Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-11
Mrs. Harriet M. Palmer Be-
comes Tired of Life.
She Sends a Bullet Through
Her Heart.
The Causes Which Led to the Ending
of Her Existence.
Her Husband Sick in Bed With Enlarge
ment of the Heart-She Left an
Explanatory Letter.

Coroner Meredith held an inquest at
z 80 O'Clock last evening upon the body
of Harriet Mortimer Palmer, a native
of Canada % years of age, who committed
suicide in her room at the Menlo hotel
on South Main street yesterday after
noon. From the testimony taken by
that official it was shown that the de-
ceased and her husband arrived here
from San Francisco a few months ago
and took up their residence at the Menlo
hotel, occupying two rooms upon the
second floor. Both husband and wife
were in poor health, the former being
troubled with enlargement of the heart,
and the latter with consumption. About
four weeks ago Palmer's condition be-
came very critical and DR.. T. j. Nc
Carty was summoned and has since
been attending upon him. On several
occasions Palmer intimated to his physi-
clan that his wife worried him almost
to death, as she was very unwell
both mentally and physically, but re-
fused to allow him to call in a doctor to
prescribe for her. She had also threat
ened to take her own life, and he was
in constant dread of her carrying the
threat into execution. The doctor Of
fered his services, but as Mrs. Palmer
invariably covered herself up from head
to foot on the occasion of his visits to
her husband, and refused to make her.
self visible, he was unable to see her or
do anything for her. Yesterday morn
ing, however, Palmers condition was
such that DIR. McCarty insisted upon the
removal of his patient to hospital, as
he was unable to obtain the proper at
tention in his own room, owing to his
wife's inability to take care of him. To
this proposal Mrs. Palmer gave her con-
sent, but refused to accompany her hus-
band, and she became very irritable
when the physician ventured to suggest
that it would be the better course
to pursue. Shortly after this ques-
ton had been decided, the doctor left,
but at O'Clock in the afternoon he was
summoned hurriedly to his patients S
bedside, and found that Palmer was in a
very critical condition and suffering in
tensely from the pain in his heart. The
physician administered morphine and
was still at the sick mans couch when
the report of a pistol rang out from the
room adjoining, which was occupied by
Mrs. Palmer. Leaving his patient, DR..
McCarty ran into the room, and found
Mrs. Palmer lying back upon her bed,
her head resting upon couple OF pill
lows and her feet upon the floor, as il
she had just been sitting upon the edge
of the bed, while from bullet hole in
her left breast the blood was slowly
trickling down upon the bed clothes
The bullet which had passed through
her body, found an exit between the
shoulder blades, an inch to the
left of the spinal column, and
after passing through the wal
of the room, was picked up subsequently
in the hallway, some fifty feet distant.
The woman was practically dead, al
though still breathing, and seeing that
he could do nothing for her, the physi-
clan turned his attention to the contents
of the room, and found large Colts
revolver close to her feet, with one
chamber empty, just as it had fallen
evidently, from her hand after its dis
charge. Within five minutes after tht
firing of the shot Mrs. Palmer was dead
and Coroner Meredith was notified ant
soon afterwards took charge of the body
On searching the room he found in
satchel note written in ink, and foldet
in an envelope, to the following effect
81 am thoroughly tired of life, and s.
end it by my own hand. Please kindl
send notice of my death to my aunt il
Canada. This is the address: Mrs
Henry Barton, 842 Queens avenue, Lon
don, East, Ontario, Canada"
On hearing these facts the jury re
turned verdict of death ''from a gun
shot wound in the left breast, inficte
with her own hand, with intent to com
NIT suicide.