Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1870-01-29

| Seldom is it the duty of journal to
record more remarkable case Of sudden
death. in which the victim has passed
through greater trials and become the
slave Of deadly habits, than one which
occurred Friday night in this city. The
case in question Is that of Mrs. W. H.
Hill, who was found dead at half-past
10 o'clock, Friday evening, and the par
ticulars given below were obtained from
the husband. 1t appears that MIR. Hill
married the woman In question. who is
now some 30 years Of age. few years
sss.o and fOr time they lived happy to
HS'trsr with nothing to mar their domes
tic ssppiness. Mrs. HILL however. was
Of nervous and excitable temperament,
and soon became subject to violent
headaches and indigestion. To allay
the pain she purchased certain drug,
the name Of which the husband cannot
remember, but which had the desired
soothing effect. Seeing that the pota
tions afforded her relief the husband Of
Tered no objections to her taking them,
One evening he went to the lrug store,
aud, as had been his usual custom, called
for his wife's favorite medicine. The
apothecary looked at him moment, and
inquired what disposition was made of
the drug. Mr.. Hill replied. " Ny wife
takes it, Well, said the apothecary,
she has taken enough Of this poisonous
stuff to kill two ordinary persons" Hill
became satisfied that the stuff was really
poisonous, a physician in the store cor
roborating the apothecary's statement
and he concluded not to make the pur-
chase. Returning home, he told his
vile she could not have any more Of
that drug peremptorily forbade her
TO use it. She became somewhat ex-
cited and considerable alteration ensued
between them, ending in her expressing
her determination to " take something"
Time passed on. and Mrs. Hill seldom
complained Of the headache, having dis
covered an effectual way OF curing it,
Her husband little suspected the dam
gerous method she employed to rid her
self Of the pain until about year ago,
when he was startled to fad that she
was using chloroform. He consulted a
physician IN the premises, and was adj
vised to take immediate steps to cure
her Of this dangerous practice. Acting |
upon this advice he placed her in prl
vate hospital, where her movements were
closely watched and every attempt on
her part to procure her customary stim
ulant was thwarted. Sha finally lost her
desire for chloroform. the headache left |
her. and she was discharged from the |
institution in good health.
Mr.. Hill started the Pacific Straw
Works. on Second street. between Min
ns and Natoma. and his wife had charge
Of the girls in the shop. Everything
progressed favorably until about two
months ago. when Mrs. Hill became
subject to headaches again. and resum
ed her practice Of taking chloroform.
Her husband first endeavored to dis
suade her from taking the poisonous
drug. hnt this proned Of no avail. He
then forbade her 10 use II physician,
whose services were called into requsi-
ton, told her il wonld eventually cause
her death, and the employees about the
establishment were warned not to make
any purchases for her. She continued
to use chloroform, despite all the efforts
to prevent her. and gradually grew more
and more excitable.
Friday morning she arose and prepar-
ed breakfast in the rooms over the store |
occupied by the couple and seemed ra-
tional enough. She assumed her custo-
mary position at the work table, chatted
with the girls, and seemed in excellent
spirits. At noon she left the shop and
went upstairs to her room. Her alb
sence was noticed by Mr.. Hill and he
went to inquire the cause. Finding her
reticent and inclined to abuse him. he
came down again to work. About
o'clock she came down stairs and passed
through the shop into the back yard
Mr.. Ilill and other persons in the place
noticed that her face was covered with
blotches. and she had wild unnatural
look. She was gone seme considerable
time, and feeling somewhat anxious, Mr..
Hill went to look for her. lie fuuad
her in the outhouse, and as she saw him
coming she threw something into the
vault. It was the noise that gave him
knowledge Of her whereabouts. and he
inquired what il was she had thrown
away. She replied end ont aud then
went up stairs, staggering a little on the
way.
At quarter Of 7'oclock, Mr.. Hin went
up stairs to get dinner. and found her