Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-08
BOUNDED INTO THE GRAVE.
Driven Mad by Gossip Mrs. Sadie Phillip
Took Her Life.

Driven Mad by Gossip, Mrs. Sadie Phillips
Took Her Life.
Mrs. Sadie Phillips poisoned herself with
strychnine Monday at the home Of her father.
James Martin, in New Richmond. Ind, in
order to escape the long-tongued gossips of
that place. says special dispatch to the New
York World.
Nine years ago Mrs. Phillips, then unmarried
and living in this city, gave birth to daughter.
Before that time she had moved In the bes.
society and her reputation was above reproach.
Some time afterward her father removed to
"aynetown. where she united with the Baptist
church. She afterward Joined the Christian
church, OF which organization she was a men,
Der up to the time of her death. A year ago
sne married Joseph Phillips, who made her
NE unhappy and finally deserted her. Mrs.
Phillips then kept house for her father. whose
wife had died
About six months ago Charles Hipbv. an old
friend of Mrs. Phillips arrived in New Rich
mona from Maynetown and frequently called
upon her. The tongues Of the gossips were
loosened. The old scandal was revived and
new stories were invented. When Mrs. Phil-
ups learned what the gossips were saying she
was at first indignant and then respondent.
Even church people with whom she was init
nlately acquainted summed her and the chill
dren In the streets pointed at her as she passed
along. Her neighbors refused to speak to her,
although there was no truth in the stories told
of her.
To escape the gossips Mrs. Phillips went to
Covington with her little girl to visit relatives,
but In few days the scandals were being circu-
lated among her friends there. She then went
to Danvile, ILL.,, to visit other relatives, only to
hnd that the rumors had preceded her. She
was cooiiy received and some of her relatives
would not speak to her. This was more than
she could endure, and she made several unsuc-
cess1ul attempts to procure poison at several
drug stores. With her little girl she then
started for New Richmond. Once standing on
the platform of the rear coach, the train
passed over the Wabash river she was about to
jump into the water. when her daughter caught
hold OF her dress and said to her. Watch out,
or you II fall off" At these words Of the inno-
cent child she repented and went back into the
car, where she was observed to passionately
caress he: daughter and weep. In answer to a
question she told her story. Tho passengers
fully realizing her position, carefully watched
her every motion in order to keep her from
doing herself bodily harm.
When she reached home she met her father at
the depot pleasantly, concealing from him her
purpose. As soon as her father went to his
work she sent her daughter to the drug store
1or strychnine on the pretense that she wanted
TO XIII rats She spent the afternoon in sob
bling and fondling her daughter. At night she
put the poison in water, tried to induce her
child to drink a portion of it, and when the
latter refused she kissed her. babe her an affec-
tonate farewell, drank the contents of the
glass and threw herself on the bed. When the
child saw her mother in commissions she ran
down stairs and informed her grandfather.
physician was summoned, but too late to save
ha.