Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-25
INJURIES IWERE FATAL
Driven to Desperation, She Gets In the
Way Of an Advancing Rail-
way Train.

With both legs crushed by railroad cars
and suffering internal injuries. Miss Rachel
Matchett, twenty-five years old. was taken
to the Emergency Hospital from 10th street
and Maryland avenue southwest yesterday
morning about $3.50 o'clock. She lived only
about two hours. Despite her severe in
juries she was able to tell the doctors at
the hospital that she threw herself upon
the tracks for the purpose of ending her
life
I'm glad Of it," she said when informed
OF the seriousness of her condition. II
made up my mind to kill myself by being
run over by the cars, and I'm glad it's
about over"
The young woman had been almost
crazed, 1t is said, by the conduct of others
toward her since the time that her father,
william II. Matchett, shot end killed
Joseph Cato, the night of October 7, 1902,
at the latter's barber shop on Pennsylvania
avenue. Matchett was subsequently sent
to the asylum. The italian was killed be-
cause of trouble regarding a sister of
Rachel Matchett and her child While
there was an apparent motive for the
crime the defense to the charge was in
sanity and the slayer Of the barber was
committed to the asylum.
rachel was never considered to be I'M
usually bright, and children In the neigh
borhood of her home, 321 7th street south
called her monkey face" and frequently
referred to the homicide in which her
rather had been the chief actor.
This conduct toward her seemed to seri-
ously anect her mind. She had heart trou-
BILE. and became exceedingly irritable. Her
nervousness reached the point where some
people regarded her as being irresponsible.
hachel frequently complained of the conduct
OF the children toward her, but nothing was
done that put an end to the annoyance, and
YESTERDAY IA ia prpf
relief only in death. Shortly before $50
o'clock she reached the 10th street crossing
and saw several pedestrians waiting for the
street to be cleared in order that they might
cross.
Warned Of Danger.
Rachel was warned that she was in dan
ger when she approached moving freight
train to which no engine was attached. She
probably realized that the absence of an
engine would prevent the stopping of the
train soon enough to interfere with what
she intended to do, and as the rapidly NOV
ing cars reached the crossing she threw her
self upon the tracks. Three of the heavy
cars passed over her. Members of the train
ere stopped the train as quickly as possible
and summoned an ambulance.
Miss Matchett was conveyed to the Emer-
gency Hospital, reaching that institution not
many minutes after she had received the
fatal injuries. DR.. White, the resident ply
siclan quickly discovered that the end must
come in a short time. The wheels OF the
cars had crushed her legs, and her internal
injuries were of such character that 1t
WIS impossible to prolong her life more than
a couple of hours.
Her death was investigated by the coro-
ner and the latter was convinced that the
young woman had thrown herself upon the
tracks for the purpose Of ending her life.
Arrangements We're made for the body to be
given to the mother of the deceased, from
whose home the funeral will take place.