The morning call., 1893-09-04
Dr. TT. Graves Takes His
Own Life.
WEARY OF PERSECUTION
The Alleged Murderer of Mrs. Bar
naby Commits Suicide in the
Denver County Jail.


was awaiting a rehearing on the charge OF
having poisoned Mrs. Josephine Barnaby.
wealthy widow, also of Providence.
The poisoning is said to have been done
to cover up DIR. Graves alleged defalca-
tions as manager of Mrs. Barnaby's es-
tate. The doctor took his own life, using
morphine. In a satchel in the doctors
cell were found five letters, the first one
having been written August 9, showing
that his suicide had been contemplated
since then. Following is the first letter
opened:
ITO the Coroner of DenUer, Colo. DEAR
SIR: Please do not hold an autopsy on
my remains. The cause OF death may be
rendered as follows: Died from persecu-
ton. Worn out. Exhausted Yours re-
spectfully, T. THATCHER GRAVES, NJ. D."
The last letter is directed to Captain
Crews, jailer of the County Jail, and is
full of bitterness TO County Attorney /. n.
Stevens, who secured DR.. Graves convic-
tion in the first trial and had been
working hard to again have the doctor
convicted.
In the second letter, which is dated Au-
gust %. Graves denounces Stevens as
liar. and adds: MY lawyers have full
receipts, showing that never wronged the
estate of Mrs. Barnaby, and that the es-
tate now owes me, outside of the legacy
by will. The public sees what l have to
expect from the villainous, cowardly
falsehoods of Stevens. l cannot expend
more money fighting him. l must take the
oDly means To prove it for my wife and
dear, honored aged mother"
Notwithstanding the above letter. Cap
tain Crews, in an interview, Indignantly
denies that DR.. Graves committed suicide.
He says that the doctor died of broken
heart, and to use the captains words,
'Was murdered by the attorneys for the
State, who have harassed the old man TO
death"
Of the other letters left. one was for Mrs.
DR.. Graves and The other for the Board of
County Commissioners.
Mrs. DR.. Graves was inform ed Of her
husbands death shortly before noon, and
for time was almost crazed with grief
Notwithstanding Dr. Graves request
that no autopsy be held on his body,
rigid investigation into the cause of his
death will take place tonight. DR.. Graves
before his death said he was penniless, and
thought it no more than right that if the
county paid the costs OF his prosecution, ii
thould also be willing to appropriate
enough to enable him to defend himself.
The decision Of the county to try him
again undoubtedly prompted Graves 10
put into effect his idea of suicide. which,
it is plain, he had been contemplating for
some time.
In his letter to the public DR.. Graves
says that his conviction was accomplishe ed
with the aid of money and political influ-
enee. He says:
The District Attorney at that time was
Isaac Stevens, young leading politician.
ambitious, full Of deyilish schemes
and cunning, man who never
hesitated for a moment to do any
kind of dirty work to advance himself and
who was surrounded By the viest men in
the west as his tools.
"At the trial which followed we found
everything completely and absolutely
under his control-lhe reporters, bai-
lifts and the court officials, except
the clerk Of court deputies. the honor
able judge and the jury. Since the trial
we have learned that no man was put on
the jury unless he agreed to favor Stevens.
Promises of political preference and value
received were freely offered and taken.
Forty years ago man named Perrin 10
Connecticut and my father had some
trouble over some land. The son worked
himself on the jury and paid the old debt
In full, after .he usual manner of such
men. This we did not know until long
after the trial.
'I am informed that since the trial
some Of the jurors have received political
appointments from Stevens. and that
there were some professional jurors
whose business it was to get on juries in
cases where be was concerned. and in
which cases always win. These things are
well-known in Denver.
What possible chance did a stranger
stand against Stevens, backed by such q
Judge and purchasable jury? Conrad
boasted that he spent S60.0O0 among wit
nesses. detectives, judges and jury. BE
always omitted to remarked that the honey
belonged to his wife and that he was play
ing for S150.000 stake.
The Supreme Court of Colorado in most
emphatic. scathing and bitter terms pro-
bounced the trial unfair. unjust and illegal
ana ordered new trial. NY LAWYERS
have t0und proof that at the trial
$1,000 was paid out 10 only one
witness. They have the af1dayits of
numerous men that they were so
sounded as to whether, in case Of their
being summoned on the jury, they would
favor Stevens, and this was done by Stev-
ems bailiffs. The jury were under the
charge ot one of the worst villains on
earth. They went to the theater and
around town pretty much as they pleased.
For months and mouths l have Ian
gushed in Jail, cIamoring for new trial,
until L have, little by little, learned all of
the vlilainous things which appertained to
the former trial. and l have told not
nan. stevens in the meantime had ad-
Vaneed to be acknowledged as the supreme
political boss and controls to-day most of
the Judges. They dare not decide against
him, and SO my motion for a new trial is
deferred. have been forced to remain in
jail all through this hot sultry summer
until L must confess my spirit is broken
down.
"A new District Attorney has been ap-
pointed. but he does not count.
Stevens rules more and the new one bobs
up serenely as he is ordered. the same as
the Judge. People are indignant, but
what can they do with this oetopus?"