The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-03-02
POISON AND RIFLE
Murder by and Suicide of
an English Officer
at Jamaica.
GRANT HAD TWO WIVES
His Fear of Separation From No.
2 Caused Him to Commit
the Deeds.

Spccial Corrsspondence of the United Press.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Feb. 10, 1Sa4.-About
three weeks ago Sergeant Grant OF the
Army Pay Department, poisoned his newly
welded wife and then shot himself. The
affair caused quite sensation here at the
time, but the military authorities kept it as
quiet as possible and it was only at the
Coroner's inquiry, which was held few
days ago, that the circumstances OF the
affair were made known. 1t was then ascer-
tanned that Grant had been married twice
and that he murdered his second wife, to
whom he had been married just four months,
because the first wife threatened that she
would return to him.
Sergeant Grant came to Jamaica with his
regiment from Halifax, N. s., about two
years ago. Whilst in Halifax he had been
married, but he did not bring his wife to
Jamaica with him. Several of Grants fei-
low officers knew that he had a wife in Hall
fax and understood that he was eventually
to have brought her on here
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
Shortly after he arrived in Jamaica, Grant
met the unfortunate lady whom he killed.
He met her at a charity concert at the thea
tire and it was case of love at first sight on
both Sides The lady's name was Miss Car
rie Pickering and she occupied the position
of governess to the children of an officer.
Almost every evening after the
first meeting Grant would steal
away from camp to meet his LADY
love. And she, having put her little
charges safely to bed would make an excuse
to come out to meet him. The course of love
ran smooth enough, but for some reason,
most probably because he knew he was doing
wrong, he hesitated to propose marriage. AT
last, however, his passion overcame his
scruples, and the wedding day was fixed,
and in October last the marriage ceremony
was persormed
1t was not long after Grants second mar
riage that some of his friends sent on the
news to the first wife in Halifax. Naturally
Mrs Grant No. was incensed, and she pro-
ceeded to make things unpleasant for her
scamp of husband by laying her case be-
fore his Colonel in Jamaica.
WIFE NO. rs THREAT.
Lieutenant Colonel Potter, then in COM
mand referred the letter to the authorities
in Halifax, asking for some proof in the mat
ter Substantial proof of the marriage in
Halifax was forwarded about the middle of
January, and along with the proof came
letter from Mrs. Grant stating that she was
coming on to Jamaica. Grant was sum
moned before the Colonel, and was told that
the only reparation he could make to his
first wife was to separate from the second
wife. ss-...ss-a ...s.
Now Grant according to letters of con
fession which he wrote before he shot him.
self-loved the lady for whose sake he had
committed bigamy, loved her passionately,
and could not bear the thought of separa-
ton So, after brooding over the matter,
he determined that he and his love should
die together.
POISON AND SHOTGUN.
From druggist in Kingston Grant
bought some prussic acid, and from com
rade he borrowed rifle. At night he re-
tired to his quarters with both poison and
weapon. What happened during the night
will never be fully known, but Mrs. Grant
was heard to cry out, Don't do it! Don't do
itr' an evidence that she did not take the
poison willingly. A rife shot was also heard
during the night, but nobody seemed to attach
any significance to the sound. In the morn
ing the two bodies were found lying. side by
side On the table were couple of letters
begging forgiveness, one addressed to Grants
parents and the other to his commanding
officer.
The surviving Mrs. Grant is still at
Halifax.