Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-02-06
Suicide of Young Lady In Catholic
Church.

Miss Catherine NJ. Morrison commit
ted suicide in Catholic Church in
New York City last Friday evening.
The New York Herald of Saturday
says =
while kneelng in the confessional,
Miss Catherine NJ Morrison offered a
prayer last evening in the Church of
nue., and then slashed her wrist and
soon afterward.
Just why or how Miss Morrison came
to select this church as a place of kill
herself in is not known. 1t was far
from her home, which was at No. 179
East 10Sth street.
The friends OF the yOung woman say
that she was a monomaniac on the
subject of religion and attended SER
vices of the Catholic Church nearly
every day of her life, 1t is thought
that her death was due to religious
frenzy.
Miss Morrison was a handsome
blonde, of slender figure. She had
large blue eyes, with long dark lashes.
Her father lett her IA sinaii fsfruhe. OF
which she enjoyed the income. She
was an orphan, and was about twenty
five years old.
The wife of George Power, who is in
the expressing business, was friend
of Miss Morrison, and she had lived
with them for the last six years.
Formerly they lived down town, on
the east side, but lately they had a fiat
in East 108th street. Miss Morrison.
they say. was Jolly" girl, but very
devout.
1t is said that she never kept com
pany' steadily with any man, though
she entertained many of rhe friends of
Mr.. and Mrs. Power She did not
seem to care for society much, but oc-
casionally went out evenings 10
theatres and parties with her friends.
RELIGION HER MANIA.
Religion Was her passion, and she
was never thoroughly happy except
when she was in church She went to
church several tunes on Sunday and
attended mass each morning. Often
she stayed hours on her knees praying.
Her friends demonstrated with her and
told her she would iDjure her health
by her religious zeal, but she refused
10 listen to them.
Il was noticed recently by Miss Nor
r1son's friends that she was beginning
to act queerly. She was more devout
than ever and talked necessarily of
religion. She complained of sleepless
ness and wandered about the house at
night. Her brain seemed slightly at
fected.
Miss Morrison left home early yester
day afternoon TO pay visit. She was
dressed stylishly. 1t was about ten
minutes after six o'clock when she en-
tered the Church of che Epiphany.
The church is left open for Worship
pers in the afternoon. There was only
one old woman IN it when Miss Morri-
son entered, and she was praying and
lingering the beads of ner rosary. She
noticed the young woman walk to the
confessional and kneel down. She
wondered why she entered the confes-
sional, as no priest was hearing confes-
sions.
Miss MorrisOn's lips moved as if in
prayer for fully five minutes and then,
putting her hand in her pocket, she
drew out a razor The old woman was
horritied to see her deliberately draw
the blade across her left wrist. The
stroke severed an artery.
Help! Help!n shouted the old wo-
man, as she Jumped to her feet and
started toward Miss Morrison. Before
back her head and drew the blade
across her throat cutting it from ear
to ear The blade cut the jugular
vein, severed the windplpe and nearly
decapitated her.