Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1897-08-26
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
With no Apparent Cause, She
Takes Her Life.

the Harmony road, near Seeley should
have hanged herself Tuesday night will al
ways remain an impenetrabie mystery.
The fact remains, however. that she is
dead, and last night she took her own
life leaving her husband, John Richards,
two bright children and a fond father and |
loving mother grief stricken.
The Richards family have for ten years
been living at the farm owned by Mr. |
Richards, on the Harmony road. A |
beautifully situated place in a delightful |
spot, in pleasing country place. The |
house, not pretentious. was comfortable, |
thought that few people were more con-
tented and happy than they.
No trouble has shadowed her young
life excepting once, seven years ago,
when her little boy Walter, two years
and eight months old, fell from wagon
and was killed by being run over. Her
| grief was heart. .rending, and she has al
ways grieved for her first born, but it
was thought that she was happy with her
other two children and husband.
That the home might be more pleasant
and convenient for the faithful wife, Mr..
Richards has been making extensive al
terations to the house, and for a week
workmen have been engaged in tearing
down that the place might be built
greater. The carpenters were to begin
work this morning upon the new extern
sion.
Mrs. Richards has been of somewhat
nervous temperament since the sudden
death of her boy, and the excitement at
tending the remodeling of the house, has
exercised her considerably and upon
more than one occasion she has expressed
herself that she was sorry that the i'm
provements had been started.
Tuesday about half-past seven, Mr..
Richards left the farm home and did not
return until about fifteen minutes after
nine. His wife was then in good spirits
and bade him fond good bye and rather
urged her husband to go off. The
daughter, Edna, sevsn years old, was up
to grandpa's, but a little distance away,
and the son, Leon, four years old, was
lying on the settee in the house The
mother had carefully placed chair in
, front of him to keep him from falling off.
a When Mr.. Richards returned home last
night there was light in the residence,
$ and another in the work house, just out
r side of the dwelling. The latter building
/ had been used for the purpose of cook
: ing, while the repairs were being made.
Mr.. Richards first went to the cook
: house. He opened the door, and found
p the light turned low. Tie figure of his
! wife was before him in the door, Rich
e ards thought she would jump at him and
t attempt to scare him, but she did not
g move. Laughingly the husband went
j toward her and gave her gentle push.
a The body swung in the air.
. Horrified the husband exclaimed, "My
God, has she hung herself? The whole
tragedy flashed upon him. He perceived
the rope dangling above her head. He
grasped knife and cut the rope, and car.
= ried the lifeless form in the house. The
face was still warm, but the poor woman
i was dead. The neighbors were aroused
: and the house was soon filled with awe
stricken people.
Investigation showed that the unfortun.
ate " ife and mother had taken clothes
line and threw it over ratter in the shed
Evidently she had stood upon work
bench. and jumped off, after affixing the
moose about ter neck. Her hands were
found grasping the moose when discover
sd, and she had evidently repented of her
rash act when too late, and endeavored to
loose the rope.
Before committing the rash act Mrs.
Richards, with lead pencil, had written
the following note, which was found
upon table:
Dear John:-Good bye and children, do
not grieve after me, gone to meet dear
Walter. Marry right soon again and get
some one good and strong and take good
care of the children and stay all together.
Do not blame anyone for this act, but
John | am better off. Goodbye dear
John, children, parents and all. Bury
.. me from home. Your loving wife, Carrie
Richards. Do not grieve after me. I did
} it all myself. Move away from this
husband and good husband to me, but I
want to get out of the way of this trouble.
CARRIE.
That was all the explanation, nothing
more, and the sorrowing relatives could
add nothing further.
When found hanging Mrs. Richards
was dressed as usual, in calico wrapper,
but had changed her shoes and stockings.
Mrs. Richards was the daughter of A.
A. Walters, who lives nearby, and was
thirty five years of age. She had been
married ten years. She will be buried
according to her request from the
home of her parents, and the interment
will be at the Deerfield Presbyterian
Cemetery.
County Physician Thompson investi-
gated the case and deemed an inquest un-
necessary.