The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-10-09
TRIED IT Two WAYS.
Alice Burns, Professional
Museum Beauty, Sought
Death by Water and
a Silk Hand
kerchief.
DRINK DROVE HER CRAZY.
Rescued by Deck Hands and Cut
Down in a Police Sta
tion cell.
DRINK DROVE HER CRAZY.

IlThis morning Alice Burns attempted
to commit suicide from Pennsylvania
ferry boat. 1t was about one O'Clock
when she was observed to stagger into
the ferry house, and she acted in such q
peculiar manner that gate man asked
her where she wanted to go. She replied
that it was snone of his business. The
gate man became suspicious and insisted
on her going to the ladies' waiting room.
She sat in the ladies' waiting room held
practically prisoner until four O'Clock
this morning, when she evaded her
watcher and slipped aboard boat which
who saw her noticed that she walked
rather unsteadily through the ladies'
cabin on to the forward deck, and the
gate guard at the DOW, who saw her come
out OF the cabin, saw her walk toward the
gate and begin, with great deliDeration,
to climb over. He made rush for her,
and reached the spot when she was half
way over. He took hold OF her clothing
and attempted to pull her back, but she
resisted him ffercely.
What followed was almost a fight.
The woman struck viciously at the man,
but he held on to her dress, shouting all
the time for help. Without assistance he
could have done noJhing. 1t came in a
few minutes. and half dozen deck
hands bore to the dock kicking, ours
ing, screaming, struggling woman.
ssThey seemed to be very glad to turn
her over to Policeman Fehan. The
prison van was sent for and the woman
was taken to the Second Precinct Station
House. On the way she calmed down
enough to tell the policeman that she was
an actress. She said she worked in the
1t q L. Tl@,xv
York. and in order to prove what she
said, she took off her jacket and showed a
part of iler stage costume which it had
concealed. She offered TO take off her
dress and prove to him she wore tights,
but he refused to permit it.
When she was arraigned before the bar
at the station house she told the sergeant
her name was Alice Burns. She was
twenty-seven years old, she said. and she
lived at No. Allen street. in this city.
Her struggle on the boat had almost
sobered her by this time, but charge of
drunkenness was made against her, and
she was locked up.
About half-past six O'Clock this morn
ing Sergeant Nugent had occasion
to go into the prison. As be passed down
the corridor no noticed peculiar noise,
very much like the shutting OF feet, in
cell No. Z, where the suicidal actress was
confined. IA
He looked in and saw her hanging by
the neck by silk handkerchief, one end
of which sne had fastened to one of the
iron bars in the wooden door. Her feet
touched the floor. and she seemed to be
in the last struggle.
The sergeant cried for help, and Ser
geant McGinness came. They cut the
handkerchief and then sent for DIR. Hoff-
man, who succeeded after a great deal of
hard work, in restoring the woman to
consciousness.
When Keeper Watson arrived at the
prison he at once recognized the prisoner
as an octoroon, who is professionally a
Circassian girl, and who does the snake
charming act and is q general utility
woman on the variety stage.
About four years ago she tried to hang
herself in the old City Prison, but was
discovered and cut down just in time to
save her life. He says that she has a
mania for committing suicide when under
the influence of intoxicants, and at such
times her friends keep close watch over
her. Mrs. Burns is married woman,
and her husband is in the employ
of the Erie Railway Company at Buffalo.
Three weeks ago she was an inmate of
the City Hospital in Jersey City, where
she became mother, but the Infant
died.
Last night, after the performance at
the Globe Museum, Mrs. Burns came
over to Jersey City to visit some friends,
and while returning home, under the in
fiuence OF drink. was seized with desire
to destroy her life.