New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-24
A GOOD WOMAN'S SUICIDE.
ILL-HEALTH UNBALANCED HER MIND.
MRS. s. F. HENSsLER THE WIDOW OF TEACAEH
OF THE BLIND, SHOOTS HERSELF.


MRS. S. F. HENssLER THE WIDOW OF TEACAEH
OF THE BLIND, SHOOTS HERSELF.
Mrs. Sarah F. Hensser, the widow Of ProfeSsf
Frederick w. Henssler, who was for many yesxs
q teacher Of music at the New-York Institution
for the Blind, killed herself yesterday morning
at her home, No. s73 East observation-disclosures
thirty-fourth-st Mrs. Henssler lived with her
son, Frederick NJ, who is student at the Uni
versity Medical College. She was fifty-Ave years
old. Her mother died in London in the spring OF
1883. Three weeks after her mother was buried
her husband died suddenly, and she had not -
covered from this shock when three months after
ward she was called upon to attend the funeral
of her father. Her physical system, which had
never been vigorous, was completely shattered by
these rapid visitations Of death in her household,
and she has since been a constant sufferer from q
complication of ailments.
She was a member of the Rev. DR.. Ramsays
Presbyterian Church in Harlem, and she sought
relief from pain and suffering in active Christian
and missionary work among the poor in Harlem.
She Jealous in ministering TO the wants VI
the poor that she often overtaxed her strength
and broke down in the work, only to return to Ii
after few days rest. She had an unusually
cheerful disposition, and brought sunshine and
JOY into the homes Of the poor as we'll as food,
clothing and medicine.
Last spring Mrs. Henssler lived at No. 2l0 Fart
One-hundred-and-twenty -sixth-st, and her home
was visited by burglars. She was suffering at
the time from great nervous prostrati0n and when
she was aroused by two masked burglars in her
room, one of whom held pistol close to her head
and threatened to kill her if she made an outcry,
she nearly died from fright. The burglars ran
IL etn IL
if she wanted to, to call for help. She never re-
covered from this shock, and she bought and
moved into the house where she died TO get away
from the place which at night by her excited
imagination, was peopled with masked men. TIE
burglary was reported to the police, and Captain
Brooks advised Mrs Henssler's son to get IT,
volver and keep it in the house for protection.
Mr. Hcnssler bought Smith & Wesson's 3s-call-
bre pistol when they moved to No. s73 East One
hundred-and-t thirty -fourth-st., and this tie
weapon used by Mrs. Henssler to end her life.
During last month Mrs. Hcnssler was extremely
ill with gastritis, accompanied by great mental
depression and melancholia. She talked with
her son about suicide, and often remarked that
she could not understand how any one, no matter
what might be the occasion, could take his own
life The idea of suicide seemed to be constantly
with her. and she would hunt through the news
papers daily to find accounts Of suicide. Shc
would read them carefully, and they would fur
nish q theme for conversation with any one whe
chanced u be with her.
Saturday night she appeared to he better than
she had been for several days, and told her son.
when she retired to her room, that she expected
to have long sleep, and requested not TO ne
awakened until breakfast time. She slept quietly
all night, and there was not sound heasd IN
her room. Mr.. IIensslcr got up about half-paSt
o'clock and went down to the dlnlng-room;
Breakfast was served at o'clock, and he ordered
a servant to prepare his mothers breakfast and
take it up to her. She had been In the haoie
of taking the morning meal In her room t"r
several months
The servant had started upstairs with tray
when there was q sound overhead as n the ceiling
had fallen. Mr.. IIenssler jumped from the tabe
and ran to his mothers room. He found her
living on the floor, ga/2ing convusivey., lie
raised her head to lift her on the bed and she
died in his arms. Clutchcd tightly in her right
small round hole in the right side Of her fore
head. from which the blood slowly dripped told
where the bullet had entered her brain and killed
her. ~,
After Mr. Henssler had gone downstairs Mrs.
Henssler had got up from her bed and gone
to his room for the pistol. She took 1t from
sitting in a chair by small table had placed
the muzzle of the pistol close to her head ana
fired In falling she upset the table 1t is sup
posed that she killed herself during Ie,nporarSS
nervous prostration. The body was left lying
in the room until the arrival of Deputy Coroner
Weston, who gave permit to an undertaken -
remove il. , ,,..,.
The father of Mrs. Henssler was Professor Marcus
Catlin. of Hamilton College. She was graduaiei
from the White Seminary, at linton. Nnrids ,nrds
County. in the class with ex-President Cievelands
sister. She was an excellent musician. and gave
her husband valuable assistance in perlec'ing MY
invention of raised musical notes Tor the use or
the blind She will be sadly missed in the homes
of the poor in Harlem