Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-04
4 DOUBLE SUICIDE.

Tragic Results of Love and Cold Poi
SOn-Sad Fate OF "a Knoxville woman
and "a St. IsOuis IsOretie-They SW al
low Morphine and Die in tiae Same
TWO HOurS-StrRnge Sights in "a
BagniO-rhe Death bed, the Bailii
and the COrOneF's Jury.
One of the most tragic affairs that has
startled this community for some time, oc-
! Cured yesterday morning at Nos. ll6 and
120, South Cherry street, short distance
below Broadway. Two prostitutes, Lou
| Wilkes and Matte Wells, both died sud
| denly between eight and eleven o'clock,
from the effects of poison which they had
taken on the previous night, and consider
able excitement was created in the neigh
| borhOod by the startling occurrence. We
have gathered the following details
Matte Wilkes, one Of the unfortunates.
lived at No. ll6, and was the wife of Jim
Wilkes, a man who was committed to Jail
few days since to await trial for stealing
mules in Giles county. Her marriage, how
ever, which took place about month ago,
does not seem to have been considered by
andwhile her welded husband was rumi-
mating behind the bars Of gloomy cell on
Front street, she was receiving the addresses
OF certain -- -, one OF her old
parbmours, and for whom sheseemed to en-
terrain the strongest affection of which
such a nature as hers was capable. She
had made an engagement to receive him
during the day, but for some reason or other
he failed to make his appearance at the
appointed time.
Fearing he would not come, in fit of
jealousy she sent to a colored woman who
lived with her, named Eliza Fitzgerald,
and directed the woman to return some
money which had been given her for the
purchase of wood, and handing it to her
little son, boy about seven years Of age,
she ordered him to proceed to a drug store
near by aud procure fifty cents worth of
morphine. The boy soon returned with
seventy-ive cents worth, mistake having
been made, and the unfortunate woman
took the poison from him, : swallowed
a large dose, and retired to her bed,
complaining of feeling unwell.
No suspicion whatever had thus far
been aroused as to her intentions, though
she declared she would be dead ere the
next morning. Later in the day, she ex-
hibited most uDmistakable symptoms of
having taken poison, and at shutdown a
doctor was sent for, who, however, failed
to come, and her attendants attempted to
restore her by applications of ice-water
to her limbs. During the night, Matte
Wells, who lived next door, visited her,
in company with a man, and reproache ed
her for what she had done, but she was SO
drowsy that she paid little heed to any
thing that was said. She was soon wrap
ped in a deep sumber, frequently talking
incoherently, and even rising and
pacing the floor. From this she never
awoke, aud when the physician ar
rived next morning, it was found
impossible to administer any anti
dotes for her relief, and at half-past ten
o'clock she expired. Strange to say, while
the wretched woman was lying at the point
Of death, constable came to the house
and levied upon all the furniture it con-
tanned to satisfy a debt.
The history of this unfortunate is a sad
one Her maiden name was Theresa
Wiles. She was Of respectable family, her
parents, brothers and sisters residing in
Knoxville, where she was married to a
man named Mowry By him she had a
son, but the marriage proving unhappy,
husband and wife separated, after living
together three years. She then came to
this city and entered one of the dens
Of infamy in North Nashville since
which time she has lived the life
OF an abandoned woman. To conceal
her whereabouts from her parents, she
changed her name, and up to the time of
her marriage with Wilkes, was known as
Lou Rice. She lived long time at Mrs.
Burnett's, on Crawford street, and also with
Matte Morrison. She had lived on South
Cherry street only about three weeks.
Matte Wells, the woman who lived next
door, and whose real name was Jane Caro-
line Gill, was from ST. Louis, from which
place she had proceeded to Padncah after
the death of her husband. Remaining at
Paducah about a year, she came on alone
to Nashville, where she has been living
some seven months. She was twenty-one
years OF age and somewhat prepos5essing
Since her residence here she has been
keeping company with a young Mar
ket street clerk of whom she seems to
have been extremely Jealous. She had |
been frequently heard to declare that she
would destroy her life, and was in the habit
Of taking morphine in small doses. Ga re-
turning from her visit at Lou Wilkes,
about midnight, she seems to have become |
almost frantic at the absence of her para
mour, who had promised to see her that |
night, but neglected coming. Swallowing
a half-pint of liquor, she left the house, and |
going to a drug store purchased twenty five |
cents worth of morphine. Reaching home |
again, she awakened a colored servant |
named Sallie Tyler, to whom she im- |
parted her determination to take the |
poison. The black woman attempted to |
wrest it from her, but Matte drew knife |
and kept the servant off until the drug was |
swallowed Then retiring, she never rose |
again.
In the morning, Puss johnson, a woman |
living in the house, went into Mattie's |
room and called her, but receiving no an |
swer, said sharply that if she did not choose |
TO speak, she need not do so. Finding it |
necessary to wake her, the woman short |
time after again called, and went to the |
bedside to rouse her, but found that her
face and hands were icy cold, as if death |
had already settled upon her. A physician
was at once sent for, but it was too late.
No remedy could avail, and at half past
eight she had passed into eternity.
Coroner Norvell summoned jury and
held an inquest upon the bodies at about
eleven o'clock, and verdict of suicide by
the administration of morphine, was rem
dered. The scene in the squalid rooms
where the corpses lay was dismal enough
A sheet had been thrown over the body of
Lou Wilkes, and her chin was supported
by a handkerchief Matte Wells lay just
as she had thrown herself upon her couch,
t he night before. She wore torn silk skirt
and white waist, and handkerchief en-
circled her head. The fearful pallor of death
had settled upon the faces OF both, bat
every feature was "a calm ard peaceful as
though no storm of this world had ever
passed over II,
Both bodies were inferred during the
afternoon.
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81,