New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-04
SUICIDE OF DIR. GRAVES.
FOUND DEAD IN HIS CELL IN THE COUNTY
JAIL AT DENVER
HE WAS AWAITING MS SECOND TRIAL on THE
CHARGE OF NUMBERING MRS. JOSEPHINE
RARNARY PEnAInEN Il


CHARGE OF NUMBERING MRS. JOSEPHINE
| BARNABY. OF PEOyIDrNCE-LEr-
TIERS LEFT BY THE SUICIDE.
| Denver, Col, Sept 3.-Dr T. Thachcr Graves
the convicted poisoner Of Mrs. Josephine Barnaby,
Of Providence, II. /, committed suicide in his eel!
| in the county Jail last night, presumably by TAX
ing poison. He was found stin and cold in death
| at 0 m. to-day by the trusty" who had been
caring for HIM On his person was found the
| following letter:
| Denver Col, August ., 1898
| To the Cotoncr Of Denver
Dear sir: Pleas. don't hold autopsy my
The Of death may be r"ni'rci follows Died
| from persecution. Worn Exhausted Yours
| ,lectnly, +. THACHER GRAVES. NJ d.
The body was quite cold whom found. Tho
| direct evidence of suicide WAS VISIBLE bu- the
| ai'ovc letter tells the story There also
a letter to Mrs. Graves. wife Of the doctor, and
an addres, to the public That the prisoner
Lad long contemplated taking his own life Is evil
!ent from tho date of the latter, August last
lnoiher letter was addressed TO Captain Crews,
the Jallor. 1t read as follows
August 90. 1898.
1t would keep man busy to follow and
the which he unblu>hngy pcddcs out 10 the papers
one or two however need attention and they easily
proved 10 be- lies. was member OF the Ma's"rhu'
Stto Medical society, also the Connecticut State
Medical society. | made application TO the Rhode
Island Medical Society for admission Ny lawyers
have full reports showing that neither wrongcd the
Mrs Banaby and that the estate now owes mo
outside the legacy by Will The public >ccs what
have to expect the Vlanous, cowardly fal>ehood Of
stevens / cannot cNprnd more money lighting him. i
must take only prove IL for my wife and
dear honoi cd aged mother.
T. THACuER GRAVES.
As is we'll known, Dr. Graves WAS awaiting his
second trial for the alleged murd'r Of Mrs. jose
phinc Iarnaby, of Providence. who at the time OF
her death was visiting friends in Denver. She
died April 10. 1891. On April 0 she drank from
a bottle Of whiskcy that had come by mail from
Eostoi, and that was labelled Wish you happy
New Year Please accept this fine old whiskey
from your friends in the woods. The whiskey
contained "A solution of arsenic. DIR. Graves was
accused of sending the bottle After one Of the
most famous trials in the criminal annals of this
country DR.. Graves was convicted of murder in
the first degree and was sentenced TO be hanged
The Supreme Court granted him new trial.
which was 10 have begun the latter part of this
month
It's clear case Of suicide said Coroner
Chivington while sitting in the cell Of the dead
man this morning Deputy Warden Shire nodded
and the Coroner opened u letter addressed TO him
by the doctor II was dated August o. and after
requesting that no autopsy he held informed the
Coroner that he could find the cause of his death
as follows:
D,i from persecution. Worn out. Exhausted.
The letter was found with half dozen Others |
addressed to various persons, in bundle of manu-
script under the doctors satche which stood near |
the head of his cot. One of the letters was ad |
dressed to John w. Bridget, the "trusty' who
discovered the doctor dead in his cell thor |
oneh search Of the cell had been made before the |
letters were brought TO light pile of book, |
and magazines that stood on the little table wore |
examined and his clothing searched. but moth |
ing was found that would explain matters until |
the satchcl was lifted aside and the letters found
under it, The doctor left everything in order |
before he died When found, lie was clad in hi. |
trousers and dress shirt. lie lay on his right |
size in a posture he usually assumed after rctir
ing. There paper sacks OF fresh peaches and
pears on his table. the gift of his wife on her
late visit yesterday
Captain Crews. the iailor. was the last person
to SEE DIR. Graves alive. according to the state
mcnts made TO the Coroner He passed the cell
at o'clock this morning, and then the doctor
appeared 10 he all right For some time past,
however, he has been looking pale, but he did
not complain Of being ILL., About a week ago,
Dr. Dulin. the county physician, remarked about
his palehess, and asked him if he dill not think
that little iron would do him good. lie re-
piled ITO the dogs with physc."
Bridges said that DR.. Graves had not complained
to him recently, had he appeared TO be cast
down by the action OF the County Commissioners
yesterday in granting the appropriation to pay
the Expenses of TIE Eastern witnesses OF the prose
ration. Ilc however. must have been troubled
by this action, and this is supposed to be one of
he reasons why he decided to kill himself. IT
was stated in the proceedings of tn" County Com
rissionrrs Yesterday that no action was taken
IN the request Of the doctor tnat the county pay
he expenses of his Eastern witnesses. IL Is now
earned that no formal request was ever made for
uch assistance to the County Board and this is
he reason why action was taken.
Mrs Graves and several men visited the doc
tor Yesterday As is the custom, they were
carched. but nothing Of a suspicious nature was
ound on them. Ii is supposed that the doctor
nok morphine.
The date on one letter, August o, was only a
hort time after County Commissioner Twombly
vent East 10 see the witnesses for the prose"u-
ion and ascertain whether or not they would at
end the trial. Just before Mr.. Twomblys return
"" doctor. in an interview, exhibited symptoms
I being disturbed over the results Of Mr.. Two'n-
ly's nip lie said that he believed the pro,ccu
I'm, and he said it would he only fair for the
ounty Board TO pay the expenses OF his Wit
esses If they paid the expenses of the witnesses
Or The prosecution. a
Mrs Graves, wife of the doctor, was informed I
{ her husbands death shortly before noon She ,
'as at the house of Thomas Macon, the attorney q
Tho has defended her husband, where sne mas :
zen staying for some time past The poor woman r
as deeply affected by the news. Accompanied $
Y Mrs. Macon she hurried to the Jail only 10 d
nd thnt the body had been taken 10 the Corr o
prs office Mrs. Graves returned TO Judge Macons b
ome without going TO the Coroner's office. =
Ex-Distrct Attorney Stevens Is preparing ,,
bearing % on the the ease ans .s
death ssA.-.si-.S a