A Desperate Act of Domestic Despair
A local woman survives a suicide attempt following prolonged marital conflict and jealousy.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Mrs. O. Johnson made an unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide last night about 8 o'clock by swallowing the contents of an ounce of chloroform. She relapsed into a state of insensibility, but by prompt attention she was brought back to consciousness and her life was saved. Dr. L. worked over her for nearly two hours before he pronounced her out of danger. Domestic infelicity was the cause of the act, and she said when she became conscious that she would rather die than live. The Johnsons have lived here a number of years and had some trouble last year, when they separated and papers for a divorce were begun, but reconciliation was effected and the proceedings dropped. Jealousy and other domestic troubles are said to have been frequent during the year.
“She said when she became conscious that she would rather die than live.”
Reports of 'domestic discord' in the 1890s were often handled with a mix of clinical detachment and moralizing. Today, this story serves as a reminder of the historical lack of support systems for women experiencing intense personal and marital crises.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.