survive the night. The
doctors had not yet determined ac-
curately the location of the bullet, nor
can they do SO without reSortiug to an
operation which would only shorten her
lie without Increasing her chances of
recovery. The wound is most awk-
ward one. The intervention OF corset
steel alone prevented instant death by
DETECTING the bullet so that it missed
by fraction OF an inch penetrating the
heart. 1t entered the body little to
the left OF the apex of that organ. But
little blood has flowed from the bullet
hole. no more than would have
been caused by flesh wound.
in Iact, not quite so much, which, of
course, increases the danger of internal
hemorrhage and peritonitis. There is
scarcely possibility of her recovering.
albiet she is woman of splendid
physique and yigor. Her husband, who
Is believed to have gone to New York
when he left Minneapolis a week or
ten days ago, after Severing his con-
nection with Wanamaker Il Brown.
has been notified by telegraph of
what his wife has done, but no
reply had been received up
TO late hour last night.
He has probably left New York. Some
of her friends called at the hospital yes
terday, but the doctors will allow no
one TO disturb her, she being, in fact,
too weak to talk, and in a semi-coma-
tOSe condition. Her two children are
being cared for by friends.
The circumstances leading up to Mrs.
TutfnelFs assault upon her own exist
ence develop sad case of married,
but not mated" There is space here
not sufficient to more than briefly sketch
mere outline.
Mrs. TuffnelPs first husband was F.
q. Gibson, who held a good position
with Woods u LovejOy, contractors.
He died some three or four years ago,
leaving her in comfortable circum-
stances, with good home at 1928 Fifth
avenue south. They had two children.
the eldest of whom, girl, is now about
twelve years old, the boy being four
years younger. About two years ago
she met Albert II. Tuffnell, anu within
few months they were married. She
was beautiful woman, bright and en-
ergetic, both physically and mentally.
MIR. Tutfnell seemed wrapped up in
her, and of her children he could not
have thought more had they
been his own flesh and blood. But the
union was not happy one.
Mr.. Tuffnell soon discovered that his
wife's disposition was not what he had
hoped. At times she was moody. at
Others irritable and tOrmenting, these
periods being succeeded by intervals
when she was the model spouse. He
knew not how to account for these vary
Ing moods. and ascribed them to bad
temper. He afterward learned his mis-
take. Less than six months ago. while
undergoing one of those periodical
spells of moOdlnesS and irrdscibiliIy,
she, unknown TO her husband, submit
ted to an operation which deprived him
of an heir. When he learned what she
had done, to be sure it pleased him not.
Shortly afterWard she startled him one
him one night by throwing her arms
about his neck, exclaiming:
Goodbye, my husband! Two hours
ago | swallowed twenty grains of NOR
phine, and L will be dead before you
can get a DOCTOR"
But he rushed for physician, and
that time her life was saved. She had
taken very large dose of morphine,
but not twenty grains. To disprove, if
possible, some whispers he had heard
from her friends and his, he questioned
the doctor closely regarding the effects
OF the morphine upOh her and the gen.
eral results Of its use. What he heard
from the physician convinced him
Of what he had recently heard
that his beautiful wife was prob
ably a slave to the insidlous
drug. He taxed her with it. She adj
mitted that she had been user of the
poppy extract, but affirmed that she had
given up the habit. But morphine
users never quit it OF their own will.
Soon after occurred the separation and
the subsequent reconciliation, and
largely through the efforts of ". C..
Leayitt, as detailed yesterday morning.
But there had been no change in her
habits, and about ten DAYS ago Mr.. Turf
ney again left, his intention being, it is
believed, to make the separation per-
manent. Then followed the tragedy.
In the light of the foregoing narration,
there can be little doubt that, when
Mrs. Tuffnell fired the shot that will,
in all probability, end her life, she was
suffering from the effects of morphine
or opium. Her action in Mr.. Leavitt's
office points toward that explanation.
She was extremely nervous and wept
bitterly for her husband, then became
respondent. She seemed to worry over
what would become of her. But there
could be little cause for that. since she
own the house and lot at 1928 Fifth
avenue south, a valuable piece of prop
erty. Grief, added to the effect OF the
drug, undoubtedly impelled her to at
tempt suicide.