A BRIDEGROOM’S SUICIDE.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 138, 16 July 1880, Page 1 (Supplement)

A BRIDEGROOM’S SUICIDE.

John Petri, a Baltimore County truck gardener on thefarmof Mr. Alexander Brodie, committed suicide lately under circumstances which are unusually distressing, on account of a touch of romance which they possess. Petri was a Scotchman who, by patient aud untiring industry, had accumulated a snug lot of monev, and was in comfortable circumstances. He was a rigid teetotaller, a strict and consistent member of the Aisquith Street Presbyterian Church, and by his integrity and honesty, as well as his faithfulness as an employee, had won the esteem and respect of all who knew him. Coming to America from Scotland when a young man he had lived on the Brodie estate, which is located on the Hilleu Road, a mile fiom the toll-gate, and about two miles from the city, for 26 years or more, and was a nephew of Airs. Alexander Brodie, Sr., whose husband died some years ago. Petri was always treated with the greatest respect, was consulted in every matter relating to the farm, and was always regarded as a man of unusual good judgment aud practical sense. He was quiet and unassuming, aud was the last man in the world who—anybody who krew him would have thought—would have been the destroyer of his own life. To account for the suicide is impossible, for the facts, while perhaps giving groundwork for a theory, by no means explain the deed. Before coming to America from his home iu Bonnie Scotland, Petri had been the suitor for the hand of a young lady of his native town. He came to America to seek his fortune, with the promise, that when this was secured he would return and claim the hand of the girl he loved. Patiently he worked, and as patiently she waited, foi 20 years or more, while lie, little by little added to his possessions ; aud upon the farm of his employer a house was built to be the home of his Scottish bride. All being ready, a few years ago lie went to Scotland to marry the s%veetheart, now a woman, with whom he had kept up a faithful correspondence during all his years of absence. He found her ready for the nuptials ; but her mother interposed and forbade the marriage, unless he would remaiu in Scotland, as she could not consent to have her daughter come to America. He was obliged to give up his cherished plans, which hadlceeu the comfort of his whole life work, and to return to America without his bride. Yet there was no noticeable change in his bearing or manner. He was the same unassuming and pleasant spoken man as before. In the family of Air. Brodie lived a servant —Celia Graham—of Irish birth, whom Petri, though 50 yetrs old, woed and won. She is 35 years old, and is a woman of excellent character. Her religious faith was Catholic, aud his Protestant, and on this account objections were raised to the marriage by the friends and relatives of both parties. A year ago the marriage license was procured, but the ceremony was not performed until Tuesday evening, 6th instant.. It took place at the parsonage of the Aisquith Street Presbyterian Church, the pastor, Rev. Air. Buchanan, officiating, she consenting to have the marriage performed by a Protestant clergyman. At the time of the wedding both seemed in the happiest mood, and spoke cheerfully of their future prospects. They immediately took possession of the house on the Brodie farm, but a short distance from that of the Brodie family. Wednesday evening they were "Visited by their employer, and seemed as happy and contented as possible. On Friday morning Petri rose about five o’clock, and, telling his wife he would be back to breakfast, went out. He was not seen again until, an hour later, his 5 ' lifeless and mangled body was found lying by the yard in which the hot-house frames are kept. By his side lay a single barrelled shot gun, belonging to Mr. Brodie, with which the deed had been committed. That it was premeditated was clearly seen, as he had tied a string to the trigger of the gun, looped it round his foot, and thus discharged the weapon. His foot was still in the loop when his body was found. The muzzle of the gun he had placed in his mouth, and by the discharge a hole several inches iu diameter had been bored through his head. His brains were scattered in all directions, some of them being found on the roof of a shed fifteen feet high near at hand. The discovery was made by a young man employed on the place, who had gone into one of the out-houses, and who found one of the doors open, and the body lying outside near the threshold.

A young American, who is particular about his washing, the other day wrote a note to his washerwoman and one to his sweetheart, and by a strange fatality, put the wrong address on each envelope, and sent them off. The washerwoman was well pleased at an invitation to take a ride the next day, but when the young lady read, ‘lf you tumble up my shirt bosom any more as you did the last time, I will go somewhere else,’ she cried all the evening, and declared that she would never speak to him again.