Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-09-14
WHAT DROVE HER TO SUICIDE.
A Fathers Unnatural Crime Made
the Daughter Crazy.

The Parties to the Wyoming Tragedy
Once Lived in Wilmington, Where
Sensational Episode. That Led TO the
Suicide, Occurred.
SPECIAL CORES pondenceoi Gazette and journal
WYoMING, Sept. S.-A sad case Of drown
ing, involving the loss OF two lives, oc-
cured in the lake adjacent to this town,
this morning. The victims were Mrs.
George Steel and her daughter Emma.
The latter whose age was about Is years,
has OF late been very Respondent and has,
on several occasions intimntel to her
friends that il was her intention to end her
life.
The daughter aud mother were last seen
this morning, about $50 o'clock, passing
the store of John T. Jakes & Son, on the
way to the mill, presumably for the pur-
pose of procuring flour. Half nm hour
later Mr.. Tndale, proprietor of the mill,
discovered a basket on the bank, and look
lug into the water saw a ladv's hat and
some floating object, which. upon eXami-
nation, was found to be the dead body of
the mother,
Securing assistance the body of the
daughter was also discovered at the bottom
of the lake soon ufter.
The supposition is that the daughter had
fulfilled her threat by breaking away from
the mother and plnnging into the water,
| and that the mother in her efforts to save
her daughter, was herself drowned.
The parties came from Galena, Nd,
and were employed in the factory of J, "
| McCommons.
Mrs George Steele and her 1S-years-
| old daughter Emma were once resi-
dents of Wilmington, where the daughter
| figured as the victim in sensational
crime.
Last spring George Steele, the hus-
band and father, came to Wilmington,
accompanied by his wife and daughter.
| June Gath warrant was issued in this
city for George Steele, on complaint of
his daughter, who charged him with
feloniously assaulting her. He was given
a hearing before Justice Lewis Sasse,
hut the proceedings were stayed, owing
to the condition of the girl, whose mind
ever since the alleged occurrence had
been permanently impaired. She was
unable to bear the sight Of her parent
and lived in mortal dread of him unit
the day of her death. Mother and
daughter kept small grocery store at
No. 216 South Franklin street.
But after the hearing in the magis.
trate's Office they determined to leave
the city, and accordingly, about the las
of June, departed for Galena The
father remained behind until informed
that the neighbors were bitter in theil
denunciation of his alleged heartles!
behavior, when he too, packed up hi
belongings and left the city. The chargt
in the magistrates office has been helc
in allegiance, the mental condition 0
the young woman not being of such .
character as to admit of her prosecuting
the charge.
After going to Galena mother AM
daughter, friendless and destitute, man
aged to earn livelihood, although tn,
mother was almost go years of age anC
broken in spirit and health over the de
spondency of her daughter, who wa
her constant care. The girl severa
times tried to end her life by suicide
but the mothers love for her daughte
stayed the hand of death until the ent
came in the peaceful waters of the lake
While walking along the bank tn
girl made break for the water, and tb
mother followed in hot pursuit. Mothe
and daughter clinched in the midst o
the lake and after a desperate struggl
to save the girl, during which nearly al
the clothing was torn from their bodies
mother and daughter went down j
deaths embrace. Somehow the bodiC
became separated and the tragedy wa
revealed and the facts made known.
, Coroner Clark of Kent county hel
, an inquest Friday afternoon, and til
jury returned verdict of death by sui
eide as to the daughter and of acciden
tai Drowning as to the mother.