The evening times., 1899-03-14
DECEIT BROKE HER HEART
Pcriidy of II Lover Causes II Noman's
Suicide.

New York. March 14-D;scovery that she
had been deceived by the man she loved
led last night 20 the suicide of Miss Fan
ME Ayers, twenty years old. the pretty
daughter OF Andrew b. Ayers. of 81 Wav-
erly Avenue. Newark.
Miss Ayers and her parents were mem
bers of and regular attendants at the
Montgomery Street Methodist Episcopal
Church, IN an aristocratic part OF the
southern section of Newark There she be-
came acquainted with Martin Barton of
Stratford Place, who, with his sister and
other members of his family was also a
regular attendant Barton was consider
ably older than Miss Ayers. and was mar
ried. but for some time had been separat-
ed from his wife. He and Miss Ayers liked
each other. and he began TO pay her mark
ed attention. His sister became 4 close
friend of Miss Ayers. and was anxious 10
see a match made between the couple who
seemed exactly suited to each other t'or
some time past Barton and Miss Ayers
had been generally regarded as engaged
To her repeated enquiries as to the wife
from whom he was separated he told her
at first that he had begun legal proceed
ings against her for a separation. and fin
ally said that he had been granted a di-
vorce from her. II had been done quietly
and without publicity, he said and the
decree was on file in Trenton Miss Ay-
ers believed him and so informed her par
ents. 1t was decided. however, to inyeS-
tigate Barton's statements, and the
suit was the discovery that he had not
been granted a divorce from his wife and
was still legally bound to her
This was hard blow to Miss Ayers, and
she decided that she could not honorably
have anything more TO do with Barton
-hr. ho, 70 n i'm fria "
Her father talked with Barton about the
matter, and the latter promised 10 have
nothing more to do with his daughter
though it was decided that there need be
no abrupt break in their friendship. Bar
ton. however failed to keep his promise,
and, because of the severe illness Of Mr..
Ayers, was able to see Miss Ayers occas-
ionally.
On Sunday. however. she decided TO end
her acquaintance with him. She wrote
him a letter. saying that they could never
marry, and that even friendship must
cease. Barton consulted his sister about
the matter and the latter yesterday visited
Miss Ayers while she was at home alone
and pleaded long and earnestly with her
to change her mind and not TO cause Bar
ton distress by discarding him. declaring
that the divorce matter would come out
all right. Miss Ayers was obdurate, how
ever, and adhered to the stand she took
in her letter.
After Bartons sister left her Miss Ayers
was much distressed, and to end it all
she evidently decided to take her life. She
went out. procured some carbolic acid
went directly to her room, and swallowed
a quantity of the poison. 1t caused her in
tense suffering, and her groans attracted
other members of the family to her room
Physicians were summoned, but their
services were of no avail. She died is
few minutes On a table in her room
was found letter to Barton, in which she
went over the whole story of their ac-
quaintance and love- and told of her ina
bility to live longer because OF the strain
it had become tco great to endure.