A new article has been added at Newspaper Abstracts > United States > District of Columbia http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/index.php?action=displaycat&catid=323 Direct link to article: http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/link.php?id=34787 Submitted by: Susan Article Title: Washington Post Article Date: April 14 1888 Article Description: Mrs. Bulkley’s Suicide - The Sad Ending of a Five Months’ Romance Article Text: Mrs. Bulkley’s Suicide - The Sad Ending of a Five Months’ Romance The Unhappy Woman Supposed to Have Been Insane – The Statement of her Father’s Family in Regard to Her Marriage and the Events Succeeding it. The romantic marriage of Miss BESSIE HILLYER to GRASSIE BULKLEY, which produced such a sensation in social circles at the time of its occurrence, and the subsequent events in connection with the affair which followed each other in rapid succession, culminated on Thursday night in the death of young Mrs. Bulkley from a dose of arsenic, which she had taken in a fit of despondence. Since Mrs. Bulkley lived apart from her husband, she had resided at her father‘s house, and, so far as the public was concerned, was supposed to be happy. The announcement of her death from suicide yesterday, therefore, made a profound sensation, and numerous conjectures were made concerning the cause of the young lady’s action, and even yet, owing to the reticence of the members of both the Hillyer and Bulkley families, the matter is a subject which is exciting lively interest. The fatal drug which ended Mrs. Bulkley’s life was taken on Wednesday morning. She had appeared restless and unhappy for several days, and the preceding night she had informed her father that she intended writing to her husband proposing to return to him. On Wednesday morning she rose early and stole from the house. In a short time she returned, and going into her grandmother’s room, showed her a package of drugs she had just purchased and said she was going to make some camomile tea. She then went to her own room, but returned in a short time to her grandmother, with whom she talked for some time, apparently in her usual spirits. She remained in the room for about an hour, when she began to complain of feeling ill and lay down on a sofa. “What’s the matter, Bessie?” inquired old Mrs. Hillyer. “Nothing” the girl replied. But in a few moments she was so seriously ill that her grandmother was seriously alarmed. She was seized with a violent fit of vomiting, and appeared in such anguish that her grandmother immediately informed Judge Hillyer that his daughter was very ill. When the judge reached the room Mrs. Bulkley ran towards him and implored his assistance. She was very much excited, and in an almost incoherent manner told him that she had taken arsenic; that she was sorry for it, and wanted to recover. Messengers were at once dispatched for physicians, and Drs. W. W. JOHNSON, GEORGE M. JOHNSON, and D. W. PRENTISS were summoned; but before their arrival a druggist was called in, who administered an antidote. This relieved Mrs. Bulkley for the time, and when the physicians arrived, with the use of a stomach pump, they succeeded in relieving her of the greater part of the poison she had taken. Several hours had now elapsed, however, since she had first taken the poison and though for a time she seemed to be better, the effects of the drug became more and more apparent. While this was happening, Mrs. Hillyer, Mrs. Bulkley’s mother, was away from home, but she was sent for and arrived later in the afternoon. By this time it was apparent that Mrs. Bulkley was growing rapidly worse and the physicians were in constant attendance on her. Despite their efforts, however, the effect of the drug could not be counteracted and after lingering until 10 o’clock Thursday night, Mrs. Bulkley expired. The crape on the door of the Hillyer mansion was the first announcement that was made to the world of the sad occurrence. But beyond the fact of Mrs. Bulkley’s death little other information could be obtained during the day. Judge Hillyer positively refused to be seen, nor would any other members of the family talk about the death. The physicians were equally reticent, and Mr. Johnson, who is the family physician, positively refused to make known the cause of the lady’s death, and altogether there is an air of mystery surrounding the affair that is not fully dispelled even by the information obtained by the reporter of The Post. Mr. Grassie Bulkley, who was seen by the reporter, was as reticent as was Judge Hillyer, and while he indicated that he might make some statement in the future, he declined positively to discuss the cause which led to his wife’s suicide. The following statement was given to The Post on behalf of the Hillyer family last night, having been prepared by a gentleman thoroughly conversant with all of the circumstances: It will be remembered that the engagement between Miss Hillyer and Mr. Trenholm, son of Judge Trenholm, Comptroller of the Currency, was announced late last autumn, and that the friends of both parties anticipated a happy union and were gratified with the prospects of the young people. A few days after this announcement Miss Hillyer and young Bulkley went to Baltimore and were married without the knowledge or consent of their families; that they returned on the same day and separated at the depot, each returning to their respective homes. Miss Hillyer, or Mrs Bulkley, as she then was, declined to join her husband. Her father, believing that she had been unduly influenced or coerced into the marriage, and supposing that he was carrying out her wishes, caused a suit to be brought in her name to annul the marriage. Senator STEWART acted as her attorney, and Judge CADY acted as the attorney for Mr. Bulkley. These attorneys consulted together with a view of taking such step! s as would be for the best interests of both parties. It was agreed to allow the young people to have a meeting and talk the matter over, and to be governed entirely by any conclusion to which they might arrive. This was in pursuance of the instructions of Judge Hillyer to Mr. Stewart, and it was also in accordance with the desires of the family of young Bulkley. It was arranged that the meeting should take place at the office of Judge Cady, which was accordingly done. The young people met, and after about an hour’s consultation they informed Mr. Stewart and Judge Cady that they had agreed to live together as husband and wife, and they were assured by both of their attorneys that their decision should be complied with. The suit was immediately dismissed. Mr. Bulkley secured rooms at a boarding house in this city, and the young people occupied them for about two weeks. Mrs. Bulkley, on the day following her decision to live with Mr. Bulkley as his wife, visited her ! home and was assured by her father and mother that nothing would be sa id regarding the past. They advised her that now she was married, it was her duty to be a good wife to Mr. Bulkley. They also assured her of their affection and that they desired her to come very often and see them and make herself as happy as possible. In a few days she complained that she did not get along well with Mr. Bulkley. At the end of about two weeks she returned home and said that she wanted a divorce. Her father advised her to take no rash steps, but assured her of his affection and told her that she had not lost her old home in his house, but to do as she had always done, but wait and be sure that hereafter she took no step that she would regret. The young lady, to all outward appearance, has since that time conducted herself as formerly, and the most affectionate relation existed between her and her family. She was an only daughter with several brothers older than her herself, and consequently she was the idol of the family; had been carefully educated, ! and largely by the direct instruction of her father, who is a graduate of Yale and a gentleman of fine literary tastes. It was only those who knew her best who could discern that she was suffering great mental anguish, and for that reason her family sought to divert her attention from the mistakes she had committed. For this purpose her mother was making arrangements to go with her to Europe within a short time and allow her to take paining lessons in Paris and to travel for the purpose of relieving her mind of the mental anguish which gave her many sleepless nights. It came to the knowledge of her family a short time ago that she was having some communications with her husband. Her father had a conversation with her in regard to the matter, and advised her to consult her own heart with regard to any action she might take in the matter; that if she thought it possible that she could live and be happy with Mr. Bulkley, he advised her to make another trial. She then told! her father of her distress of mind; but finally concluded that she wo uld write a note to Mr. Bulkley proposing to join him again if such was his desire. This was on Tuesday evening last. On Wednesday morning she bought the fatal drug, which was arsenic, and took it about breakfast time. When she became sick from the effects of it she called for her father and told him what she had done, and begged of him to help her; that she was sorry and wanted to get well. Physicians were called and it was thought for a time that she would recover. She lingered from Wednesday morning until Thursday evening about 9 o’clock when she died. Since her return home from her husband the family have been particularly attentive to her wants, and have indulged her in all her wishes, hoping that time would relieve her mental suffering. To the outside world she has appeared as cheerful as usual, has visited friends and acquaintances, and every effort has been made by all to cheer her and make her happy. But all to no purpose. The poor girl took her own life because she was too unhappy to live. The nature of Mrs. Bulkley’s death, it was naturally supposed, would require some action on the part of the Coroner, but this, that gentleman declared last night, was an erroneous impression. “I know nothing about the matter,” said Coroner Patterson last night when a reporter called on him. “I do not expect to take any action unless the Health Office is dissatisfied with the certificate furnished by Dr. Johnson, in which case I will be called upon to make an investigation.” “But is it not the duty of the coroner to investigate every case where death results from other than natural causes? Asked the reporter. “Not at all,” replied Dr. Patterson. I will be satisfied with the certificate furnished by Dr. Johnson, and unless the Health Officer thinks further investigation necessary, I shall not feel called upon to take any steps in the matter.” The certificate which is to satisfy the coroner, however, has not yet been filed in the Health Office and Dr. Johnson admitted to the reporter last night that as yet it had not been made out. In the meantime preparations for the funeral of Mrs. Bulkley are being made, and the funeral will take place this morning from the residence of Judge Hillyer. Rev. Dr. SHIPPEN, pastor of All Soul’s Church, will officiate. The death of Ms. Bulkley was the absorbing topic of conversation all over the city last night, and conjectures concerning the cause of her suicide were numerous. The explanation accepted by most of the friends of the young lady is that her troubles since her marriage had unseated her reason. Of these, several friends told the reporter that they thought that Mrs. Bulkley had been insane, and many instances were related to corroborate this story. Several days ago, Mrs. Bulkley went to visit a lady friend, and while there her friend noticed that she had had her hair cut off close to her head. “Why did you have that done?” inquired the lady. “I don’t know,” said Mrs. Bulkley Then her friend observed that she wore one brown and one black glove and inquired the reason. Mrs. Bulkley looked at her hands in a puzzled manner and again replied that she did not know. This started the rumor that she was losing her mind, and her death on Thursday night served to confirm the suspicion. The terrible mental anguish that had produced this result and had changed a beautiful and apparently happy bride into a miserable and half-demented woman, who, to end her troubles, ended also her existence, and all in the course of a few short months, has yet to be explained. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ DC-Old-News ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ NewspaperAbstracts.com - Finding our ancestors in the news! TM http://www.NewspaperAbstracts.com