Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-05-17
A WATERY GRAYE
Was that Chosen by Miss Eliza Jane
Putt to End Her Earthly
Sufferings,

Last Thursday morning Eliza Jane
Putt, oldest daughter of Mary A.
Putt, put an end to her earthly suf-
ferings by jumping into a cistern and
drowning herself. The cause that
led to this rash act of self-destruction
was her long siege of ailments, for
which no relief could be obtained
one of which was a lifelong afiliction
of st. Vitus Dance, and for the past
two years she wasa sufferer of COM
plication of diseases which baffled all
medical science. This so prayed up-
on her that at times her mind became
deranged and careful watch of her
was at all times necessary lest she
would do herself bodily harm-her
mind continually being on self-des-
truction.
On Sunday, previous to the above
date she made an attempt to drown
herself in the same cistern, prying
the boards off the curb, which We're
securely nailed down, with fire
poker, and went in (feet firsD up to
her waist, but was discovered and
pulled out before accomplishing her
purpose, but claiming that ''she
would get in there YETI After this
occurrence the boards We're more
securely fastened down and q large
grind-stone placed on top the curb,
making it, as all supposed, doubly
| secure.
On Thursday morning when she
arose she complained of her deplor-
able state, and about 8 o'clock
her condition became somewhat
worse, but not so as to confine her to
her bed. Her mother had occasion
to step over to her sons on an errand,
and left her daughter sitting quietly
in rocking chair, when in less time
than can be told, and in her crippled
condition, the suicide left the house
/ and started for the wood-shed Gas
she was seen by neisshbors at dis
tance, but little thought of what her
intentions were), for the purpose, it
! is supposed, of securing an aAI with
which to tear the boards Off
Finding none, she retraced her
steps, going into the kitchen and
from there she was seen going
around the corner of the east end of
the house, and that was the last seen
] of her alive.
Her mother returning in five or ten
minutes, discovered the empty chair
and called but received no answer. A
search of the house was made but
the missing one was nowhere to be
found. She then stepped to the door
and called but received no reply
Thinking that her daughter might
have stepped over to her brothers
house, she started to go there, and
passing the cistern noticed the boards
torn off. She approached it and to
her horror found body floating
therein. The alarm was at once given
and her son, who was working near
by, rushed to the spot and reaching
down caught the body by the
back, and with the assistance of will
ing hands, pulled it out, but too
late. The suicide was rolled ON bar
rel for considerable = length of
time but to no avail Medical aid
was at once summoned but she was
past all resusitation, life had left her
body before it was taken from the
well.
A search was made and hatchet
was found near by that she had used
to tear the boards from the curb,
making it evident that it was a pre-
meditated case of suicide.
Coroner Haly viewed the remains
!, but up to going to press has not rem
dered his verdict.
Deceased was 81 years, s months
and 10 days of age at the time of her
untimely demise, and leaves loving
mother, one sister and two brothers
to mourn their loss.