Huntsville gazette., 1893-09-09
THE END.
Y. thatcher Graves, Charged with the
murder OF Mrs. Barnaby, Commits Sui
cIae III JAN at Denver, Col.-The Tragic
End of Celebrated Murder Case.

ee IN Jan at Denver. Col.-The Tragic
End of Celebrated Murder Case.
DENVER, Col. Sept. 4.-Dr. Thatcher
Graves, the convicted poisoner of Mrs.
Josephine Barnaby. committed suicide
IN his cell at the county Jail Saturday
nlght presumably by taking poison.
he was found stiff and cold in death
at9 a. m yesterday by the ''trusty" who
mad been caring for him. On his per-
son was found this letter:
| DENVER Col, Aug o. 1899
TO the Coroner Of Denrer:
DEAR SIR: Please do not hold an autopsy
on my remains The cause OF death NAV be
rendered as follows: Died from persecution,
worn out, exhausted.
Yours respectfully
L. THATCHER GRAVES, M. D.
The corpse was quite cold when
1ound. No direct evidence of suicide
was visible, but the above letter tells
the story. There were also letters to
Mrs. Graves, wife of the doctor; to
Jaller Crews, and an address to the
public. That the prisoner had long
contemplated taking his own life is
evident from the date of the latter
August last.
1 aO ASotCl tuItI CSSCu W OTtWS
read as follows:
August 25 1893.
1t would keep man busy to follow Stevens
| and answer the lies which he unblushingly ped
| dies out to the papers. One or two. however,
need attention, and are easily proven to be
lies. was member of the Massachusetts
State Medical society," also the Connecticut
Medical society. Inever made application to
| the Rhode Island State society for admission.
My lawyers have full reports showing that
never wronged the estate of Mrs. Barnaby.
| and that the estate owes me money out
| side of the legacy in the will. The public may
| see what have to expect from the villainous,
| cowardly falsehoods of Stevens. I can not ex-
pend more money fighting him. / must take
| the only means to save it for my wife and dear,
honored aged mother.
| lSignedl L. THATCHER GRAVES
AS is well known DR.. Graves was
awaiting his second trial for the al
legged murder of Mrs. Josephine Barna-
by, of Providence, R. l., who at the time
of her death was visiting friends in
Denver. She died April 10, 1891. On
April 10 she drank from bottle Of
whisky that come by mail from Bos-
| ton and that was labeled ''Wish YOU
a happy New Year. Please accept this
fine old whisky from your friends in
the woods" The whisky contained a
solution of arsenic
DR.. Graves was accused of sending
the bottle, AMI after one of the most
famous trials in the criminal annals Of
this country, was convicted of murder
in the first degree and was sentenced
to be hanged. The supreme court
granted him new trial, which was to
have been begun the latter part of
| this month.
Its a clear case of suicide" said
Coroner Chivington, while sitting in
the cell of the dead man yesterday
morning.
Deputy Warden Shire nodded and the
coroner opened a letter addressed to
him by the doctor. 1t was dated
| August 8, and after requesting that no
autopsy be held informed the coroner
| that he could find the cause of his
| death as follows: "Died of persecu-
ton, worn out and exhaused." The
letter was found among a dozen others
addressed to various persons in bun
die of manuscript in the doctors
| satchel which stood near the head of
| his cot.
| One of the letters was addressed to
John w. Bridges, the "trusty'' who
| discovered the doctor dead in his cell.
| Thorough search of the cell had been
made before the letters had been
brought to light. A pile of books and
| magazines that stood on the little ta-
BILE and his clothing were searched,
| but nothing was found that would ex-
| plain the suicide until the satchel was
| lifted and the letters found under it.
| The doctor left everything to the
widow before he died. He lay on his
| right side in posture he usually as
sumed after retiring. There was
slight froth on his lips, which might
| lust as easily have come from natural
causes as from poison. There were
fresh pears and peaches on his table,
the gift of his wife on her last visit
1t was stated in the proceedings OF
| the county commissioners that no
| action was taken on the request of the
doctor that the county pay the expen-
| ses of his eastern witnesses. 1t is now
learned that no formal request was
| ever made for such assistance to the
county board and this is tbs reason
| why no action was taken.
Mrs. Graves and several gentlemen
visited the doctor Saturday. AS IS the
custom they were searched, but roth
ing of suspicious nature was fond
on their persons. AS is evident flom
the letter addressed to the coroner, DR..
| Graves undou btedly committed sui
eide. but with what drug the
autopsy alone will tell. 1t was
supposed, however, that he took
morphine. That he had beer
contemplating the act for long time
is evidenced by the fact that the letter
was dated August9.
Mrs. Graves, wife of the doctor, was
| informed of her husbands death short
| ly before noon. She was at the house
of Attorney Macon, who has SO ably
| defended her husband, where she mas
been stopping for some time past. Inc
poor woman was deeply affected by the
news and for time nobody could com
tort her. The absence of Macon, VINO