The San Francisco call., 1897-09-03
INSANE FROM
STRONG DRINK
Robert Farrell Ended His
Life While Threaten
ing Others.
Courted His Ex-Wife and Mary
Lansing at the Same Time
by Postals.
Characteristic Letter Written While
Temporarily Out of His
Mind.

Robert Farrell, who was arrested last
week for sending indecent and threaten
ing postal-carus to his ex-wife Mary at the
home of her employer in Ross Valley,
committed suicide at Ogden a day or so
after he had been released on bail. There
is no doubt in the minds of those who
knew him that he was insane.
His postals to his divorced wife were to
the effect that although she was not his
ideal he loved her still and wanted her to
go back to him. The missives were of
such an annoying character that she CON-
planned to the postoffice inspectors and
caused his arrest. J. W. Beatty and G.
II. Dunsm oor went on his bonds for 500
and Farrell was released from custody last
Thursday. On the next day he started for
the East, and when he reached Ogden he
killed himself while in q despondent
mood. He had been drinking heavily all
the week, and when he was taken before
Court Commissioner Heacock he was
stupefied and exhibited symptoms of de-
Irium tremens.
The dispatches from Ogden announcing
his death said that he had been writing
| threatening letters to a woman in Port
land, Or, named Mary Lansing, accusing
her OF having stolen valuables from him.
time that he was making warmed-over
love to his divorced wife, and in the case
O. the Portland Mary also, with ell her
faults, he loved her stlll.
The postoffice inspectors received yes-
terday a letter from a man named ii. 2.
Dyer at Portland written by Farrell just
before he left this City threatening to Kill
both Dyer and the Lansing woman. The
letter was Identified as being in Farrells
handwriting, and all doubt as to the iden-
tity of the Ogden suicide was dissipated.
Most of the letter, by reason of indecency,
is not fit for reading, but The folio wing ex-
tracts will give an idea of the disordered
state of the unfortunate mans mind
SAN FRANCISCO, August 26, '97, Russ House.
II. p Lyer: lie beingl your vile and lying
letter just received this morning on my ar
rival from San Jose. You are the
lying thief and burglar that Mary Lansing h as
displayed you in her afidavits which 1
have. While would like to kill you
l will not, but will do this. Inside OF three
months will cripple you for life Be
fore this, however, will kill Mary Lansing. 1
leave tonight by the Southern route for Long
Island, N. Y. This woman, married or single,
will never live with another man. She has
robbed me TO pay your bllls, and ct the same
time pr ofessed the greatest love Tor me. love
her still, and because love her 1 am going to
1 only know that love her. That is all Can
say. l can make her happy. suppose 1 am a
| fool, but can help it. will find her when
| she is not looking Ior me, and if you like YOU
| can be on your guard, but will wing you just
| the same, work where you may. AS
| leave tonight Tor New York you can, if you
have the sand, answer there and bring about
| meeting.
| Farrell was well known in the southern
| part of this State, where he was connected
with country newspapers for many years.
| During the last session OF the Legislature
he was employed as night watchman in
| the Senate cham Der.