Arizona weekly miner., 1875-08-27
DEATH OF MRS. coLwELL.

known and highly respected here, having been resident of this place for some two hyears, prior to leaving for Illinois this Spring. She was lady of more than ordinary at itractions, full of life and apparent hope, and 1t must have been hard struggle to choose death rather than live longer with a man who was worrying the life out of her byhis drunkenness, abuse and opportunities for the money her mother had given her. This cir eumstantial account of her death is taken from late Peoria (Ills.) paper, though the slip, which came in a letter, bears no date: "The following particulars of a distressing affair, which happened on North Adams St., at lj04, were obtained from most reliable au- thority. MT. $. w. Rlea, railroad con- ductor, resides at the place above mentioned. Mrs. II Colwel, a sister of Mrs. Rilea, has been stopping at 1904 for some time past. Tues day morning week, Mrs. c. seemed in very melancholy state of mind she came down stairs and after few minutes went back again. Mrs. Rilea was at the time preparing breakfast. When breakfast was called, Mrs. c. did not come down, but her son, lad of about ten years, came down and said his mother was sleepy. Upon this information, Mrs k. went up stairs, and found her sister on the bed, frOthing at the mouth and bear ing every symptom of having taken poison. Upon raising her up in bed, bottle fell from her nerveless grasp, upon which was inscrib ed 'Chloroform." Mrs. R. remarking to her that she had been taking chloroform, com menced attempting to produce vomiting by running her finger down her throat. This succeeded, and afterwards the vomiting was kept up by means of mustard tea, until Dr. l.. B. Martin, who was sent for as soon as the condition of the woman was discovered, arrived
 Upon first seeing her, and learning that she had taken about three ounces of the poi son, it seemed impossible for her to recover, and the doctor so stated. Before all the chloroform was cleared from her stomach. be- tween the corrosive effects of the poison and the strain incident to vomiting. she raised as much as a quart of blood from her stomach. The proper antidotes and remedies being ad ministered, the immediate effects of the poi son passed off.
 Thus much for where and when, now we will tell as near as possible why the attempt was made.
  cidedly good looking woman. She was mar ried about twelvr years since to Mir. c. II. Colwell. better known as "Buck" Colwell. They have one child, the little boy above mentioned. The parties have not lived any He is addicted to the habit of tippling, and when full is abusive, and doubtless unreason- able. Much of their welded life has been spent in Wyoming, Stark county. About two years since they removed to Arizona. Previously. however, Mrs. Cs mother sold a farm and gave to her the sum of Sl, GOO. The possession of this was the source of all the evil which has followed. During the time of their stay in Arizona and ever since their return Colwell has continued to demand this money, even attempting to take it from her by violence But knowing how 1t would go, his wife has always refused to surrender
 it to him. While in Arizona, however, she gave him S35O. After their return here she wanted to invest the money in farm and settle down to house keeping, while on the contrary he wanted to get it into his hands and invest in a livery stable and saloon in Wyoming. Hence there was a continued quarrel, or variance, between them. and the poor woman, weary of life under such condi- tions, attempted to put an end to her exis- tance, as above related.
 For the purpose of keeping closer watch of her, MT. Charles Higgins, a nephew of MT. Rilea, was assisting in guarding her. On last Tuesday night, Higgins slept on lounge down stairs, so that if she came down stairs he would know it, and be awakened. At about o'clock in the morning she came down in her night clothes and barefooted, going out the back way. Higgins says he saw her and attempted to keep track of her. He went to the window and looked out, but could see nothing of her. Then he stepped outside the door and looked for her, but she was nowhere to be seen. Accordingly he alarmed the house, and before long the neigh borhood was aroused. From that time until about o'clock, a, m., the search was kept up !; some dragging the river, some looking in one place and some in another. But at length Mrs. Rilea looked into the cistern, and there beheld the lost woman, standing erect with about one foot of water above her head Immediately upon making the dis coverv, Mrs Rilea uttered a terrified shriek, and Mrs. Colclough, a neighbor woman, went to her assistance. Mr. Jobst who happened near. and Mr. George Wasson, neighbor, were called in and with the aid of a garden rake succeeded in getting the body out of the cistern. There was one of Gray's patent water drawers in the cistren at the time. The opening through which she descended was probably l4xl6inches. It is great mystery how the woman could get herself through that place, close down the lid and accomplish the whole act during the few moments after leaving the house before she was followed.
 After removing the body from the cisteFn, it was taken inside the house and laid out on a lounge.
 Her friends represent that she was in a demented condition, from the effects of her troubles, and more especially since her prev ious attempt to do away with herself
 At about ten o'clock Coroner Goodwin summoned jury, who, after hearing the ev- idence, returned verdict through R. II. Mat son. their foreman in accordance with the above state of facts. The deceased woman leaves but the one child, a lad about ten years ofege.