River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-09-07
KILLED HIMSELF.

DIR. T. Thatcher Graves, Once Convicted
/. of Poisoning Mrs. Barnaby. and Await
ing a New Trial, Commits Suicide In
Jail at Denver.
DENVER, Col, Sept 5.-Dr T.
Thatcher Graves, who was convicted of
poisoning Mrs. Josephine Barnaby, but
had been granted a new trial, COM
mitted suicide in his cell at the county
Jail Saturday night, presumably by TAX
ing poison. He was found dead at a.
m. Sunday by the ''trusty'' who had
been caring for him. On his person
was found the following letter:
"DESvER Col, Aug 9. 1s93-To the Coroner
OF Denver-Dear Sir; Please do not hold an
autopsy on my remains. The cause OF death
may be rendered as follows: Died from perse-
eution Worn out Exhausted. Yours re-
spectully, T. THATCHER GRAVES, NJ. D."
The corpse was quite cold when
found. No direct evidence was visible,
but the above letter tells the story.
There were also letters to Mrs. Graves,
wife of the doctor, To Jailer Crews, and
an address to the public. That the pris-
oner had long contemplated taking his
own life is evident from the date of the
letter-August last.
DIR. Graves was awaiting his second
trial for the alleged murder of Mrs.
Josephine Barnaby. of Providence, who
at the time of her death was visiting
friends in Denver. She died April 10. 1891.
After one of the most famous trials
in the criminal annals of this country
DIR. Graves 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 be-
gun the latter part of this month.
As is evident from the letter adj
dressed TO the coroner, DIR. Graves COM
mitted suicide, but with what drug the
autopsy alone will tell. 1t was sup
posed, however, that he took morphine.
1.-THE crime of which DR.. T. Thatcher Graves
was accused was a celebrated case. He was an
intimate friend of Mrs. Josephine Barnaby of
Providence, r. L., and her financial adviser and
agent on a salary of 5000 annually She was
the divorced wife of wealthy mer.
chant of Providence, and possessed a
fortune of $4,000 and an annual income
OF $4,000 Mrs Barnaby was a great traveller
and was accustomed TO spend part of the sum
mer at Blue Mountain Lake, n. Y, living
at the residence OF Edward Bennett In the
spring OF 1884, while at that place she and DR.
Graves had misunderstanding They parted
and Mrs. Barnaby at once started west. Event
ually she arrived in Denver and visited Mrs. Wor-
relL Six days before her arrival in April of
that year package came to her address. 1t
contained bottle Of liquor labeled Fine old
whisky from your friend in the woods" The
bottle was laid away in the house its
contents untouched for a week Mrs Barna-
by and Mrs Worrell took a drive April
IL, and on their return both drank OF
the contents OF the bottle Almost i'm
mediately both were seized with great pains
They became violently i'll, and Mrs Barnaby
died Mrs Worrel finally recovered. The
physicians declared the illness of both women
was due TO arsenical poisoning. Suspicion was
cast upon the Worrells, but action was
taken against them The writing the pack
age resembled that of DR.. Graves. and finally
he was arrested and then indicted for murder
The long light he made for his life developed the
past history OF Mrs. Barnaby and the accused
man. His friends claimed there was an abb
senee OF motive for him He could have no OBJ
ject in desiring the woman's death, they said
He received a salary from her and had, they
admitted, absolute control over her fortune and
could have converted it to his own il he so
desired His enemies declared he had other
reasons for wishing her out OF the way.