===================================================================== Match: Boles Source: CAELDORA@rootsweb.com From: "gc-gateway@rootsweb.com" <gc-gateway@rootsweb.com> Subject: [CAELDORA] OBIT: Plucker, Amelia This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: ladisatt Surnames: Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.eldorado/767/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The Mountain Democrat March 28, 1896 Suicide of Miss Amelia Plucker Last Sunday evening, Miss Amelia, youngest daughter of H.B. Plucker, committed suicide by shooting herself. Of the pre-arranged particulars it is enough to say, that after the most deliberate preparation she retired to her room in the Central House, locked the door, and leaning against pillows arranged for the purpose, shot herself through the heart. Alarmed by the report of the pistol her father and others hastened to the door of the room and receiving no reply to calls for admission, burst it open just in time to hear her whisper "too late." In a letter to James Trail, not intended for publication, the cause of her fatal act is told as follows: March 23, 1896,- Central House Dearest Jim:- When you receive this note you will be shocked and surprised and I shall be dead, for the moment this not leaves my hand I will kill myself and the reason for this crazy act is, you care more for fast women, cards and saloons than you do for me. Darling Jim do you remember how often I have said that nothing but death should ever part us and that I would sooner have you kill me than leave me? Oh I am a woman of my word and I shall take my own life, but no one in this world shall ever know that I killed myself for you . I wrote Frank a few lines begging him to be kind to dear old papa, but I did not even hint the reason for killing myself. Darling boy, will you please grant my last wish? Please go to my funeral and be one of my pall bearers and for your dead girl's sake do not let this letter get into the newspapers or in anyone's hands but yours. Please never lead on another girl that you are ashamed to be seen with and do not tell her that you love her when you only care for her for your play-toy. Always bear in mind that you are the cause of one girl's death. Don't be the cause of another. I will now close with God bless you from my heart. I love you with a pure woman's love and cannot live without you. >From your broken hearted, Emma As appears from its date, the following letter to her brother Frank, was written Saturday, and placed on her bureau, where it was found as she intended. Central House - March 22, 1896 Dear Brother: "When you read this note I will be dead and I have one request which I hope you will grant and that is to be kind and good to my poor old father. "Sister Molly is married and brother Adolph is away, therefore your are his only comfort. Remember father has always treated us well: in fact, is the only person that ever loved me. When mother left, he stayed with his children and gave them a good home. "The reason for doing this foolish act will never be known, therefore do not trouble yourself trying to find out. "Now asking you to grant my last wishes I will tell you how I would like to be buried. Please bury me in Union Cemetery. Have Mrs. Copland make my dress and I would very much like to have these gentlemen for my pall bearers: W.H. Hughes, Walter Frey, Nick Fox, James Trail, Dr. Shepherd, Geo. Schill, Jas. McKiernan. "Brother do not think that I am crazy to kill myself without taking a second thought for I am as cool and in my right mind now as I ever have been and I have thought over this for a long time. "I shall bring this to a close now by saying God bless my parents, friends and also these people that were always ready to run me down and talk about me without any reason and remember your broken-hearted sister. Emma" "P.S. Please always by good to your dear old father and please forgive me for telling that story and saying that I was sick but I would not leave papa without some one in my place". "From Emma." When the foregoing letters had been tearfully verified by the firm little hand that wrote them, they explained numerous intimations and arrangements leading up to the consummation of a settled purpose. The made the task of the jury summoned by Coroner Winchell, and attended by the District Attorney, short, sad and almost superfluous. The jury was composed of Geo. Ranney, E.L. Alderson, Robt. Calvin, Jas. Patten, W. Clifton, John Reese, Jas. Higgins, Fred Rohlfing, W. J. Estebrook, M.E. Boles, and Charles Green. They were all friends of the bereaved family, and their inquest and verdict were only what they had to be. Distinguished men and women under the dark shadow of contemplated suicide, have left last messages of love or hatred for kinsmen, friends or foes. But by which one of them was so sad a story, as that of Emma Plucker, ever better told. Not a redundant sentence. All blameless or forgiven and only her own young life to answer for its unhappiness. "Father," "brother," "sister," "Words, like Egyptian symbols, set apart, For the mysterious Priesthood of the heart." "Dear old father" thrice repeated, to emphasize the love of a Motherless daughter for "him who had loved her." Her funeral from the Central House to Union Cemetery last Tuesday, was a spontaneous tribute of considerate tenderness, for one who had been more sinned against than sinning. The entire service conducted by Rev. C.C. Peirce, including the sermon, was appropriate to the occasionl Mrs. Rantz, Miss Ayers, and Mesers Merrill and Fox, sang well chosen hymns with charming melodies, at the house and grave. "Come thou Disconsolate," sounded like a Divine invitation to the broken-hearted child of despair, sleeping so peacefully there covered by loving hands and budding Spring, with floral emblems of the rest she had sought and found. And when the lamenting song and service died away in Union Cemetery, they gave to Silence a voice, -- "Which says in Love, which would rejoice, --"Await"! And says to Wrong, that would redeem, -- " Too late"! Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. ======================================================