The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-05
SHE WANTED TO DIE.
PatroIman's wild Ride Saved Life
of HystericaI Female.

Weary of her life of toll and drudg-
cry, and with the outlook for the
future as gloomy as the past. woman
known as Mrs. Fannie Clarity. deter
mined to put an end to her unhappy
existence, yesterday. She selected the
Cathedral Cemetery, which contains
the remains of her first husband and
three of her children, as the place to
end her misery, at least on this earth,
but her plans were thwarted by
Mounted Patrolman Tom Murphy.
The woman lives at Wheaton and
OFT streets and a day or two ago be-
came engaged in wordy alteration
with a neighbor. She was placed on
the informa ton docket and was sum-
moned to appear in Police Court at 8
o'clock. Before that hour she became
historical and declared that she had
tired of life, with its many trials and
fluctuations. She announced to her
neighbors that before she would APP
pear in Police Court she would end
her life, and with this threat on her
tongue left in the direction of the
cemetery. On her way TO the resting
place of the dead she secured a bottle
of laudanum, and paper and pencil.
She had been gone several minutes
before Patrolman Murphy learned of
what had happened and telephoned to
headquarters for instructions, the GEM
etery being outside the city limits.
When the officer was told to save the
woman if possible, he put the spurs to
his horse and began race for life. For
half a mile he urged his horse forward,
and when the entrance to the cemetery
was reached the animal was bathed
down in Precipitation and the rider was
trembling with excitement. The woman
was sitting on the ground just inside
the gate unconscious of that which was
going on around her. She had not
heard the horse as 1t Numbered up the
shell road. and had not been Weakened
from her reverie by the sudden appear
ance of the man in uniform.
The officer touched the woman on
her shoulder before she was aware
of his presence. Savannah, Ga, Feb.
4, 1902. / am; this was as much
as she had written on the paper
which she had intended should contain
her last words. Her story she told
to the patrolman as he accompanied
her, back to the city. While she did
not appear grateful for what he had
done she did not abuse him for hav-
ing saved her, and expressed no con-
Germ as to what would probably be
her fate after d. her arrival at head
life of failure and declared that she
never knew where she was going to
get the next mouthful to eat. Her
first husband, whose name was Gar
rity and three children, had been
buried in the Cathedral Cemetery and
she had determined to take the lauda-
mum and begin her last sleep on their
graves.
She stated that when she reached
the entrance she was fatigued from
the long walk and excitement, and
intended to write her letter of explana-
tion there, and then find her way to
the grave of her departed loved ones.
After the death of her husband Mrs.
Clarity again married, but her second
husband has not lived with her for
some time. She was left with several
children and was forced to send two
of them to a charitable home to be
cared for. For herself and the others
it was a constant battle against starv-
alton, and according to her story, she
has been living from hand to mouth.
She said as the hour for the converting
of Police Court drew near she became
hysterical and decided to meet high
er Judge.
The woman was taken before Recor-
der Myrick and the case that had been
entered on the docket was investigated.
Mrs. Clarity denied that she had
cursed the complainant, who occupies
an adjoining house, and stated that
the language had been used by man
who boarded with her. The evidence
against her was conclusive, however,
and she was fined S. or 10 days. She
was discharged later in the day on an
order from the Clerk of Council.