Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-12-19
A FATAL PLUNGE.
A Young Lady Throws Herself Into 8
Well and is Drowned.

Well and is Drowned.
In moment of mental alteration, and
the phrase is not used in the usual hack
neyed sense, when reason suffered tenn
porary eclipse consequent upon series
of perfectly natural physical derange-
ments, highly respectable young
woman, named Helen Rose Furnell, COM
mitted suicide at the residence of her
friends and benefactors early yesterday
morning. Intelligence of the sad affair
was communicated to the coroner about
10 o'clock and subsequent inquiry re-
vealed the circumstances of the event.
About the hour named messenger
visited Coroner Davenport's office and
stated that young woman had commit
ted suicide by throwing herself into a
we'll at the residence of Mr.. George T.
Woodward, No. 42S Laurel avenue.
A GLOBE reporter called at the resi-
dence and obtained from Mr.. Woodward
the following account of the catastrophe:
About 6 O'Clock yesterday morning
Miss Furnell was heard to arise from her
bed and go down stairs. Nothing was
thought of this, however, as during nine
years residence with the family in the
capacity of friend and assistant, it had
been her custom to start the fire prepara-
tory to getting the morning repast.
MIR. Woodward arose about O'Clock
and on going down stairs he noticed that
the fire had not been started as usual. He
then called the name of Helen, but there
was no response On looking around the
room he observed slip of paper on
table which he carelessly took up to ex-
anime. His establishment may be mag
ined on reading the words, "You will
find me in the WE'LL" Satisfied that she
was not in the house he went to the rear
of the building where is situated well
twenty-five feet deep, about three feet in
circumference, and containing about
fifteen feet of water
Thoroughly alarmed by this time, he
called several of the neighbOrs and an
examination of the well revealed the
dead girls head DR.. Hutchinson was
sent for and all haste was made to bring
the unfortunate creature out. But the
poor girl was beyond all human aid, and
when brought out the physician declared
that life had been extinct for some time.
The body, which was only partially
dressed, was tenderly carried to the
house, afrer which her relatives and the
coroner were notified.
No cause is assigned for the act other
than that, for several days previous she
had complained of ill-health. Her rela-
lions with MIR. Woodward and his family
were of sisterly character and her name
was free from the slightest breath of
suspicion. She was twenty-four years of
age, a consistent Christian and as before
stated had resided with Mr.. Woodward
for nine years. 1t is understood that
she was engaged to be married to very
estimable young man who is at present
in the western part of the state.
Her parents are highly respectable peo-
pie and reside in this city where she has
several brothers and sisters, two of the
latter being Mrs. G. c. Hare and l. III.
Demarest.
Her temperament is described as lively
and cheerful and at supper Saturday
night her spirits seemed to be unusually
buoyant.
THE coroner will hold an inquest at 10
o'clock this morning