The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-11-18
LEST WE FORGET.
Two Very Remarkable SuicIdes.
SIXTH ARTICLE.

by another Mt. Pleasant woman, over
thirty years ago, while many of the de-
tails of the self-destruction of both are
wonderfully similar. There was wide
difference in the ages of the victims,
however, as well as in the motives which
led to their tragical ends.
1t appears that Mrs. Davis, who had
reached the scriptural limit OF three
score and ten, lived by herself in
small dwelling on land adjoining the
Perham farm at Niagara. She was an
educated woman, and in her earlier life
had been in comfortable circumstances.
Though living alone for several years in
Mount Pleasant township, she had an
unmarried daughter in Connecticut,
who, it is fair to presume, was not in a
pecuniary condition to assist her finan-
cially, as the old lady had long been to
some degree town charge, eking out
her existence in the winter seasons by
doing such house work as she was able
to perform when emergencies afforded
an opportunity in the families of the
neighborhood. Unfortunately some
time ago she became afflicted with
eczema, or a skin disease which caused
her hands to scale to considerable ex-
tent, and, to her sensitive mind at least,
rendered her assistance less welcome
among those who had previously en-
ployed her. 1t was doubtless to this
ailment that she referred in the pathetic
note she left in explanation of her des-
perate act.
Early on Monday morning, the 9th
instant, lights were seen burning in the
house, but as noon approached it was
remarked by the neighbors that Mrs.
Davis had not been seen about the pre-
misses as usual, and an investigation re-
vealed the fact that the doors were lock-
ed, while no response was made to re-
peated knocking. Poormaster G. E.
Peck was notified, and on his arrival the
lock was forced. The reason for the
strange silence was at once apparent.
The poor old woman had put an end to
her unhappy life, the condition of the
remains leaving no question as to the
means employed.
1t was evident that while still in bed,
she had attempted suicide by opening
an artery in her left arm above the ell
bow. The wound bled profusely, satu-
rating the bed-clothes, but the loss of
the vital fluid failed to render her un-
conscious. She still retained sufficient
strength of body and purpose to creep
from her bed, and after securing thick
woollen shawl and, a box of matches,
seat herself in rocking chair. She
then bound the shawl about her head,
evidently to protect her face, and set
fire to her night dress. 1t seems, prob
able that she used kerosene to facilitate
the burning, as not only were her lower
limbs and body literally roasted to
crisp, but the flames were communicate
ed to the chair and floor, the latter be-
ing burned through and the rocker so
nearly consumed as to collapse, permit
ting the suicide to fall forward across a
partially destroyed floor joist. One
limb was completely burned off at the
knee, and the body was frightfully char
red as high as the shoulders. When the
shawl was removed from Mrs. Davis's
head, it was found that her face and hair
had escaped entirely unharmed.
The sealed letter which she left, ad-
dressed to her daughter, is exceedingly
touching. Who can imagine the mental
agony of the poor woman while it was
being penned? She wrote as follows:
''No longer able to care for myself,
and not fit that another should care for
me, take myself out of the world. l
go trusting in the blood of the Saviour
that cleanseth from all sin. God bless
the good people love.
"Mrs. Davis"
The case alluded to at the beginning
of this article, strikingly parallel in
many of its features with the tragic
fate of Mrs. Davis, was that of Miss
Chrissie Hacker, young lady of twenty
six, also a resident of Mount Pleasant
township. Her father, the late William
Hacker, was respected farmer living
at Whites Valley. The daughter, who
lived with him, was a young lady of
very prepossessing appearance, but for
the six years preceding her death suffer-
ing from a clouded mind. Her manis
was of religious character, the delu-
sion having been fastened upon her,
that pardon of her imaginary sins could
only be secured through publication by
fire. For some years her burnt offer
ings were confined to household articles,
furniture, etc., which she threw into the
fireplace as opportunity offered, and so
she was constantly watched in order
that destruction of property through her
insane freaks might be as far as possible
prevented.
On the 9th of January, 1875, Mr..
Hacker, having occasion to drive to
Waymart for load of coal, engaged a
man to stay at the house and see that
/ the dauphtar cama tn no harm The