Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-08-11
MRS. CHAPMAN SUICIDES THE LOCAL HAPPENINGS
Jumped into River at the Gold
Raw Dam.

Mary f. Chapman, aged 81 years.
committed suicide late Saturday night
or Sunday by plunging over the dam
at Gold Ray. Mrs Chapman had been
a resident of Grants Pass for many
years and before her marriage to Jos.
Chapman eight years ago was a nurse
and her former name, Mrs. Babcck, is
known TO many residents here and at
Medford, Ashland and Jacksonville
where she has nursed.
Mrs. Chapman for the past two months
or more has been keeping house for
Roy and Callie Hackelt ON Second
street near A, while their parents
we're away. She had frequently told
them that she would kill herself but
as she was continually speaking of it
no particular attention was paid to her
talk. About two weeks ago she went
to Medford to visit her daughter,
Mrs. Noble. There she told that she
was going to kill herself and seemed
to have mania for Rogue river. On
Saturday afternoon she slipped out of
the home unnoticed just i'll time to
take the afternoon train for Tolo, to
which place she purchased ticket.
After leaving the train at Tolo walked
to cold Ray, distance Of about two
miles, Just before reaching the dam
she was stopped by workman who
requested her to wait few minutes
as thew were just about to fire blast.
After the blast, she was allowed to
pass ON and she continued on her jour
ney up the railroad track toward the
dam. This was the last time she was
seen alive. On Sunday evening her
body was found few hundred yards
below the dam lodged against foot
bridge. There were one or two cuts or
bruises on her head cauesd by striking
against the rocks in her downward
plunge.
1t is hardly probable that the act
was committed Saturday night as her
body would have shown marks of be-
ing dashed against the rocks had she |
been in the water long and it is hard
iy possible that she would not have
been discovered by some of the scores |
Of people who daily visit the dam and |
make Sunday picnics to that place.
Her body, if lying ON the bed of the
stream would have been noticed by |
people passing along the railroad track
as the water is very clear and looking
down from that height makes it pos
sible to see any object in the water,
There are people crossing the foot
bridge at intervals during the day
and her body must have been discov-
cred soon after it was lodged there. 1t
is, therefore, probable.that she spent
the night in the woods and in the af-
'ernoon went to the river to carry out
ier designs. Nothing has yet been
seen of her hat, cape, outside skirt
md parasol
Her husband, Jos. Chapman, who
mas been an inmate of the soldiers
home at Roseburg for the past few
was here Tuesday and states
that for the past three years or more
she has been mentally unbalanced at
times.and was continually threatening
to kill herself, and many times had |
her personal effects and household |
goods packed in boxes preliminary to
out her suicidal intentions. |
Several months ago Mr.. Chapman left
her, believing, he says, that the shock
might take her mind Off of her mania
and her thoughts be directed in anothar
channel, and he feared that she would
kill herself in such a way that he
would be held responsible for the
crime.
Mrs. Chapman S remains were buried
at Nedford Monday.