The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-20
DID She COMMIT SU|CIDE2|
The Coroner Will Inquire Into tho
Cause Of Annie Johnson's
Death.
The Body TO be Exhumsd ana q
Post Mortem Will be
Held.

The Girl Left . Letter that wowid JndIeats
Suicidal Intsst-swcdish Citi.
gems Interested.
What caused tho dsath Of Annie Johnson2
That IL a question which Coroner Rock
man will cndeavor to solve to-day.
For this purpose hs served an order upon
Undertaken FIaherty yesterday evening to
disinter and produce tho body OF b woman
at the morgue.
This seton IL taken by the coYnaer upon
the instigation OF Mrs. O. johnson and Mrs.
d. i. Nelson, who have made affidavit that
to the best Of their knowledge and belief.
the woman died under circumstances that
warrant an investigation ~ TO the cause.
She died suddenly and was buried without
any certificate. which IL contrary to law.
DR.. Trescy, who was called in to attend the
girl several honss before her death, did not
notify this coroner after the girl died, nor
would he give any certificate, a. he did not
know the cause of death.
Shortly after IL O'Clock last Saturday
night the woman died at the residence of
4. G. Fitzpatrick, on Dearborn avenue. She
was o native of Sweden and gave her name
as Annie johnson, though her true namei 10
said to be Clara Swanson. She was . ser
want girl, about rs years of age, and had
been working in Mr.. Gilpatrick's house
about two weeks prior to her death. Dur
ing that time she never left the house. She
was sent there by Mrs. Lyman. who con
ducts an employment agency on Lawrence
street.
On Saturday morning the woman WIS
taken sick and vomited freely during the
day. Towards evening she retired. Ell
forts were made to get . girl to stay up
with her, but none could be secured. Mr..
and Mrs. Fitzpatrick both volunteered to
nurse her. DIR. Trsacy was sent
for. He made an examination, but
did not sec any indications of
and temperature normal and expressed the
opinion that she appeared to be improving.
Having no knowledge Of the case it was
difficult to make q diagnosis N the doctor
never suspected that anything fatal would
result He prescribed some calomel pills,
O'Connor's drug store, but Mrs. Gilpatriok
states she did not take n OF them. To-
wards II O'Clock MIR. Gilpatrick observed
that the girl was brsathing harder than
usual. 'sSOme how, or other" said he "by
n natural inspiration, which can't be ex-
way watching her. / breathed with her and
coon ] could not keep up with her. This
alarmed me. Next there was a gurgiing in
her throat. Ny wife looked at her and
said she was growing cold IN the body. l
fastened for the doctor and when We re-
turned the girl was dead. She had been on
her feet hail an hour before she died.
Mr.. Giipatrick then got some ~neiRhbors
to come in. No cause could be imagined
for her death. An examination OF her
found Q pOckctboOk containing about $76,
an envelope addressed to G. Y. johnson.
A partially written letter without date or
address was also found. written IN the
Swedish language. This was translated
and turned over TO Rev. Mr.. frcderickson,
q scandinavian minister.
The subject matter of the letter Was to
the effect .hat the girl had been wrongfully
accused of misconduct in her morals and
that she would end such talk. She also
wrote that this would be the last time she
would write n letter.
This furnished good ground for suspect
ing that she intended suicide. The Scan
dinavian people who havs interested
themselves in tins matter are in
dignant that the girl was 80 hurriedly
buried withot any effort being made to as
certain if sbs had any relatives. They say
the coroner should at least have been in
formed.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick said no endeavored to find
somebody who knew the girl. Nobody
could be found. He invited several of her
countrymen and women to attend the fu-
neral, but only one came around. He said
she was given . decent burial and that the
name "Annie Johnson" is marked at her
grave. He did not know she was under an
assumed name.
1t is said she has a brother in Butte. and
the coroner has notified him to come to
Helena. The girl lived at Deer Lodge be-
fore coming to Helena and remained for
some time as the Windsor house. woman
there says the girl had been married and
that she has 5000 in bank, and had about
$500 in cash when she left the
Windsor house. County Attorney No
lan's attention has been brought
70 the case. and he will have Undertaken
Flaherty explain why he buried the girl
without first obtaining q physician's certIfi-
cate.
The case has excited considerable interest
among the scandinavian people. Tn body
will be xhumed and a post norton exami-
nation held and the true cause OF the girls
death ascertained. 1t has been attributed
to heart failure. II she took poison no
trace of it has been found, though the
coroner is Of the opinion that she might
have taken it in the morning. The coroner
ever. by thoroughly investigating the case
and setting all rumors at rest. The inquest
will be held at the court house at two p. IN.
to-day.
Now is your opportunity for a bargain In boys
clothing at our y ,asue sale, beginning Mon
day. Feb. 10. Toys tuits. $I.5, en- upwards, and
boys pants at &c, and Upwards. GREENWOOD
Eohm 4 Co.
Dolls of every description ut less than cost.
to close the business. nj Ihe bee Hive.
Cbildren'a underwear and hose at less than
cost at The Bee Hive. Take advantage OF this
sale. and go early.
Barney < Berry's club skates. only 90 cents, at
The Bee Hive
AL standard Is cent novels. six for 81, at Tho
Bee Hive.
The past week has BEEN a very busy on. at The
Bee hire. bat still there is considerable stock
left. ard everything viii he sold at cost. and less.
Take aisanfase OF this sale. as everything must
60
Hoou;pa uluo pninfs a, In. h1Ifsho1 . Mc.o.