AN AMERICAN SENSATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1129, 22 January 1884, Page 1

AN AMERICAN SENSATION.

We give below particulars of one of the most deliberate and sensational suicides ever committed in modern times. It is the art of suicide, and reveals a singular social phase even for the United States : Pittsburg.

The disclosure of the suicide of Josephine Bryant, at 151 Second Avenue f has been followed by some very sensational developments. Mrs Bryant was about twenty live years of age and very attractive in personal appearance. She came originally from Bloomington,' 111. The was a niece of Alex. Campbell, founder of the Campbellite or Christian Church. Mrs Bryant came to this city as Secretary to the late N. 0. Newton, who, until about a year prior ro his death, was a wealthy and prominent physician- of Cincinnati. He failed to achieve here any success worth speaking of, and under stress of adverse circumstances Mrs Bryant became his housekeeper. Two weeks ago Dr Newton committed suicide by taking morphine. Yesterday Coroner Dresley received by a messenger a note to which the name of Mrs Bryant, was attached, informing him that she had taken morphine and that no inquest would be necessary. He hastened to the number indicated and found her in the agonies of death. She was lying in bed, dressed in white, and on her head was a wreath of flowers in imitation of that worn by Ophelia in the mad scene in 1 Hamlet.’ In a few hours she died. Everything about the house Had been left in perfect order, and that none might be put to trouble after her death, Mrs Bryant had, before taking the poison, even arranged her own body' for the grave. She left letters addressed to various parties. They show that the cause of her suicide was grief growing out of the death of Dr Newton, They are all signed Mrs Josephine Newton. One addressed to the editor of a city paper implores the editor to use his influence to secure the adoption of her three-year old boy by some family of wealth and refinement. Another letter addressed to Dr King, pastor of the Christian Church of Allegheny*, makes the same request of him and asks, further, that he will see to her proper burial. The other letters which she left were for the Coroner and undertaker and related to her burial. The letter of Mrs Bryant to the undertaker is as follows

Mr Burns—Dear sir; Please to call as soon as you receive this at 151 Second Avenue and take ciiarge of the body of airs Fanny Bryant Newton, who suicided this morning. I have left a deposit of money addressed to Dr 6. H. Tlumian and placed a letter with the enclosed money, in a valise under my bed. I want you to furnish everything at these prices”, as follows-.—Casket, exactly like my husband’s, Dr Newton, 60dols. ; embalming lOdols. ; hearse and three carriages lOdols. The money ia to be paid by Dr Thuman. I want to be buried in Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburg, in a grave lot. I think a grave lot costs Bdols. each, but I have left lOdols. with Dr Thuman. Should it only cost sdols. the other soois. will go to my boy. Get a death certificate in this way ; name F umy Bryant Newton ; born on Sandusky Plains, Ohio ; suicided at her residence, 151 Second Avenue, September 29th 1883. I have been at 151 Second Avenue for hve mouths ; my former residence was Cincinatti.

Mr Bums, you will find soap, a sponge towels and a sheet ir> the lop drawer of the dressing case in the room right by the window. I am all bathed just as I want to be buried. Please put out black and white crape, as lam still young. Use a black pall and no sheets over or around me. I have taken fifteen to twenty grains of morphine and I hardly think that my face will be discolored from it. 1 have left Sdols with l)r Thuman for digging my grave. If any inflammation sets in, and you think that I will becomeunsightly, please place me in a casket at once, and close the lid down. If not in the casket before night, upon Saturday, see to it that somebody sits up with my remains, as l iere are a great many mice in the room. I expect my sister here, and I should like 10 look natural. 1 have in some of the letters that I left mentioned that I wanted to be sent to our family burial ground at llloominglon, but under no circumstances do I wish it now. I wi-'h to he buried right here in Pittsburg. I have left a pail of fresh water in the room for embalming purposes. Thanking you for your prompt attention at the doctor’s death, I am respectfully. Mas Fannie Bryant Newton. Dr George H. Thuman was a partner of Dr Newton. She left for him a letter in which she says she had promised Dr Newton faithfully to commit suicide, if he would do so, and now that she would be a great coward not to keep her promise.