New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-02
SUICIDE IN A CHURCH.
A YOUNG WOMAN CUTS HER THROAT IN
A CONFESSIONAL.

AND HAD SMALL FoRTUNE-soME TROUBLE.
SHE ACKNOWLEDGED JUST BEFORE SHE
DIED. WAS THE CAUSE OF HER ACT-sHE
WAS A DEvoUT ROMAN CATHOLIC
AND ENDED HER LIFE IN THE
CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY
IN sECoND-AvE
tall we-dressed woman. about twenty-five
years old. walked quietly into the Roman Catho-
lie Church of tfe Epiphany, In Second-ave.. be-
| tween Twenty y-hrst and Twenty second SITS. just
before o'clock last evening. and. unheeding the
half-dozen worshippers who knelt there at prayer,
entered confessional at the rear of the church
| and closed the door. A moment later woman
who was praying a short distance away heard
| heavy fall inside the box followed by muffied
| groan.
! Thomas Commisky the assistant sexton, was
the only church official near. and the woman
called his attention to the mysterious groans,
which still came from the confessional. He went
TO the door and opened 1t. Lying stretched on
the floor the body of the woman who had
| entered the place moment before. Her throat
was cut from to ear. while another cash
across the inside Of her left wrist had almost
severei the hand from the arm. Lying by the
woman's side was an old-fashloned razor with
. tortose-shell handle.
! Commiskey dragged the woman out on to the
foor Of the church and sent hastily across to the
rectory OF the church for Father Cunnion. The
priest came. and with him Or Brady, who had
been called from his office, at No 3o3 East
wenty-third-st. 1t plain. however that the
woman was dying and. seeing that nothing could
be done to save her life. the sexton was sent out
TO the East Twenty -second-st police station.
! kel "
Policeman Thomas Boyle to the church, and then
telephoned 10 Bellevue Hospital for an ambu-
lance. Dr. Huhner came with II. but he agreed
with his brother practitioner that nothing could
be done FOR the woman and few minutes after
his arrival she died.
TROUBLE OF SOME KIND CAUSED 1T.
What caused you to commit suicide? Was it
trouble" the policeman asked just before she
| breathed her last
The woman nodded. She unable to speak
and tell her name or anything further about her
self.
Immediately anerward the body removed
! 10 the station Il was that Of a tall brunette
p about TWENTY-FIVE years old She wore gold
/ rimmed eyeglasses and gold and pearl earrings
and her dress while II VAS plain and simple.
showed that she apparently a person OF
means The only things contained IN the pockets
were a handkerchief and a pocketbook containing
small ~ money. and an envelope. on the
outside o, which was written:
Il am Catherine Morrison II No. 179 East one
! Observation-Disclosures"
| The Harlem police were telegraphed to. and
requested TO inform the persons at the address
given OF the suicide, and shortly after o'clock
| George Powers an ex-expressman. who was for
| mery we'll known downtown on the East Side,
| called al the station. He identified the body az
/ that Of Miss Catherine Morrison the daughter OF
an old friend OF his wife The woman.
! he said. had boarded with his family ever
since her mother died six years ago
She had small fortune Of her own
and had wanted for nothing. and he was
asiounded by her sudden act. lie was utterly
unable to accoun, FOR it in any way except on
| the ground of religious mania. Miss Morrison
n devout Roman Catholic. and was most
earnest follower II that faith She was con-
stantly attending church services and recently
had seemed a little depressed and restless why.
however she should suddenly leave her home
apparently shown by the envelope. prepared
to commit suicide. he did not understand.
ANOTHER NOTE FOUND
Later in the night, after the Coroner's office
had been informed |. and Miss MorrIson's body had
been removed To an undertaking establishment In
Second-ave.. n second note. written In pencil on
scrap of paper. discovered in the girrs
pocketbook. II had apparently been written by
the dead girl and addressed TO her sister, put
whether II had been written recently or was CON
nected with the suicide In any way was not clear
The note read:
Dear Mary called 10 see you to-day ana
am sorry lid not md you at home Why do
you not write to let know how you are?
have not been well since New Years. but am
feeling somewhat better.-kate Morrison.
"P. Some over and see us
A remarkable thing about the suicide was the
disposition on the part Of the police to conceaI
the fact that the suicide took place IN the
church At the station II was said that MISS
Morrison cut her throat the sidewalk In front
Of the building and died there. Father Cunnion
who was present at Miss Morrison's death, was
denied 10 callers at the rectory. but priest VINO
answered the door said the girl was stranger
10 the priests there.
SHE HAD A SMALL FORTUNE.
Catherine Morrison lived with George Power
and his wife In the top fiat Of No. l7s East one
eighth-st. Miss Morrison had been
a friend OF Mrs Power for many years. and had
lived with the Powers since the death or her
mother several years ago. Her father also uied
many years ago. lie had been a broker. MISS
Morrison lived on the interest OF an estate OF
10000 She was highly accomplished ana was an
amateur musician.
Mrs Power said last night that she knew OF
no reason why Miss Morrison should have com
mtted suicide. She had no love affairs ana had
never known what trouble was. MIS- rover
said Miss Morrison left the fiat at about CLOCK
y. m She was In good spirits. and said sne eN-
pectcd to call on the West Side. She had ex-
pressed no intention Of going to IA church
Mrs. Power did not know that MISS Norrison
had ever lecn to the Church OF the Epiphany |
She constant attendant at St CeCiiia |
Roman Catholic Church. in Harlem
TIE BENNINGTON SAILS FOR COLOMBIA.