Canary - Martha Griffin - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Mrs. Mattie Canary committed suicide at the home of her father, Robert Griffin on Spring Street Wednesday night by taking morphine. The deceased was the divorced wife of Willis Canary who survives her. The lady all her life has been subject to spells of melancholy and has frequently attempted to shuffle off this mortal coil. When she retired to her room about 9 o’clock Wednesday night she seemed in good spirits. The only request she made was not to be called the following morning that she was very tired and sleepy.  Nothing more was seen or heard of her until between 5 and 6 o’clock when her sister, Lizzie, arose to go to her work.  She entered Mattie’s room to get some article of clothing and found her in a dying condition.  Dr. Ensminger was hastily summoned but the victim was a corpse before he arrived. She left no words as to what prompted her to the rash act.  It is said that the deceased and Walter Rosebro were to have been married on Nov 16, but just how true this may be we are unable to state.

Mrs. Mattie Canary was the daughter of Robert Griffin and has, since her separation from her husband, resided with her parents on Spring Street. She was married to Willis Canary about ten years ago and one son, James Blaine Canary, was born to them. The child survives her. For several years Canary and his wife got along very well together. He was a hard working man, quiet and respectable. Domestic difficulties finally arose, however, which eventually led to a separation. About two years ago she sued for and obtained a divorce, together with the care and custody of her son. She was then employed as a domestic at the Sherman House and here it was that she is supposed to have met Walter Rosebro.

Mattie Canary was a pretty woman. She had a rather defined face and a very good figure. She talked very well and knew how to make a good impression. She was not a bad woman at heart but was pitifully weak and wild. She did not know her own mind and, if her actions are to be considered as a criterion, she did not have much to know. How it came about is not generally known, but it is certain that she and Mr. Rosebro were quite friendly and intimate not long after the granting of the divorce. Their intimacy appears to have ripened into love, but their affairs were kept quiet until about a year ago when Mrs. Canary attempted to commit suicide by taking a large dose of morphine. She was discovered in time to save her life, however, and soon appeared in good spirits again. Dr. Ensminger gave medical assistance at the time and to him she stated that if she ever tried it again she would succeed. Just what induced her to make an attempt at self destruction at that time is not known. She was subject to gloomy “spells,” however, and during these was morose and melancholy to a marked degree.

At the time of this attempt people became conversant with Mr. Rosebro’s infatuation for the woman, by the keen interest he manifested in her welfare. After her recovery they were seen frequently together and he spent most of his evenings at her home. It was reported once or twice that they had been married and it appears that the marriage had been set for at least two separate occasions, but was postponed for some cause. The woman was not so faithful as she might have been and her inconstancy caused several quarrels. Some weeks ago Mr. Rosebro went to Greencastle and took a position in a restaurant there. He was in constant correspondence with his lady love and his letters are said to have been of a most affectionate character. Shortly after he left, Mrs. Canary was out one evening with Wm Drury and was arrested for intoxication. Both pleaded guilty and were fined. It was thought that this would break up all intimacy between her and Mr. Rosebro, but he either overlooked her part in the escapade or refused to believe in her guilt, for he continued assiduously in his attentions. He frequently spent Sunday here and came up last Saturday afternoon with the full expectation of being married to Mrs. Canary that evening. She had consented to the arrangement and in fact had given up her position at the Sherman House several days previous to prepare for the happy event. In the evening about supper time Mr. Rosebro appeared at the Sherman House and asked to see his friend, Wallace Sparks, county clerk. He had gone but was found up town by Mr. Rosebro, who arranged with him to take out the marriage license that evening. Mr. Rosebro left then in search of Rev. Fuson, of the Baptist Church, of which the Griffin family are members. He failed to find Mr. Fuson and finally returned to the Griffin residence to ask if some other minister would not do as well. He was surprised to find Mattie gone and to learn that she had left for a buggy ride with Will Drury. Mr. Rosebro and her sister, Lizzie Griffin, left in search of her but failing to discover her whereabouts they returned home and awaited her coming. When she returned after 11 o’clock, it was in a sorry plight. She had been drinking and had been in trouble. The horse had run away and the buggy being upset she was thrown out. Her eye had been terribly bruised and she was otherwise disfigured.

Quite a scene occurred when she returned, but the next morning she and Mr. Rosebro “made up” and he left for Greencastle at noon with the understanding that the marriage should occur November 16. yesterday she received a letter from him, however, telling her to come to Greencastle today and be married there this evening. She signified her intention of going in conversation with relatives and friends. About 4 o’clock in the afternoon she called at Insley & Darnall’s stable and hired a rig, paying for it in advance. She apologized to Mr. Darnall for the runaway of Saturday evening and laid the blame at the door of young Drury, who drove. She took a woman friend in with her and they drove about the streets until 6:30 o’clock. While out she stopped at Nye & Booe’s drug store and calling Mr. Nye out, asked for a quarter’s worth of morphine. Mr. Nye put up 25 grains in a package labeled “sulphate of morphine,” and gave it to her telling her carefully that it was deadly poison. She stated that she wanted it for her folks, who were sick. She spent the evening at home as usual and upon retiring told her mother not to call her at the usual time this morning if she did not arise. She was tired, she said, and wished to get a good long sleep. Nothing more was seen or heard of her until her sister, Lizzie, who was preparing to go to work, went into her room between 5 and 6 o’clock, when she found Mattie in a dying condition and at once gave the alarm.

Dr. Ensminger was hastily summoned but the victim of her own rashness, died about five minutes after being discovered by her sister.

When Dr. Ensminger entered the room he was faced by a life size crayon drawing of Walter Rosebro, handsomely framed and standing in an easel directly in front of the bed, wherein lay the body of his dead sweetheart. The whole twenty five grains had been swallowed by the desperate woman, resolved on her own destruction.

The family was naturally greatly distressed and considerable excitement obtained in that end of town. A telegram was sent to Mr. Rosebro at Greencastle and arrangements made for the funeral.

The family states that Mrs. Canary had also made arrangements to go back for her former husband, Willis Canary, who is now located at Jamestown. He has been in correspondence with her and has sent her presents within the last few days. It may have been her complications which induced her to take the rash step she did.

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Friday 3 Nov 1893

The funeral of Mrs. Mattie Canary will occur tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock and will be conducted by Rev. G. P. Fuson, of the Baptist Church. The interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery.

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