The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-18
SHUFFLING OFF.
Did Mrs. Gabrielle Corrigan
Really Want to Die?
She Was Found Unconscious in Columbia
Park-Au Empty Vial and Letter
Declared Her Intentions.

Did she or did she not expect to dep"
is the question the doctor who found Mrs.
Gabrielle Corrigan in an unconscious con-
dition in Columbia Park last night put to
himself.
1t is also being mentally debated by the
druggist who helped pump her out and who
analysed the dregs in a bottle found in her
possession. Each answers the question
differently to his own satisfaction and each
has good reasons for not adopting the 9TH
ers views.
1t was about o'clock last evening that
DIR. q. ii. Peterson noticed a crowd in
corner of Columbia Park, which is between
Seventh and Eighth and Folsom and Harri-
son streets. He drew nearer and found an
unconscious woman lying on bench, her
heart futtering and pulse weak, so weak
as to be hardly perceptible. In her hand
was a sealed letter. the envelope of which
bore the words: "Whoever finds my body
have it sent to Mrs. Colbath's, 400 Sixth
street"
Sixth and Harrison streets, and pumped
out, then taken to the address in
dictated. The bottle found on her contained
a few drops of the drug, and these were
analyzed and found to have a small per-
centage of morphine, not enough, the ana
lyst said, 10 have killed her had she taken
bottle full. This is why he thinks she
really did not mean to kill herself, but
wanted to scare some one. DIR. Peterson
claims the drug was choral hydrate, and
tHat she meant to shuttle Of and was nearly
dead when found.
Mrs. Goliath said her sister-in-law and
her brother parted about three weeks ago,
and have been living separate since, he at
Camp Taylor and she at 800 Mission street.
She also said Mrs. Corrigan has become
melancholy and Respondent since the sepa-
ration. The husband is a core-maker and
musician, and she is rather good looking
woman, IS years of age.
She would not even open the letter found
in the would-be suicides hand, so its con-
tents are not known. But Mrs. Corrigan's
writing was not limited to this single effu-
sion. She wrote another letter to NJ Davis,
member of the Musicians Union, where
she addressed it, 1t arrived at IL o'clock
last night by messenger, and is as follows:
SAN FRANCISCO, July 18th.
Mr.. II. Ddvts-DEAR SIR: Some time ago
wrote you a letter. You did not see fit TO
make any notice of il. This letter was 10 regard
10 Mr.. j. h. COrrigan and myself. AT that tlms
was without money or friends, separated from
my husband Since that time have again lived
win him, and again we are separated. This time
l lefi, and l objected to some things he did
which did not look consistent with The duty a
MIN owed his wife. On that subject Mr.. Conigan
and differed. He WILL no doubt tell you left
him with a sick child (his). Ii lie does 1t is
quite tue | did. He made my life so very un.
Pheasant that 1t was impossible for ME TO remain
and see, SO / left. SO far l am concerned
l have to regret only this, that lie could not
have been mean enough not 10 force me
10 leave him While the child was sick. Ii would
have been bette: for US all if he could have acted
III such a manner as TO let me take care of the
child. was willing TO do this aud then separate
In Kindness on both sides. In my letter 10 you
before, / referred to Mr.. E. Murphy. He knows
much OF The unhappiness of my short married
llie. As said then, say now. Mr.. Murphy is
surely man enough TO Tell the truth in such a
matter. My object In writing this letter TO you
is TO tell you shall have taken my life before
this Is in your hands. Mr.. Corrigan is at Camp
Taylor. California. III he cannot or will no. bury
me. Will you aud the MOluers Union see that l
am not lett to the public. 1 shall try TO place my
body Ia the care OF his sister, Mrs. j. +. Goliath,
who lives at No APO Sixth street. | consider
her The proner person 10 take charge. l will no.
tify the NJ. u, so that lie NJ. Union can do what
is necessary. Respectfully,
MRS. ]. R. CoRRIGAN.
When he made this latter letter public
Mr.. Davis said the former letter was SINH
lar in its character, eycent as to the suicide,
but that he did not want 10 interfere in
family troubles and took no notice of the
matter. He claimed never to have seen the
woman.
Mrs. Corrigan viii live. and is being cared
for by her siSter-in-law.