“There was great excitement in the First Ward of this city, last Thursday morning, as the intelligence circulated that a young lady at the McLean House had committed suicide. The story was too true. Fanny Salters McLean, the second eldest daughter of the late W.E.S. McLean1, whose widow2 keeps an inn on the corner of Madison and Second streets3, took arsenic at about nine o’clock Wednesday forenoon, and died at half past four o’clock the following morning.”
“The first knowledge of the rash act was brought to the notice of the family by her unusual absence from the dinner table Wednesday. One of her sisters went to her room, and found Fanny, in a recumbent position, uon the bed, complaining of being ill. She grew worse until three o’clock, being attacked with nausea and violent retchings. Medical aid did not reach her until about half past six o’clock, too late to be of any avail, at which time she admitted that she had taken nearly a teaspoonful of arsenic. Drs. Finch and Mussey attended her twice during Wednesday night. At four o’clock Thursday morning her symptoms became more alarming, and the physician was again summoned, but before his arrival the spirit of the unfortunate woman had winged its flight. Miss McLean was a young lady of a decidedly despondent disposition, and only about a week before her death informed one of her sisters that she intended taking her own life, but little attention was given to the remark, as it was thought when she recovered from a severe cold she had contracted she would be more cheerfully disposed. She had accustomed herself to the use of laudanum which no doubt deepened her despondency and contributed to unbalance her mind.”
“The deceased was twenty-three years of age last June, was quiet and inoffensive and affectionate in her disposition. There was no unkind feelings existing between herself and other members of the family, and her act of self-destruction can be accounted for on no other hypothesis than that naturally despondent she brooded over her troubles until weary of life she determined to end it. She refused to inform anyone where she obtained the fatal drug, or why she had taken it.”
“Twice she told her mother conflicting stories, and it was evident that she purposely concealed her action until the poison would have had such effect that antidotes could not reach it.”
“The remains of the deceased were removed to the family burying ground. at Wheelersburg yesterday forenoon, followed by grief stricken relatives and friends.”4
- William Eli Salter McLean
- Nancy Stephenson McLean
- White Bear Hotel
- Arsenical suicide. (1878, October 12). Portsmouth Times, p. 3.
