, 1891-06-28
RAT POISON AND SODA.
An Extraordinary Attempt at
Double Suicide.
A Pair of Lovers Drink From
the Same Bottle.
The Man Dead and the Girl in
a Critical Condition.

MIDDLETON, N. Y, June 27.-An ex-
traordiuary tragedy, in which love, jeal-
Ousy and suicide figured, eliminated at
an early hour yesterday morning. Her
man thornley,, whose body lies at the
morgue, was born at Baden, Germany,
twenty one years ago, and has been in
this country seven years. He was a
nephew OF Lawrence Hedman, a hotel
keeper here. He was intelligent and
popular among the young men. About
two years ago, while stopping at the Rus.
sell house here, he had the misfortune to
break a leg. Among the dining room
girls employed at the house was Josie
Gibbons, then seventeen years oil "A
plump and pretty brunette belonging to a
respectable family. The girl and the
young German fell in love with each
other and Josie faithfully nursed the in-
valid until he recovered. After this the
pair were constantly together and 1t was
understood that they were betrothed.
Yong Herman went to HOnesdale,
Pa where he made a Drotracted visit.
On his return here a lew DAYS ago he
learned that Josie had been receiving
'4AAA1 hAhlhNd dAAtu~
ton from u young man well known in
spOr,'ng circles. His jealousy was aroused
ana ne called the girl to account Tor her
alleged lnconstancy. Quarrels and
-estrangement between the once devnted
pair followed. Both became desnondsn,
the girl yesterday spoke WHIT mar -,
to her associates at the hotel of M ,rnei
jealousy OF her lover and of going back 10
the home OF her parents.
About 10 O'Clock Tuesday night her
lover came to the hotel door and asked for
her. After a few moments conversation
she put on her bonnet and shawl and vent
out with him. Alter leaving the hotel
the young man stopped at a saloon and
got a bottle OF soda water, then the pair
walked on to Webb's park, a picnic re-
sort. There was no gathering at the park
and the grounds were deserted. The
story OF what occurred after they reached
the place, is told by Josie, as follows:
Herman SAID to her that he was fully
satisfied that she loved his rival hest and
as he could not bear the thought OF living
without her he had determined to kill
himself. He produced a package of rat
poison, which he proceeded to pour into
the soda water bottle. She demonstrated
with him and implored him to desist. as
surfing him that the conduct of which he
complained was nothing more than an in
nocent Irritation. and that she was de
voted to him. He persisted in his fatal
purpose and challenged her to prove her
consistency by sharing the poison and dy-
ing with him. She consented, and about
midnight they drank the contents of the
soda water bottle. They then Law down
upon the grass in each others arm to die
together.
Charles Brown, the custodian of the
park, when he rot a" - ~-i-i--L ---.--
day morning, discovered the Young man
tense agony on the ground "n6ssdiq ain
lag pavilion. He assisted them into his
house and sent for help. Herman died
before a doctor came. When the suffer
ing girl found that he was dead she bit
terly reprOached herself.
My God she exclaimed, Il have
killed him-what shall ! dO?'
Then she prayed that she, too, might
die. She was removed to the home OF
her brother. The physicians say she
owes the prolonGation of her life to nau-
sea, caused bv taking an overdose Of
the poison. She is IN a very critical con
ditinD