The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-04-05
Mvsterious Death.

Ihe davenport Gdzette OF thls morning
April 5th.. says:
As mysterious an instance OF sudden
death as ever occurred in Davenport trans
pired last might've persons apparently ID
good health at shutdown, being numbered
among the dead at midnight. The
names of the deceased are Harry G.
Watt. of the cigar store No. 22l
East Third street, and Miss Laura
Filter. his sister-in-law, who was living
with the family over the store. 1t
appears that at about half-past IL o'clock
Miss Filter was taken i'll, dropped on the
floor suddenly as if in an apoplectic fit.
Mrs. Watt aroused her husband, who
rose, stepped into the next room, saw his
sister-in-law PROSTATE on the floor, stag
pered back into his room and fell pros
trate on the floor. The first neighbor
called was Mr.. Geo. Marvin, who sum-
moned DR., Bawden, the nearest physician.
When the Doctor arrived he found MIR.
Watt dead, and his sister-ln-law breathing
her last. DIR. B. sent for DIR. Middletown,
the family physician, but before DIR. NJ.
and DR.. French, who were also summoned,
arrived, Miss Filter was dead. From the
time DR.. Bawden arrived to the time of
the arrival of Drs. Middleton and French,
the respiration of Miss Filter averaged only
four to the minute. The cause of the
illness of Miss Filter, and of the death of
her brother-in-law, Harry Watt. was not
ascertained up to two o'clock this
morning-but from what could be
learned from persons who were first pres
emf, the symptoms would indicate poisoning
though 10 Mr.. Watts case the fatal all
ment might have been rush of blood to the
heart. Mrs. Watt was utterly distracted.
and could give no account of the awful oc-
curence She and her little child we're
alone with her husband and bis sister-in-
law, when the latter was seized with ILL
ness.
Harry Watt was a son of Mr.. G. S.
Watt, and was 81 years of age. He came
to Davenport in 1865, and was a cigar ma
ker. He served 10 the 44th Iowa reei
ment during the wal as a drummer. He
was much respected by his acquaintance
was a member of Davenport Lodge, No.
| 7, /. y. 0. Trinity Lodge, No. 20S, A. f.
| 4 A. NJ. and Of State Encampmeut No.
8 Odd Fellows. Miss Filter was the daugh-
| ter of Mr.. Richard Filter, who resides near
DeImar Junction, Clinton county, and was
p years of age. She had been ailing toi
several months.
| Last spring, il will be remem bered, Mrs
Watt was accidentally shot 10 the heart
by ball from revolver which her hus'
band was cleaning The husband was
nearly distracted over the occurrence
| Miss Filter was an inmate of the house a
the time. Coroner Bawden will hold al
Inquest to day.
The evidence developed before the coIo
ners jury shows that double suicide wal
premeditated. that each took prussic aci(
at about the same time, probably by agree
ment. None of the family knew any
thing about there being improper relation
between the two, yet such seems to be tn,
well-defned suspicion. Mr.. Watt it seem
left letter stating their reasons for tn
act, which was not presented to the corone
when our reporter was in Davenport TIL
girl took the poison just as she was retir
ing for the night at about - O'Clock
She slept with her younger sister. VIII
called Watts wife. who is also a sister, a
, the time she saw her drink the poison an
Watt himself who soon went to his ow
room after csmphor, and not returnin
, his wife went after him and found him dy
? ing, in the same manner as the girl. LTh
testimony of the Doctors in attendanc
and one Of the city druggists went to prov
that the poison used was prussic acit
The affairs of the two, it is said, ba
0 reached that point when concealment frol
: the rest Of the family was no longer poss
2 BILE, and seeing that the girl had carrie
e out her part of the agreement be hsstepe
q to do his, with the result as stated aboy
!, by the Gazette. The letter may howeve
D show different state of affairs. The gi
o was an employee in Peterson's dry gooG
store and considered by her associates I
. be very proper young lady.