The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-09-09
THE END.


DIR. That. hef Grases. Charged win IL
Murder of Mrs. Barnsby. Commits SUI
eide In jail at Denssr. Cea.4fhs Tragic
End Of Celebrated Nsfder Case
DENVER. Col. Sept. 4.-Dr. Thatcher
Graves, the convicted poisoner Of Mrs.
Josephine Barnaby, committed suicide
in his cell At the coanty jail Saturday
night, presnmhhlyidy taking poison
He was found stiH. and cold in death
ate am. yesterday by the "trusty" who
had been caring for HIN. On his per
son was sfouad-tAisletter:
DEstzR-Col. Aug. Q. fsa4
To fhe Coroser Of Dsarer:
DrAR SIR: Please do not hold IN autopsy
on my remains The cause OF death NAV bo
rendered as follows: Died from persecution
worn out. exhausted. 'sIaE y 2
Yours respectfully.
7. THATCHER GHAvEs, n. D.
The corpse was quite cold when
found. No direct evidence of suicide
was visible, but the above letter tells
the story. There were slso letters TO
Mrs. Graves, wife of the doctor; to
Jailer Crews, and an address 70 the
public That the prisoner had long
contemplated taking his own life V
evident from the date Of the latter
August last
The letter addressed to Jailer Crews
read as follows:
T7'7 - August s. Ioa
Il would keep man busy 10 follow Stevens
and answer the lies which he unbl1shingly ped
dies out TO the papers. Ono or two. however,
need attention, and are easily proven to Be
har of ha Mna1ar nuapff4
State Medical society. also the Connecticus
Medical society. Inever made application 70
the Rhode Island State society for admission.
My lawyers have full reports showing that I
never wronged the estate Of Mrs. Barnaoy.
and that TIN estate now ewes me money out
side OF the legacy In the Will The public may
see what have 10 expect from the villainous.
cowardiy falsehoods OF Stevens. can not exr
pend more money fighting him I must take
the only means TO save it for my wife snd dear.
ISignedl T. THATCHER GRAVES.
As is well known DR.. Graves was
awaiting his second trial for the al
legged murder of Mrs Josephine Barnar
by, of Providence, R l., who at the time
Of her death was visiting friends In
Denver She died April 10. 1se1.& On
April 10 she drank from q bottae of
whisky that come by mail from Bos-
ton and that was labeled wish you
a happy New Year. Please accept this
fine old whisky from your frisnds'ins
the woods The whisky contained .
solution of arsenic. -.
DIR. Graves was accused of sending
the bottle, and after one Of the most
famous trials in the criminal annals of
this country, was convicted of murder
in the first degree and was sentenced
70 be hanged. The supreme court
granted him new trial, which was 10
have been begun the latter part Of
this month. r.--.--- s.......
Its a clear case of suicide" said
Coroner Chivington, while sitting in
the cell of the dead man yesterday
morning. -s-- ,.1...- II g---...
Deputy Warden Shire nodded and the
coroner opened letter addressed to
him by the doctor. 1t was dated
August 0, and after requesting that no
autopsy be held informed the coroner
that he could find the cause Of his
death as follows: "Died Of persecu-
tion, worn out and exhaused." Tho
WIS lOuIu dAhOht O aO1Ch oohCis
addressed to various persons in bum
die of manuscript in the doctors
satchel which stood near the head Of
his cot -as
One of the letters was addressed to
John w. Bridges, the ''trusty" who
the doctor dead in his cell.
search of the cell had been =
made before the letters had been
brought to light. A pile of books and
magazines that stood on the little Ia
bic and his clothing were searched,
but nothing was found that would ex-
plain the suicide until the satchel was
lifted and the letters found under Il
The doctor left everything to the
widow before he died. He lay on his
right side in a posture he usually as
sumed after retiring. There was q
slight froth on his lips, which might
Just as easily have come rom natural
causes as from poison. There were
fresh pears and peaches on his table,
the gift of his wife on her last visit
It was stated in the proceedings Of
the county commissioners that no
action was taken on the request of the
doctor that the county pay the expen-
ses of his eastern witnesses It is now
learned that no formal request was
ever made for such assistance to the
county board, and this is the reason
why no action was taken.
Mrs. Graves and several gentlemen
visited the doctor Saturday. As Is the
custom they were searched, bat moth
ing of o suspicious nature was found
On their persons. AS Is evident from
the letter addressed to the coroner, DR..
Graves undoubtedly committed sui
ride, but with what drug the
autopsy alone will tell II was
supposed, however, that he took
morphine. That he had been o'
the act for a long time
S evidenced by the fact that the letter
Mrs. Graves, wife Of the doctor, was
informed of her husbands death short
" before noon. She was at the house
IF Attorney Macon, who has so ably
her husband, where she has
,een stopping for some time past The
Door woman was deeply affected by the .
news and for time nobody could com
'ort her. The absence of Macon. who
s in Canon City, was much regretted.
Accompanied by Mrs Macon she
,urried 10 the jail only to find that the
BODY had been taken to the coroner's
,ffiee. The news of the removal of tho
remains caused another affecting scene,
md the poor woman sat in 9 dsze for
.ome time. siss .i'a
80 Crooked Aiiotments. -+sls'7
! GUTHRIE, Okla, Sept 4.--The Santa
70 is bringing great crowds of Chero-
gee settlers in to-day, and the crowd ON
he line. is becoming immense. To
morrow morning work will commences
% the erection Of the registering
booths along the line. IT has developed
.o-day that nearly twenty Of the sIlot-
nents upon the strip have been made
. - Il