Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-09-04

DIR. T. Thatcher Graves, the convicted
poisoner of Mrs. Josephine Barnaby
committed suicide in his cell at the coun.
ty jail in Denver, COL, yesterday morning.
On his person was found the following
letter:
DENVER, Aug. Q, 1893
To the Coroner Of Denver:
DEAR SIR: Please don't hold an autopsy on
my remains The cause of death may be
rendered as follows Died Of persecution;
worn out; exhausted. Yours respectfully,
II. THAcHER GRAVES, NJ. ID.
The corpse was quite cold when found.
No direct evidence of suicide was visible,
but the above .etter tells the story. There
were also letters 10 Mrs. Graves, wife Of
the doctor, to Jailer Crews and an address
to the public. That the prisoner had long
contemplated taking his own life Is evil
dent from the date Of the letters-Aug. o
last.
whisky and Arsenic.
As il we'll known, 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. On April she drank from
bottle of whisky that had come by mail
from Boston. and that was labelled "Wish
you happy New Year. Please accept
this fine old whisky from your friends In
the woods"
The whisky contained "A solution OF ar
senic. DIR. Graves was accused of sending
the bottle After one Of the most famous
trials in the criminal annals Of this coun-
try, DIR. Graves was convicted of murder
In the first degree and was sentenced to be
hanged. The supreme court granted him
a new trial, which was to have begun the
latter part of this month.
The letter addressed to Captain Crews,
the jailer, Is as follows:
DENVER, Aug. Q, ls9a
II would keep a man busy to follow Stevens
and answer the lies which he unblushingly
peddles out to the papers. One or two, how
ever, need attention and they are easily
proven TO be lies. was q member Of the
Massachusetts, State Medical society, also the
Connecticut State Medical society. never
made application to the Rhode Island State
Medical Society for admission. Ny lawyers
have the full reports showing that l never
wronged the estate of Mrs. Barnaby, and that
the estate now owes me outside OF the legacy
by will. The public soes what have 20 ex.
pect from the villianous, cowardly falsehoodi
OF Stevens. l cannot expend more money
fighting him. ! must take the only means tc
provide for my wife AMI dear, hoDorvd,
aged mother. T. TEACHER GRAVES.
A Case OF Suicide.
"It's clear case of suicide" said
Coroner Chivington, while sitting 10 the
cell Of the dead man. Deputy Warden
Shire nodded and the coroner opened
letter addressed to him by the doctor.
The letter was found with half Q dozen
others addressed TO various persons In a
bundle of manuscript under the doctors
satchel. which stood near the head of bis
cot. One Of the letters was addressed to
John w. Bridges, the "trusty" who dis
covered the doctor dead In his cell.
A thorough search of the cell had been
made before the letters were brought 10
light. A pile Of books and magazines that
stood on the little table were examined
and his clothing was searched, but nothing
was found that would explain matters
until the satchel was lifted aside and the
letters found under IL.
The doctor left everything In order be-
fore he died. When he was found he was
clothed In his trousers and a dress shirt.
He lay on his right side in aposture he
usually assumed after retiring. There
were paper sacks of fresh peaches and
pears on bis table. the gift Of his wife on
her last visit Saturday. Captain Crews,
the jailer, was the last person to see DR.
Graves alive, according to the statements.
made TO the coroner. He passed the cell'
at 8 o'clock yesterday morning and the
unfortunate man appeared to be all right
Not . Well Man
Tor some time past, however, he has been
looking pale but he did NOE comolain ~