The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-16
W0MAN'S WOE AND DEATH.
A LIFE OF SHAME AND MISERY
PRACTICALLY TERMINATED.
Pretty Mollie waltham, Alias Kill, IN
able 20 Endure Her Lovers Curses
anG Violence, Suicides by Swallow
ing a Heavy Dose OF Morphine.


Another misguided and Inflated woman
last night freed herself from the life of
shame and disgrace she had so long led.
1t was the rash act Of the victim Of mis-
treated love, and sadly illustrates the sem
sitiveness Of woman's affection, even
under the unloveliest circumstances
The history OF Mollie Waltham, whose
corpse lies outstretched on bed in one
Of the squalid rooms OF the bagnio, No.
208 Front street, II told in detail,
would be woful chapter TO read.
She was woman apparently about thirty
years OF age, of excellent form, with u fair
and decidedly handsome face. Some
eight or ten days ago she came 10 this city
from Helena, Ark, and took n room at the
above number. She had with her bright
faced little girl about six years old, but
stated that she would put the child out TO.
board, and day or two aiterward got
board for the unfortunate little creature ut
the house OF Ira Kitchen, and she is there
yet. During the day OF her arrival a man
called at the house TO zee her, and she
introduced him as her lover.
lie was known TO the inmates Of
the house US Bert Stilwcll, but
his real name is George Page. lie has
stayed about the place ever since. She was
different from her companions In shame
in that she was quiet in manner aud did
not drink. She talked but little about her
former history, and but for the fact that
there WIS another woman in the house
81. H,I -. Al.
where she had lived prior TO going 10
Helena, little OF her history would be
known. From this woman and the man
Pagc, who was afierward pulled out OF u
room and brought into where the i'm
quest was being held, II wis asccriained
that the maiden name Of the dead woman
was Mollie Waltham. She had originally
lived near Charleston, Mo-, where her
brothers and sisters, who are reputable
country folk, now reside. She had mar
ried quite young and left home. But what
her husband's name was could not be-
learned The fellow Page stated that he
iirst became acquainted with Der about
five years ago in Jonesboro, Ark. She
WIS then living with n man named Kill,
hut whether he was her real husband
or not, Page could not or would not
say. At any rate, the name Of
Mollic Kill was the one she gave when sho
entered the house. An intimacy, which
was genuine on her part, sprung up be-
tween her and Page. The man Kill be-
came involved In some kind Of trouble
and she left him. This was two ycars ago.
Since that time she has chung 10 Page, and
wherever she went she had TO follow. The
child, too. she seemed devoted 10 and
cared for comfortably, not permitting IL TO
live in the places she did.
As for Page, she would do anything 10
please him, while on the other hand he.
Ike the yagnbond brute that he Is, lived
Oft her earnings, in idleness, and would
gct drunk and abuse and cursc her. Sat
urlay night he came up TO the room full
of whisky and abuse. The woman had
sent his clothes 10 the laundry and they
had not been returned. Selling on
this ~ a pretext he abused and
cunzcd her numerically. Whether
he struck her could not be learned,
hut one Of the women thought she
heard him beating kcr. After the quarrel
was over she was heard 10 nay that she
could not stand such treatment and wished
that she was dead. All Yesterday morn.
ing she was downcast and broOding over
the desperate course she WIS about 10 take.
About O'Clock pm. she prepared 30 start
out Of the house, stating that she
was going 20 get some mcdi-
cine. One Of tho women who
heard her say this. and being acquainted
with her threats 10 kill herself, told q man
who WIS IN the house 10 follow her and
scc what kind Of medicine shc purchased.
Slmightway she went 10 Rcukcrt's drug
store, ON the corner Of Maine and Adams
streets, aud bought an eighth oi
an ounce Of sulphaie of mSphia.
She fastened on back 10 her room several
minutes In advance Of the man who had
followed her, and when she got 10 the
room, cmpticd the phial into n glass and
drank the enntcniR When the man, who
had followed, goi TO tho house. hc told the
landlady that the woman had bought q
bottle of poison. The landlady rushed up
% the suicides room, 10 find hoI
walking up aud down tho floor.
The landlady demanded TO know
II she had taken tho poison
had the woman 10 como down stairs with
her, and In the course Of few minutes II
was plainly 10 bc seen that she had taken
drug. lBcing pressed on the subject,
she finally admitted that she had
taken the entire bottle Of poison
She remained conscious cor soms
little time, during which she spoke Of how
she loved the man Pngc, and how meanls
he treated her In return. She said that III
was the only man she had eycrfoycd, and
that she had supported and KEEP, hin
from work. Sho then spoke oi her littls
daughter, and asked her friend Jcnnl'
Parker 20 care for her, but novcl
10 LET her come within the house
and above all things never 20 tell her {,
mothers life. She then sank into unoon
sciousncss, and though Dn. Magce nm,
White arrived soon after they found tina
shc had isacd beyond the point IL med
ical aid They applied every antidOlc uses
in such cases, hut without avail, ans
about 1890 O'Clock life was entirely OK
unct.
This Il the third time she has takeI
morphine, and each time on account o
the man Page, while they were living u
Jonesboro. She very narrowly cecapc'
death ON both Of the former occasions
She also stated 20 her attendants yesterday
when she admitted taking the poison, Tia
abe did not want physician sent for: sh'
had made up her mind 10 die, and wa
determined 10 carry on, her purpose.
raga, when asked by the coroner u h
would scc that the woman was buried, NJ
piled. II haven't fsot q cent" lie did NO
ien.illa Ia tie least siieriss 10 hs -'s--