HITE, Mary A. (Brown)
Date of death: 19 May 1890 – Franklin, Johnson County, Indiana
The Franklin Democrat, Friday, May 23, 1890
Volume XXX Number 48, page 1 column 6
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Death of Mrs. Hite.
Monday afternoon our people were startled by the sad news that Mrs. John Hite, of our city, had committed suicide. For several years she has been afflicted with a mild form of insanity and for a short time was in the asylum for treatment and seemed cured, but for the last few months has been afflicted with another attack. Her husband, who has been so devoted to her interests, took her to Dr. Fletcher’s private asylum at Indianapolis for treatment but not liking the accommodations there, brought her home last week and hired a trusted attendant in the person of Miss Bettie Barger to look after her. On Monday afternoon shortly after two o’clock, Mrs. Hite, who was rational on most subjects, left the house, as she stated, for a few moments, and not returning Miss Barger went in search of her and found her hanging in the wood shed, dead. She had taken a roller towel and looped it around a beam in the shed and putting her head through the other end turned her body around until the towel was twisted sufficiently to strangle her to death. The funeral services were held at the family residence Wednesday morning by Rev. L. P. Marshall and were very largely attended. The remains were shipped to Rushville that day where they were interred yesterday. Mrs. Hite was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was a most noble Christian lady whose death will not only be mourned by devoted relatives but by a very large circle of admiring friends.
Mary A. Hite was born at Cincinnati, November 20th, 1842, and at an early age moved with her parents to Rushville, this state, where she was married to John A. Hite on the 28th day of November, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Hite moved to our city on the 28th day of January 1873, and since that time have been numbered among the honored citizens of Franklin.
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The Franklin Democrat, Friday, June 6, 1890,
Volume XXX Number 50, page 4 column 2
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CORONER’S VERDICT
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| STATE OF INDIANA, Johnson County, |
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The undersigned coroner of Johnson county, State of Indiana, did on the 19th day of May, 1890, hold an inquest on the body of Mary A. Hite, late of said county, found dead in the city of Franklin, in said county, on the 19th day of May, 1890.
Having viewed the body and heard the testimony of witnesses I find that deceased came to her death by reason of strangulation.
Deceased was about 48 years old, 5 feet 9 inches high, dark hair and blue eyes.
J. T. JONES,
Coroner J. C.
Franklin, Ind., May 28, 1890.
Link to Mary A. (Brown) Hite’s grave
Note: Rush County, Indiana; Marriage Record 1862–1882, Book 9, compiled by Ruth M Slevin, states on page 481 that John A. Hite married Mary A. Brown on 28 Nov 1867.
Submitted by Mark McCrady, Cathea Curry and Lois Johnson