New-York tribune., 1902-10-18
ESCAPES PRISON BY DEATH
MRS CRADDOCK, WHO WAS TO BE
SENTENCED IN UNITED STATES
COURT. \ SUICIDE.

Mrs Ida {. Craddock, who was to face sentence
in the Federal Court yesterday, having been con-
vIcted of sending obscene literature through the
mails. was found dead in her room by her mother
in the morning Rather than go to Jail she filed
the room with gas cut her wrists and died.
The woman was tried and convicted of publish
ing obscene literature by the Justices in the Court
of SpecliI Sessions March Il, and served three
months on the Island While there. through her
LAWYER. Hugh o. Pentecost, she appealed to Gov
ernor OJell for special clemency. He wrote to the
justices and asked them for information They
replied that the only information they could give
him would be to send him the book complained Of
Nothlng was done In the case, however, and ArS.
Craddock finished her term of Imprisonment. An
thonv Coustock OF the Society for the Suppression
of Vice was the complainant.
When she was released from the Island she
relrrcstcd the charge of using the mails im-
properly
Mr.. Decker -ho dead woman's mother. who
lives in Philadelphia in the city yesterday to
accompany her daughter to court. They were to
have met In a restaurant in West Twenty-third-St
When the daughter failed to appear the mother
went 10 the formers apartments at No. l3t West
Twertv-thirI-st As she approa ched the door Mrs.
Decker smeIed gas. and on receiving no response
tn raps on the door got the janitor. who called
Policemen Barnes and Craven. One Of the panels
of the door was kicked in and Mrs Craddock
found living ON a cot dead y long rubber tube
extended from "a gas jet to ner mouth Her right
wrist had been cut with and the blood
drippcd into a small pail near the cot
on a table was letter addressed TO Mrs. Decker.
Mr. Craddock had made preparations for moving.
Three trunks had been packed and there were
numerous packages tied and addressed TO various
persons. In tn" room were several copies Of
book entitled The New Heaven.
Parts Of the letter TO Mrs. Decker were IS fol-
lows:
asylum as YOU are evidently planning to have me
20. / know that this means perpetual imprtson-
religious beliefs or else hypocrticaIIy pretend to
DO so cannot bring myselt To consent 10 any an!
Of these three alternatives. | maintain my right
TO die as I have lived. a free woman, not cowed
~ an The other hand the prison to Which Judge
Thomas evidently proposes to send me were 70 be
ana means to lock me Up for a long long term
which is practically nv death warrant.
cerned. nv books have been given a start, ap-
But the world is not yet ready for all the beautiful
TEACHINGS which have to give IL other people
up ThIe & ad IL foT @ and T VA, star tar. f699 f9m
bs 55s 1tI bTI U f ayI o az some Gov voI will not be-
ashamed Of either me or my work. Some day
| do not know whether it will be possible TO re-
10 you; but II I I will do so. Only re-
tor clear thinking and correct living which my
yen Sg me ~ cA As Ss y Pere have ssaH 1Grs0n
DO your daily earthly duty. undeterred by calls
BE .self-controlled and strive to be more amiable
and loving day.
Avoid selfish-seeking OF self-eese.
Abide in purity; not merely moral purity. but
the physical cleanliness. and still intellectual
clearness-that Is. freedom from prejudice; think
clearly.
Love all people even those who have wronged. II
you would receive clear communication from the
border. IL is possible may come as have said;
| 90 not know.
The real Ida. your own daughter. loves you and
waits for you 70 Join her In
the beautiful blessed world beyond tho grave where
depTaved ComstOCks and corrupt Judges and impure
minded people known. We shall still be
the individuals over there that here. only
with enlarged capacities. Do not think the next
world unSubstantial dream; IL is material. as
much this. than this
Please be surt. mother. not TO let my body be
buried until % has begun TO gangrene. You know
you promised me this long ago. I have great
horror OF being put into coffin alive. Don't trust
the say OF any physician
At the time she was convicted OF circulating I'm
proper literature she sought aid from several prom
inent churchmen. and Dr. Rainsford and others
made pleas In her behalf