Edna Brown Despondent Over Mother's "Career," Drowns Herself

----------
DRIVEN TO SUICIDE

Pretty Edna Brown, Well Known in Newark and Granville, Despondent Over Her Mother's Career Drowns Herself at Zanesville in the Muskingum River.

Word was received in Newark late Friday of the suicide of Miss Edna Brown, a charming young woman who was a student in Shepardson college from 1894-96, frequently visited Newark friends. The story of the sad affair follows:

Miss Edna Brown aged 22 years committed suicide by jumping into the Muskingum river. The body was recovered at about noon and was taken to the home of her aunt, Mrs. Orville N. Townsend, with whom she lived for the past 12 years. The motive ascribed for the suicide is temporary insanity caused by constant morbidness due to the conduct of her mother, Mrs. Lizzie Brown.

Thursday evening about 9 o'clock the young woman, with her sister Miss Cora, retired for the night, occupying separate beds in the same room. Not until breakfast was ready was she missed. As soon as her absence was learned an investigation was begun and at about the same time it was reported that a woman's hat and a ten-cent piece were found on the river bank. They were identified and a search of the river bed was begun.

Before leaving the Townsend residence Edna placed a new pair of gloves, her purse and a photograph on the hall stand and moved the stand to the front of the steps. She took only the ten cent piece with her and it is presumed that she started out with the intention of purchasing some drug, but finding the stores closed went to the river.

The young woman, who attended the Shepardson college at Granville, and graduated from the Putnam Seminary three years ago, has been employed in the art studio of the Weller Pottery for the past two years. While going back and forth to the seminary and the pottery she was compelled to pass the resort kept by her mother, and she frequently returned to the Townsend house in tears, and exclaimed that she would have to turn her face in an opposite direction to keep from seeing the shameful life which her mother leads, the Brown House on Muskingum avenue being most notorious.

It was this constant shame and disgrace from which she could not escape that caused Edna Brown to become despondent, and when she was stricken ill a week ago from the effects of a carbuncle on her forehead she appeared to give more thought to her mother's career. The swelling caused from the carbuncle prevented her from reading, sewing or painting, and she had much time to think of her troubles.

Edna Brown, a pretty little brunette, was a social favorite in Zanesville, no function in society circles being considered complete without the presence of herself and her sister. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend took the Brown sisters from their mother 12 years ago, and have given them a home which wealth makes happy and refined. The young ladies have been carefully trained and educated and society has taken them in and treated them with a hearty consideration calculated to drive away their natural inclination to despondency. But Edna ever seemed to fear that the world in its baser mood kept a finger of shame pointing toward her. A bright companionable girl, she had little to wish for had it not been for the influence which her mother's life had upon her. It was the one great sorrow that overshadowed her every pleasure. The unfortunate mother, upon learning of her daughter's sad death, became hysterical, but her grief was quite in contrast with the tears of love and affection that streamed from the eyes of Mrs. Townsend when the frail little body was carried into her home. Mrs. Brown's wailings aroused the neighborhood, but there was none to sympathize with her grief.

It has even been said that Mrs. Brown with one or more of her boon companions, has been wont to promenade in front of the Townsend residence frequently. Her husband, who was of a good family, died about 15 years ago, and it was after his death that the woman adopted the life she now leads.

Before leaving her home Edna put on a walking skirt, a silk waist, jacket, walking shoes and white kid gloves. She was scantily clad.

At the last ball of the Assembly Dancing Club two weeks ago, Edna Brown wore a fashionable gown of pale blue, and her dark hair was dressed in Janice Meredith style. Her splendid beauty was frequently commented upon. She seemed unusually happy and bright. Her tragic death and the sad circumstances surrounding it have caused universal gloom.

A sequel of the tragedy may be found in the threats against her mother. The woman will probably be compelled to leave the city.

--Newark Daily Advocate, Newark, Ohio, December 15, 1900, page 7.