The Washington herald., 1911-07-24

Middletown, n. Y, July 23-Clasped in
each others arms and dressed in their
wedding clothes, Mr.. and Mrs. Edward
D. c. Grams, prominent residents of this
city, were found dead IN their bed at
their home. 20 Orchard street. this city,
late this afternoon. They had been dead
since Wednesday, and their bodies were
in a terrible condition. On a chair beside
the bed were two glasses which had
apparently contained carbolio acid. On
the same chair hung Mr.. Grams coat,
The indications were that the poison
had been prepared in another room. car
ried into the bedroom, and drunk, after
which the couple got into bed and were,
with their arms around each other, await
ing death.
Mr.. and Mrs. Grams resided in the
finest section OF the city. They had been
prominent socially for many years, Mr..
Grams having been formerly editor of the
Middletown Daily Press He was also
prominent in Republican politics for
many years.
Pact Was Long Planned.
When the bodies were first discovered
il was thought that 1t was a case Of
murder and suicide, but later, when two
letters inclosed in one envelope were
discovered, 1t was found that the couple
had died as a result of suicide pact
which had been in their minds since
March 16 1911, at least, for one of the
letters bore that date. The letters were
addressed to Executor DR.. E. NJ.
Schultz" The letter dated March 16, 1911
was as follows:
Dear friend: When our Wills were
drawn some time ago we expected to
leave you a nice sum, but We have lived
too long. Christian friends have been
SO scarce that everything is about gone.
No work after paying taxes for years.
Then when we need money. our friends
(as we thought desert us. One dear
friends, only one, in this Christian city
has tried to help us. What are their
lives? Very few are true. If only
dared tell what I know. My dear hus-
band is all that have left, and he. too
is tired of life. This is a clear case Of
suicide for want of work to make a liv-
ing, and should be made public.
"(Signed) EDWARDJENNIE GRAMS"
The second letter, evidently written
just before death, by Mrs. Grams. direct
ed that no funeral services be held and
IlaI Ine unQerIaker De requested not TO
disturb their bodies. It was also re-
Quested that the husband be buried be-
side a little daughter, who. died nineteen
years ago, and that the wife be buried
beside a son, who died at the same time
The letter concluded: @ 49, .--sg. .
'Now am in my right mind. but we
have nothing to live on, and we are
proud"
The children referred to died from
diphtheria on the same day, and for
nineteen years the couple had made daily
visits to their graves. For twenty-five
years Grams was engaged in the news
paper business. but some time ago suf-
fered from typhoid fever, since which
time he had been physically unable to
earn a living.
They were formerly well to do, and
no one supposed that they were in such
reduced circumstances as the Letters
indicate Recently Mrs. Grams had taken
to hairdressing, but 1t was supposed 1t
was more for an occupation than to gain
a livelihood.
sensation the city has known in many
years, and the many friends of the
couple are amazed to learn that they
had harbored suicide thoughts for many
months. for they had maintained cheer
full exterior, as they were seen daily on
the streets.
That their bodies had laid five days