The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-22
THE SUICIDE OF MRS. PEIsSNER.
Not Due 10 Cruelty. but to Brooding
Over Hard Times

Seattle, Dec Is, lSs5
To the Editor: have read with deep in
ter-st the account OF the incusst held over
the remains q the wretched woman who
voluntarily took her Own life on Saturday.
teel IL but just 70 the memory OF one
whose lips are forever sealed beyond her
Own defense TO write few facts from per-
sonl knowledge OF her mental condition
and recent history. Ii seems incompre-
hensible that Or. Hoye, who has paid Mrs.
Peissner twenty visits at the county ex-
psnss. should not have been asked 10 tes-
tify at the inquest A statement from him
Will Confederate my own. not only that as
10 the unfortunate woman q insanity there
remains not a shadow OF doubt. but also
that Mr.. Peissner, so far as we could
judge. tried with unceasing effort and TO
the best OF his ability TO care for the wife
and children during this serious illness.
For the past year have either seen or
heard from Ar. and Mrs. Peissner weekly,
ard have found them honest, industrious
and most appreciative OF assistance Mr..
Peissner appeared 10 be of the thrifty Ger
man type. IL work failed in one direction
he sought IL IN another. but seeking has
not been finding work for many days, so
IN order 10 save the land and keep the WOLF
from the door the good helpmate put her
shoulder TO the wheel A few years since
they brought with them 10 Seattle little
money, the result OF hard work, and with
a portion OF II secured ten lots at Fremont,
eight OF which they have been forced to
rellnQuiSh. The preservation OF this prop
erty was the goal toward which Mrs.
Peissner worked with viii, and 10 the
loss Of which may be ascribed in great
measure her alteration of mind.
During the summer and early fall she
served me in the capacity of laundress,
and frequently complained OF the lack OF
the old-time strength and vigor. From
week to week she became more and more
nervous, and constantly brooded over the
loss OF property till Ii seemed to unbalance
her mind ! frequently questioned her. as
did my maid, regarding her home life, and
invariably the answer, In broken English,
was "Oh, my husband very good to meI
he want to work and try awful hard. but
women find more work than men in these
days / like to work for him, cause he al
ways like 10 work for me. He very good
TO me- She knew / was her friend. and
had she been the victim OF inhuman treat
fnent 1 think she would have oonhded In
me.
One day In September we heard pitiful
sobs issuing from the laundry and. upon
investigation. found Mrs. Peissner pacing
the floor. wringing her hands and talking
most incoherently about the land. her hun
cry children and hard times ahead. I
urged her to take much-needed rest, and
subsequently advised her husband never
TO mention the subject OF property. which
after DR.. Hoye was authorized by the
county commissioners TO take the case In
charge. The doctor stated that though
Mrs. Peissner was temporarily insane her
reason would doubtless be restored with
her physical strength. To insure proper
medical care the bureau decided to move
her into town. within the doctors easy
reach. and on Saturday Mr.. Peissner came
TO make final arrangements. He then said
that for several days Mrs. Peissner had
insisted upon seeing physicians who she
thought. In her delirium. had moved 10
Fremont. To guard against her escape he
had asked the neighbors TO detaln her
should she attempt 1t during his brief alb
sence
! do not doubt that the Peissners had
frequent disputes over the loss OF property,
which seems TO have been the Alpha and
Omega OF their conversation. but cannot
believe that brutal treatment caused her
insanity. Mr.. Peissner seemed overJoyed
TO earn little money with which TO pro.
vide the wife strengthening food. II is
much easier TO heap suspicion upon the
worlds unfortunates than to think OF
them with that charity that suffereth long
ana IS kind.
MRS. GEORGE II. Hebron.