Death of Mrs. Att; Jackson & Lincoln Par., Louisiana
Submitter: Anonymous
Date: 27 July 2005
Source: Dallas Morning News


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Feb. 20, 1886  Dallas Morning News
DIED FOR SHAME
The Cruel Slander that Caused the Death of a Highly Respected Woman
Special To The News
Ruston LA. Feb, 19.-
The Southern part of Jackson Parish is greatly excited over a tragedy just 
enacted there.
Some days ago it is alleged, Mrs. Att, a young widow, was met on the road by 
a Buck Gibson, a neighbor, who made an insulting proposition to her.  
Although he threatened to kill her if she did not yield, the woman repulsed 
him and succeeded in evading him.  Gibson determined on revenge and 
circulated a report that he had been intimate with Mrs. Att and also her 
mother, Mrs. Freeman. both of whom are highly respected.  When the former 
lady heard the report she was so overcome with shame that she took 
strychnine and died leaving a note saying she was innocent of the charge but 
had no way of convincing the world of her purity and preferred to die rather 
than rest under suspicion.  Mrs. Freeman was so prostrated by the death of 
her child that she died of grief soon after.  There is strong talk of 
lynching Gibson, and the local paper openly advocates mob law.
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