Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-07-20
A SAD AFFAIR.

copal Church In that city, had admins
tered carbolic acid II her two little
children and then had taken the poison
herself. Mrs. Brown Was formerly Miss
Mary Ramsay, daughter Of Mr. and
Mrs. G. WIN. Ramsay, OF this city, snd
has been married about five years. Mr..
and Mrs. Rsmfay left on the NoTf TX
boat Saturday night for Portsmouth. or
irving there esily yesterday morning
They telegrsphed at once that there
were strong hopes that Mrs. Brown and
her Children would recover.
TIE following account ct the sad al
fsi, ia taken IRON the Norfolk Lsnd-
mark
While temper rily insane, Mrs. Mary
Brown. wife Of Rev. William Ambrose
Brown. rector OF ST. Johns Epis opal
Church. Portsmouth, sdmlDistsred car
bolic acid to her eight-months old
daughter, Mary, and to her little son,
William, aged 3, and then swallowed
portion of the poison herself. The deed
was committed at her home ct 10
Washington street Saturday afternoon
whils her husband had gone out to spm-
mon a doctor. Mr.. Blown returned
afr az ats4I CO of net more than hall
an hour aud WAS hOirfed to mod MS
ent'rs family st the point Of death. On
the bed 10 her ehsmte' lay the mother,
with the baby lying in Its crib by the
bedside, while the little boy WAS stretcn-
apou the 70 r. All we're unconscious.
The room smelled strongly OF csroolic
acid. and Mr.. Brown diVining the ma.
ture of the tragedy at q glance, rnsheo
TO a telephone and summoned hall
dozen doctOrs. Everything possible to
cave the lives Of the three sufferers was
done BY Dfs. Parrish, Hatton, Holiday,
Gdce and jarrett, who responded to the
call for assistance. After q couple OF
hours Mrs. Brown was revived, and the
little boy was also brought to, and the
doctors administ sred oxygen 10 hopes OF
rsyiSiug the little girl, who seemed to
bs dying. The ttestment told, and IN
the course OF The evening the physicians
said that there had been 8 distinct I'm
progenlent 10 the bsby's condition. IL
was also said that while Mrs. Brown and
William we're still in precarious state,
the chances we're favorable for Mrs.
Browns recovery, aud that William
would almost Ger sinly pull through.
There was absolutely no cause for the
commission of the awful deed, except
the disordered state OF the unfortunate
lsdy's mind. For several weeks she
had been ia highly nervous and de-
pressed mental state, and Mr.. Brown
had made arrangements to take her for
months stay In the western part OF
the State, intending to leave tomorrow.
There was the utmost devotion between
the young rector and his wife and chill
,dren.
Mira. Brown has been under the cara
of Dr. Grlce for the past couple OF weeks
and il WAS to DIR. Grice's Office that Mr..
Brown went. =,
Ga recovering consciousness Mrs.
Brown told her husband what she had
done. She had first administered the
drug to the two children, but the little
BOY fought against swallowing the fiery
ljoaid. aud the first dose was spilled
upon his arm, neck and breast, which
are severely burned. She then at
tempted to give second dose, but the
child fortunately rejected most OF the
poison. u
At the time OF the commission OF tue
desd there was no one 10 the house, be-
aides Mrs. Brown and the children and
the colored cook, and the latter, busy
with her preparations for dinner, heard
nothing to attract her attention to the
Upper part of the house, where The deed
WAS enacted.
Mrs Brown, before her marriage, i've
year, sgo, was Miss Ramsay, of Alex
anfr.a. We, and her husband 10 q native
of Dauvilie. She is extremely attractive
both In appear incs and manner, aod
shares almost equally " n her husband
in the love of his congregst on, and
nj ai4tpe acqusiLt'poe onside OF ths
eouQgs gauon OF 81. Johns. Meas Of
the misfonuss which had fallen on the
family spread rapidly, carrying cons'er
nation aud grief.
A di.ptt,h tom Por smoath dsteC
qsa night says. Mrs. Brown and he
TO- children are still slive, although
hair con ditiou is described as desperate
The little boy, William, years old, "a
q better chSoce of recovery than eithe
of the ether VICTIMS. But little OF tn
noison got down his throat, be having
succeeded 10 splitting most of it out, g.
il shown by the great burns around hi
mouth. II is thought thst the intsnt
MARY. 8 months old, would die.
Mrs. Brown is conscious at times
but her mind appears to be seriously
sfFected She took large dose OF TIT
Doison herself, aud even should sh
nv chance survive 1t is improbable tina
.be will ever get we'll again. A frlent
.of Mrs. Brown stlted that the rector
.xife's recent troubles sre responslol
for the unbalsncing OF her mind. Ohie
smong her troubles was the Illness Q
her husband. Suffering from diPh'herls
he wss at the point of death for man
.iays. She brOoded over MS iilne''
For several weeks she has been III
highly nervous state, and MI BROW
hsd inside arrangements to take hsF 70
= months stay in the western pait
the state, Intending TO leave toosS
There WAS the utmost deSotion oet"ee
the young rector aud hisgiie 50
children. Mrs. Brown had NN'n unos
the care of DIR. drice for the psst COUP
of weeks.
OUT OF DANGER.