Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-11-12
A STRANGE SUICIDE.
THE CASE ESsnROuDED IN mys.
Terry.
Not the slightest Cause Assigned for
the Tragic Decd.-The Remains
Sent Home.

coroner Harris held an Inquest last
evening over the body OF Matilda0oOJ-
manson, tho young woman who died
from strychnino poisoning nj the resi-
dence OF Mr.. Bryant Young, nj North
Salt Lake, at nm early hour yesterday
morning, as announced In last even
ing's News.
The Official inquiry failed to reveal
the slightest clue rs to why tho terrible
act Of sclf.dostruction had been COM
mitted. The deceased appeared to have
been Of high moral character, and 30
far as known had never kept co mpany
with mon, and the rumor that the
cause Of her death was unrcquited love
10 therefore questionable.
Bryant Young was the Hrst witness.
He testihed--rhe deceased was EN-.
ployei In my household AZ domestic;
last night about 1850 was awakened
by n series Of strange sou nds coming
from her room; upon investigation |
found that she was seized with n spasm;
her eyes were CLASSY, her teeth set,
her hands strongly clenched and frotb
was ooslng from her mouth; my mother
lives about a fourth Of mile from my
house and thlther ran IA fast as
could Rud Informed her that Matilda
Goodmanson. our hired girl, was dying;
| returned home ~ quickly M possible
and In a few minutes my mother and
sister and a Mr.. Berry came In; my
mother inquired OF the deceased N she
had taken poison; she replied sho
had taken "somethlng," hut what
she " ould not state; the deceased was
lying face downward on her bed In her
own room; She appeared ~ be Ia the
greatest physical agony possible; about
1890 this morning death came ~ her
relief; she was about eighteen years OF
age anu was ftaidont Of Spanish
Fork; | believe she committed suicide
by taking stfychuine; have no Idea
VIII y size did ~, or that she had prvyi.
ously contemplated Aelf.destruction,
though she laughingly said, a low days
ago, that We must not he surprised "
her lifeloss body should he found on
the cot some morning; she had beou
IN my wlie's employ abou, five weeks,
and during that time proved herself
above suspicion In every way, about two
weeks ago my wife mixed a quantity
OF airychnino with small amount Of
| Hour: II was placed under the cupboard
~ poison mice; the deceased knew II
was there; the mixture, which had
been heaped up like pyramid, upon
| investigation Today showed signs OF
having been disturbed by PERSONS
| flngers.
Mary u. Young tes,lfied-I frs, met
the deceased ut my home In North
Salt Lake, ON the Srd OF April last;
! employed her a. servant girl In my
bonfdinglhous on that date; she 70.
malncl with me until June 5th, when
she went TO Bountiiul 10 work for
family named Viglini; about five weeks
ago she returned 10 North Salt Lake,
since which time .he has been working
Tor my daughler-in.law, Mn. Bryant
Young; | was In her company all Of
yesterday afternoon and she was merry
all the timu, about d O'Clock left Mr-.
foung's 10 40 home; Mt eight O'Clock
the deceased came TO my house on mn
GRAND but remained nearly two hours,
after which she returned home alone;
shortly before u O'Clock, midnight, my
sou came running 10 my ho1ac Ana In
formed me that Matilda was dying;
] dressed myself NJ quickly M could
aud went to his home, where | found
her on her bed, partially undrcssed
and lying face downward; she appear
cd TO be suffering from severe cramps,
but as roth was coming from between
her lips Inquired " she had
taken anything aud she replied
I'LL
renewed my question and she
she would not state; she also refused TO
do not think that she was la any way
implicated with man, as | firmly be-
liave that shs was virtuous girl; she
never kept company with anyone no
fat ~ l know.
J. I. Berry was next put on the wit.
ness stand. His testimony was sub.
stnntially the same as that OF the pre-.
cccding witnesses.
DIR. Ewing tostlned-I have made n
careful examination OF the body OF the
deceased, and no signs Of external
violence ara Visible; FROM the symptoms
| would say that tho death Of the de.
ceased was due TO stryohnino poison.
ing.
Tho Jury, aftera brief consultation,
rendered verdict 10 the effect that the
deceased came 10 her death from
strychnine, self'sdministered, with
suicidal intent.
The relatives Of the deceased were
apprisei Of the tragic occurrence, and
a brother-in.law came up from Spanish
Fork over the Union Pacific last night
and took tn. body homo over the same
route this morning, for burial.