Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-04
DR.. GRAVES KILLS HIMSELF.
The Convicted Poisoner of Mrs Barnaby
Takes Poison.
He Declares That He Was Driven to
Death by Persecution and Protests
His Innocence of the Crime.

His Innocence of the Crime.
DR.. T. Thatcher Graves, the convicted
poisoner Of Mrs. Josephine Barnaby. COM
mitted suicide in his cell in the county Jail
at Denver Saturday night, presumably by
taking poison. He was found stiff and cold
| in death yesterday morning by the "trusty''
who had been caring for him. On his per-
| son was found the following letter:
DENVER, Col, Aug. g.
To the Coroner Of Denver.
Dear Sir: Please don't hold any autopsy
on my remains. The cause Of death may be
rendered as follows: Died from persecution.
Worn out. ExhaYsted Yours. respectfully,
T. THATCHER GRAVES. M. D.
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 Jailer Crews and an address to
the public That the prisoner had long con-
templated taking his life is evident from
the date Of the letter-August last.
DR.. Graves to the Public.
Dr. Graves letter to the public was given
out yesterday afternoon. The following is a
verbatim copy:
JoUNTY JAIL, DENVER, COL. Aug. 8.
To the public:
In the spring Of 1891 I made the trip to
Denver. actuated by a desire to appear be-
assist in solving the Barnaby murder mys-
terry. Arriving in Denver my lawyers refused
to allow me to 60 before the grand jury.
soon found myself indicted for murder.
Surprised sur astonished: I said to my lawyers:
or course, IT cannot amount to anything.
death of Mrs Barnaby'
little dreamed what was In store for me
l DID not know what can be accomplished
by political influence and money, and the
man to play the prince" with his wife's
money: The district attorney. at that time.
was ky Stevens. young. leading poll
ucian. ambitious. full Of devilish schemes.
ana cunning, man who never has hesi-
tated to do any kind Of dirty work to adj
vance himself and who was surrounded by
the vflest men in the west as his tools. At
the trial which followed we found every
| thing completely and absolutely under his
control-the reporters. the bailiffs. the court
ofncials. except the clerk of the court, the
deputies, the honorable judge and the
jury. Since the trial we have learned that
no man was put on the jury unless he had
first agreed to favor Stevens. Promises Of
political preferment and value received
were freely offered and taken.
Forty years ago q man named Perrin in
Connecticut and my father had some trou-
BILE over some land. The son worked him.
SER onto the jury and paid the old debt in
full after the usual manner Of such men,
This we did not know until long after the
| trial. l am informed that since the trial
some Of the jurors have received political
professional Jurors, getting on the jury
where he always wins his case. These
things are well known In Denver.
What possible chance did a stranger stand
against Stevens, backed by such a Judge
and purchaseable jury? Conrad boosted
that he, had expended SIS 900 among detec-
lives. witnesses. judge and jury. He al
belonged to his wife, and that he was play
ing for a $4,000 stake.
The supreme court Of Colorado in the
| most emphatic. scathing and bitter words,
| pronounced the trial unfair" unjust and
Illegal. and ordered q new trial. My law
yers have found since the trial that g, 500
was paid out to only one witness. They
have the aff1davits Of numerous men that
they were sounded" as to whether. in case
Of their being summoned by a jury, they
would faver Stevens. and this was done by
| Stevens bailiffs.
The jury were under charge of one Of the
worst villains on earth; boarded at q hotel
Kept by one Of the jury; went to the theater
and around town pretty much as they
pleased: For months and months I have
until have. little by little. learned of ali
their villainous things which appertained
to the formal trial. and have told not half
Stevens in the meantime had advanced to
be acknowledged as the supreme political
boss, and controls today most Of the.1udges
They dare not decide against him. nnd so
my motion for new trial was deferred
and impossible bail demanded, which the
and 1 have been forced to remain in taii
through this hot sultry summer until must
confess that my spirit is broken down.
A new district attorney has meanwhile
been appointed. but he does not count
Stevens rules the more and the new one
bobs up serenely as he Is ordered, the some
as the judge. The people are indignant. but
what can they do with this octopus?
At the present writing Stevens has gone
east to coach one Of the commissioners and
hoodwink him. He will return to Denver
with a trunk full Of lies after having prop
erly worked the papers. He will then cljole
and deceive the commissioners and prob
ably induce them to furnish him funds to
commence again his nefarious prosecution
Now 1 am tired Of this whole business
They have exhausted me. 1t is strange that
think 1t useless to continue the fight? II
IT was fair ,standup legal fight should
have some chance and would stand up to
1t. But 1t Is not fair. 1t Is as foul, dirty
an affair ever disgraced a court The
whole power of the court Is in the hands of
Stevens, and his nature never allows him
to deal fair. He is an underhand snr ak and
always works by methods which gentle
men abhor and despise.
1 am informed that the case may be con-
tinued for an indefinite period. that 1 may
be dragged through mud and mire. tossed
here and there among the lawyers; who
keep 1t up for the newspaper notoriety
which they receive
Now / am tired of It, 1 have freely ex-
pended fortune fighting them. But the
SOurts Will compel me 10 eXponQ more.
What have left will go to my noble little
wife and poor. suffering mother. There is
one way that can stop the expenditure
Allow me to repeat that which / have
always said publicly and privately: Upon
my solemn Masonic OATH l, T. Thatcher
Graves. did not have anything to do in any
way. shape. manner or deed with the
death Of Mrs. Barnaby" I write this know
Ing what the future will soon have in store
for me.
The people will believe. pity and sympa-
thize with me. They will know that even
the strongest man can be beaten down by
a cyclone Of filth, mud and persecution.
leave little Ikey Stevens to the people Of
Colorado. Please take care Of him.
T. THATCHER GRAVES, NJ. D.
Another letter was addressed to Capt
Crews, the jailer. It was shorter but
much to the same effect. 1t was dated
August 20.
Finding a Corpse.
A thorough search Of the cell had been
made before the letters were brought to
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 I'M
til the doctors satchel was lifted aside and
the letters found under 1t. The doctor left
everything in order before he died.
When he was found he was clad in his
trousers and q dress shirt. He lay on his
right side In a posture he usually assumed