The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-23
THE PATH OF DEATH.
One More Unfortunate Goes to
Her Death.
OVERCOME BY SENSE OF SHAME.
Ella Watson, m Abandoned Woman,
Ends Miserable Life by Takinga
Dose Of Choral.

Mas. Ella Watson, an inmate of house of ILL
fame in Morning Star alley, ended life of
shame with q two drachm dose OF choral in q
miserable den in that alleywsy at 1880 O'Clock
last night Dependency, the result of sickness,
her surroundings and the dangerous illness OF
her child in Portland was the cause OF the act
The woman came here from San Francisco
two months ago and took room at the Foun-
tain house, on Jackson street. Five weeks ago
she met Dick 5prague, q barber from Victoria,
and the two went to living together. About
week ago she engaged the crib
at "A Morning Star alley. She
had consumpt on and was very weak. she suf-
past remained in bed nearly all of the time.
Sprague spent good deal of time.with her and
apparently treated her kindly. Yesterday she
received . letter from Portland. where she
once resided, announcing that her little son
was dying. She seemed to awaken to q sense of
shame at her condition and surroundings and
grew very respondent. Last night at O'Clock
she engaged in quarrel with Sprague in her
house, and Officer Noon, who was attracted to
the place by the noise, heard her say that she
would kill herself. When he approached her she
said that she was only trying to frlghten
Sprague, and he left her. half hour later she
left the house, and going to the Windsor drug
Store purchased two drachms of choral. John
H. Lee, the proprietor. waited ON her, and.
might have. she coolly asked him
what constituted q dose of the drug.
Receiving the answer Is to 80 grains, she left
the store and returned to her house. 1t was
shortly after ten O'Clock when she passed down
the alley on her way there. Just how soon after
wards she took the poison is unknown. At11:l0
she was discovered in a stupor sitting in chair
In house adjoining hers kept by Annie Burns,
by one of the girls. An outcry brought
Patrolman Sweeney to the scene, and he carried
the woman to q bed in rear apartment When
DR.. w. w. Mcneil, who was called reached the
place fifteen minutes later, she was uncon-
scious and sinking rapidly. The usual restora-
tives were applied, but to no avail,
and at HAS O'Clock the woman breathed
her sisters in shame. In all that motely as.
semblage hardly a tear was shed. They stood
around for few moments gazing at the body,
and then one by one left the house for their own
dens Of iniquity. Coroner Smart was notified at
midnight and an hour later the body was re
moved to Bonney & Stewards.
Mrs. Watson was born in Iowa and was "a
years of age. She moved with her father, James
II. Merton, to Portland, when quite young, and
was there reared and educated. Her mother
died before she left school, and when
still quite a young girl she married
a man named Watson. They only liv d together
two years, separating in San Francisco three
years ago. He was the father of her one child,
boy, now years old, who lives with her
father in Portland. Two years ago she began q
life of shame in San Francisco. She
remained living under the name of Ella
Fay there until about six months ago
when she went to Portland and sued her hus-
band for divorce. This is understood to have
been granted few days ago. Watson is still in
Portland and her father is a paper-hanger and
painter, and has store there now. She was
brunette. and was once a rather good-loOking
woman. She was in about the last stages OF
consumption, and was considerably wasted.
Sprague, who lived with her, is employed in
the Nevis Cherry Barber Shop on Columbia
street, in the Haller building. He is from Buff
falo, N. T., and came to Victoria from there
The body of Mrs. Watson will most likely be
shipped to Portland for burial.