Columbus Dispatch
Tues. Feb. 4,1890
Columbus, Ohio
Evans, Foley, Green, Iden, Jewett, Haines, Myer, Poe
EDNA POE COMMITS SUICIDE
Pathetic Letters, In Which She Tells Of Her Purpose Lamenting the
Unfaithfulness of Her Alleged Husband - Sad End of a Once Respectable
and Beautiful Woman
The coroner was called, last night about nine o'clock, to 71 East Long
street, to investigate the cause of the death of Edna HAINES. Deputy
FOLEY, upon his arrival, found the corpse stretched upon a cot, in a
poorly furnished bed room. The landlady, whose name is Carrie IDEN,
said the woman had been the wife of a saloonist on South Sixth street
and that her maiden name was Edna POE. Edna came to her place on Friday
or Saturday evening, with the intention of returning to her husband
today. Yesterday morning she became very sick, but refused the services
of a physician. Last evening, at her own request, Dr. A. E. EVANS was
called, but upon his arrival the woman was dead. The mistress was in
the habit of taking large quantities of morphine and whisky; she had one
child, which was with relatives at Delphos, Ohio,, from whence Edna
originally came. There was nothing whatever in the room that gave an
clue to the cause of her death. The body was removed to the coroner's
office.
The husband (as rumored) of the deceased is John HAINES, who stated that
they had lived together for a number of years, but had separated, he
giving her $100 and some furniture, since which time he did not know
where she had been staying. She came to Columbus in 1876 or 1877, and
had formerly been a teacher in the public schools at Attica, Indiana.
By some it is thought that she took an overdose of morphine, and by
others that she suicided. The death did not apparently affect the
inmates of the house beyond creating a superstitious fear in the minds
of some. One of the girls said she had slept with Edna the preceding
night, and that they did not arise until one o'clock in the afternoon,
and at that hour Edna was not sick.
Two letters written by her on Sunday evening were delivered to the
coroner this morning. One is addressed to her supposed husband, and is
as follows: "John, the worst has come. I cannot endure any longer My
courage has all gone. God have mercy on my soul, if I dare utter such a
prayer. You will live to see the time when you will realize you have
driven me to this miserable step, but there is not anything for me to
live for, and I may as well go. When I sent you a note saying I wanted
to see you, I had certain things I wanted to tell you, but you made no
reply, so let it go. This time tomorrow night I will be out of all
misery. One last request, send my body home for burial. You no doubt
will be happier with Lou than me, although she is addicted to all habits
you blamed me for. You will find in possession of Mr. JEWETT, West
Broadway, two letters, one for you and one for mother. I wish I could
say I forgive you, but I cannot, putting me out for another woman and
doing all you cold to prevent me making a living. My life is nothing
but a torment. I go no place but ' tis thrown at me something you have
said. You said your heart was stone but nevertheless there will a time
come when you will find differently. I trust my one last request you
will heed ' tis all I ask. Enjoy yourself as best you can. I trust
Lou's conscience, if she has any, will be punishment enough for her. A
last long good bye for the last time. Your wife,
"Annie E. MYER"
In the other letter addressed to "Carrie, my friend." she asks
forgiveness for taking such a step in her house, but says that Lou GREEN
was out that day in a red plush dress and bonnet her husband had given
her, while she was denied the common things of life. She said she had
contemplated it for some time, but hoped he would do better. She was
not afraid to go. She wanted her body sent to her mother, and thought
it could be fixed so she would look natural to them.
It is believed that her parents reside in Delphos, O., and as soon as
the exact location is ascertained the remains will be forwarded.
Some years ago the name of Edna POE figured in the trial of a member of
the BOARD OF Education for scandalous conduct. She was educated and
accomplished, and taught school before coming to this city. Her fall
was said to have been caused by a physician in another city, and after
coming here she went rapidly down the social scale. Her name was
connected with the trial of a member of the Board of Education for
scandalous remarks about female teachers, but she had no conection with
the schools of Columbus.
Note: I don't have a clue as to why she signed her name Annie E. MYER
in the letter to her husband.
Cathy