Daily globe., 1879-04-07
NUMBER IS.
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
Davenport, Ia, Horror Struck by 6Double
Suicide-A Married Man and His wife's
Sister Seek Relief from q Criminal Inter-
course In Death-Other Criminal Notes.
DOUBLE SUICIDE.
Especial Telegram to the Globs.1
CHICAGO, April Ga special from Daven-
port, Ia, gives an account of one of the most
terrible tradgedies that ever occurred in that
city. The affair took place early Saturday
morning, at the residence of Henry G. Watt,
corner of Third and Rock Island streets.
The family consisted of Mr.. and Mrs. Watt
and their little daughter, and the Misses
Louisa and Amelia Filter, sisters of Mrs.
Watt. In the evening the family had CON-
pany, who did not depart until 1925 o'clock.
Mr.. and Mrs. Watt retired soon after, Miss
Amelia and Louisa proposing to do SO, when
the latter went to bureau, drank the con-
tents of glass, Immediately falling in
swoon. Her sister called for help. Mrs.
Watt came into the room soon after, follow
ed by Mr.. Watt, who remained but mo-
ment. He sent q boy for the doctor and
then returned to his room and shortly after
was found dying in corner of the room.
Neighbors were summoned, who sought to
relieve the suicides, but death came to each
at nearly the same time.
THE EXCITEMENT
on the street this morning was intense.
Various theories were advanced, but few
daring to think it suicide. Towards noon
it was unmistakably proved premediated
suicide. A letter found in Watts pocket,
addressed to his wife, told the story of the
deed and its cause. A post mortem e1ami-
nation of the bodies was intended, but the
wife forbade, after reading the letter, the
contents of which she positively refused to
make public, but enough was given to estab-
lish the fact that Harry Watt and Louisa
Filter loved each other, and they had been
criminally intimate, and had determined to
end
THEIR TROUBLE AND THEIR LIVES
together by taking prussic acid. Watt pur-
chased the drug some days since, stating that
he wanted to experiment on new receipt for
favoring cigars. The most important testi-
mony obtained was Mrs. Watts statement,
which was given before the coroner's jury
and DR.. Middleton, all others being excluded.
She testified to having been the wife of Henry
Watt, and that everything between them had
been pleasant. They lived happily together.
He had been gloomy sometimes, but she
bles. Generally, however, he was happy
and in good spirits. Last night they
had company. They left about 11:15.
My sister has seemed kind to me, and has
been away in the day time clerking at Peter
sons dry goods store. She was with us
helping me entertain the company. For the
last few days she had not been well. After
the company left, Mr.. Watt put our little
girl Edna to bed and then went down stairs.
called to him and told him to come in or
he would take cold. I also told my sister to
call him. I felt worried. 80 I and my sister
Louisa, the one that is dead. went down and
found him on the porch. He said sm just
fooling you and Lou, will be right up.
He came up. When I got into
bed I said, 'Harry, you have
chilled me through with your nonsense" I
had not sooner got under the cover than my
sister, Amelia, called me and said, 'sCome
quick, Lou is sick, is dying. I think got
out of bed and ran into the room. Louisa
was falling. My sister Amelia caught her.
Louisa acted as though she was in a swoon,
SO I could not raise her. went for cam.
phor, but could not find it, so took some
water and washed her face. When I
went back to my bedroom found Harry. I
went in about ten minutes. was looking
for camphor. I called for Harry,
who said go for the doctor. Harry
went into Louisa's room and unfastened her
corset, then he went back to his own room.
I went to see if could not find camphor,
when found Harry, my husband, lying on
the floor. lifted his head up. was al
most beside myself and wild as I thought of
my husband in one room and my sister in
the other, and both dying. could not un-
derstand what was the matter. My sister
was with me all the time and was preparip.
for bed when Harry was going to bed. Ts
had always been kind father and good o
his family. am satisfied from the evidence
I now haze that the act was deliberately
done. My husband left letter explaining
why they did it.
The sisters testimony was similar to Mrs.
Watts. The jury's verdict was suicide.
Henry @. Watt was the son of DR.. @. S.
Watt, of this city. He was 81 years of age
and had been in Davenport 13 years. He
was a member of the Forty-fourth Iowa
regiment during the war. He was mem,
Der of Davenport lodge No. and State en-
campment No. 7, I. o. o. F., and of Trinity
lodge A. F. and A. M. He had been in the
tobacco trade here for many years and wa!
well liked by all his acquaintances.
, Mrs. Watt and her sisters are daughters O
Mr.. Il. Fuller, of Delmar. Some month";
!: since a revolver in the hands of Mr.. Wat
, went off, striking Mrs. Watt in the breast
Her life was despaired of for time
Even this has been recalled to-day, resulting
in the expression by many of a belief tha
murder was contemplated at that time.
2 DIED FROM sE1F-NF11CrED WOUNDS.
DAYTON, o., April Ga man who CAV
his name as Jacob Gayler, died at the hos
f pital in this city, this morning, from the et
: feet of wounds inflicted on himself. Gayle
. was on his way to Cincinnati in railwa,
car Friday night, when he attempted suicid
by stabbing himself four time
d with large pocket knife. At the hospitt
!, he declined giving the cause {
t the act further than he had trouble. q
}. was a we'll dressed man of middle age an,
Q carried travelling card indicating men
q bership of Lodge No. 605 of Odd Fellow
s Philadelphia. He had considerable none
v about him and appeared in good circuu
Il stances. He refused the services of phys
q clans and minister.
il ILLICIT STILLS.
d NASHVILLE, Tenn, April 6.-Collectt
It Woodcock to-day received information fro
: Wayne county that four illicit distilleri
had been destroyed, and much trouble is 9,
20 perienced in enforcement of the law.
g DAILY WEATHER BULLETIN.
% OFFICE OF OBSERVATION, SIGNAL CORPS, o. 8.
y lEGERsoLL BLOCK, TH1RD STREET,
l. ST. PAUL, MIMI.
y observations taken at the same moment
time at all stations.