Year: 1879

LIFE OF SOkRoW ENDED BY sUICIDE-AEh


HEART BURNINGs, TROUBLES AND FEARS


GRAPHICALLY DESCRIBED by HERSELF.


Mrs Josephine A. Cotton. moment before she
placed the fatal pistol to her heart. surrendered
her wedding ring to her kind landlady. and re-
quested. with her dying breath. that it be buried
with her. At the same time she exclaimed. "Take
these papers; when I am dead give them to the
newspapers for publication; they contain record
of my suferings." Such the dying re-
quests of the unfortunate woman. Her next
act was to shut herself in her room.
place q pillow the floor which
she recained her head, and then perforated her
breast with two pistol bullets sending third crash
ing through her brain. Death, of course, was in
stantaneous. That she had meditated suicide for
long time could be learned from her diary. which
she designated on the fyleaf "The Memorandum of
my Daily Life" These pages written at first
in clear, neat hand, but latteriy the writing
blurred and almost illegible. She began to record
her experiences and grievances two years ago. and
only ceased adding to her autobiography with her
death. These records contain the daily history OF
heartbroken woman, vividly portrayed.


EXTRACTS FROM HER DIARY


On May IL she writes -


M hS N a s4ss
when moved into that house with that She Is of
tn os sf
that goes to make uD good woman and the
that follows his account wonder that
s rns day e ss s
will case in Boston ain glad is gone =


Writing September 2s she exclaimss-


on What have heard a day freezes my blood My h1s
his wife have been down and she gives his
sr and and sSns Ss 5 She She
married to Mr. Cotton nineteen years ago but would
could if BE- Ssamy She told me that Mr. Cotton
said he married to me twenty-five and that
IN


January 23 she approaching crisis in her
mental disturbance which driving her to do
something desperate She says:-


Ihave taken step tonight that may lead to change
May God send it. My soul is sick with horror
the life am forced to lead.


January 26 three days after writing the above she
took the contemplated step referred to by shooting
herself in the breast inhicting dangerous wound.
HERALD reporter reached the house shortly after
the occurrence and saw the injured woman and her
husband. She appeared to be calm and resigned.
When the husband took the reporter aside to explain
"Do not talk in whispers; want to hear what you
are saying about me-"


soothingly. 'that the shooting was entirely acci-
dental" f


"Oh! have objection to your telling him that.
was the despondent response


Referring to this attempt on her life she writes
January 30:-
1t is four days since have little book
again But the pain In my breast is still yet


REASON DErHRoNED.


In another place she writes:-


Think my time is sho. here Fate DO not
to in u world that for whole vt least have
not a happy moment. / cannot sleep. for
dreams troubled with Often wonder IL
my spirit rest after DEATH OH William. hus
band, you have wrecked my life but forgive you II
your conscience lets you rest am satisfied


In this manner she kept brooding over her griev
until her reason became unsettled. September
Is she says:-


believe that IL this lasts much will make
insane looks darker and darker sit day after day
and night after night alone without friend speak
until almost forget the sound Of my voice. mentally
and physically broken down.


These extracts fair sample of the general char
Of the diary. 1t is sad and sorrowful record
of loving, sensitive woman becoming physically
and mentally wrecked The husband whom she
complains had neglected her in life when made
acquainted with the sad manner of her death
called at the of the tragedy late Monday night
Yesterday he informed Coroner Woltman that he
anxious to receive death certificate Us to
bury the remains. He represented that the last
time he his wife alive ut six p. NJ when she
diamond earrings . diamond ring and gold
watch and chain. He soicitous to regain posses
sion Of these articles When the body found
deceased jewelry She. had already stated.
delivered plain gold ring and chain and locket to
her landlady. which she requested should be buried
with her.