The morning call., 1893-11-25
CRAZED BY GRIEF.
Sad Death of Mrs. Elise
D. Colby of Berkeley.
Pirate James Mcdonald on Trial for
BurgIary-Lectures for Work.
ingmen-Bad Boys.

MIS-. Ells6 IL. COlOy, vile OF George Il.
Colby. instructor at the State University,
was found dead in her bed yesterday
morning. at her home on Ciaremont ave-
nue.. Berkeley. BY her side was pistol,
and bullet wound In her side over the
heart told the terrible tale of suicide.
Mrs. Colby was last seen by her husband
at few minutes before O'Clock yesterday
morning. and at the time she seemed to be
in particularly good spirits. He left her
in bed and went into the garden. The SER
vant-girl went upstairs to ask Mrs. Colby
if she wished her breakfast brought up,
and called the lady several times without
receiving any response. Becoming alarmed
she looked into the room and saw pale
face that shocked her. She thought some
thing was wrong and ran to tell Mr.. Colby.
who was still in the garden. She said she
thought Mrs. Colby was dead. but Mr..
Colby did not think it was anything worse
than faint. even after he had got into
the room and seen the pale face of his wife.
He called her and put his hand on her
forehead. but not until he had turned down
the eoverlet of the bed and saw the signs
of the bullets deadly work did the truth
dawn on him.
Mrs. Colby must have fred the shot that
band left the room. and as she did il under
the bedclothes the report was not heard in
the house.
All who knew Mrs. Colby feel her death
deeply, as she was woman loved by all
who knew her.
than grief for her little boy. who was
drowned at -Etna Springs last July. The
circumstances were tragic, and at the time
Mrs. Colby was taken with a spell of sick
ness from which she never recovered.
The little boy, who was only years of
age. was playing about bathing-tank.
and unseen by any one fell in. His splash
ing was heard. but before help could reach
him ne was drowned.
Ever since that time Mrs. Colby has been
melancholy and despondent, so much so
in fact that she has had to have the con-
slant care OF physician. Her case was
thought 10 be serious, and caused her hus-
band and friends considerable worry, but
no one ever had the slightest suspicion that
her grief had shattered her mental facul-
ties to such an extent that she would take
her own life.
The blow is an awful one to Mr.. Colby,
coming on top of the loss Of his SOD, and
he is almost prostrated.
Coroner Evers. who is an old friend OF
the family, was summoned and at once
went out. He held an inquest in the after
noon, and Mr.. Colby and the servant-girl,
Isabel Harvey, were the only witnesses.
There were % Developments, and verdict
was rendered that death resulted from a
bullet wound in her heart, inflicted by
herself while temporarily insane through
grief over the death of her child"
The dead woman leaves three mother
less little ones, the eldest girl of seven,
and two baby boys, aged two and four.
Mrs. Colby was a native of Dresden,
Germany, where she was born Septemb ber
10 q m Nnlt 10 mil hnr
parents twelve years ago. and was married
in May, 1885, 10 George Z. Colby. Ph. b.,
instructor in the yiticultural laboratory at
the University of California at Berkeley.
Mrs. Colby was granddaughter Of the
old pioneer Russ, from whom the Russ
House Of San Francisco was named, Her
father came to this country in the early
days and settled outon Clarumont avenue.
Lecturers and Lnborers.
Seven unions were represented at the
regular weekly meeting OF the Federated
Trades Thursday night. Reports from
their delegates showed the existence of the
utmost harmony In labor ranks.
The clgar-makers. bakers. clerks and
horseshOers reported prosperity, but the
lumbermen and longshoremen said bas-
ness vas dull and that they did not know
when TO look for change.
Secretary Latimer made reQuesta week
ago of Rev. Robert Coyle ask ing for the
use or the church lecture-room for the de-
livery by workingmen OF series of dis
courses setting forth the side of the indus
trial classes upon economic questions that
have been treated by local clergymen of
late
A reply from DR.. Coyle was read. In it
he said it would afford the church great
pleasure TO allow the orkingmen the use
Cf the room.
Tuesday evening, December 8, was set
as the day when James Andrews of the
Painters UuiOn should lecture on THE
El hlcs OF the Labor Movement"
These lectures by worklngmen are to be
made features of the work mapped out
during the present season by the Federated
Trades and the Federal Labor I'm ion
None but workingmen will be allowed to
appear on the platform to discuss the sub
jects.
The committee in charge of the matter
has chosen for the subjects of the next two
lectures "The Status of the Labor Move
ment" and what Workingmen Want"
The Pirate in the Tolls.
The trial Of James Macdonald, popu-
larly known as the Bay Pirate, was begun
before Judge Ellsworth yesterday
morning.
Macdonald is charged with having burg
lariously entered the Southern Pacific
storehouse at the long wharf and securing
much valuable rope and brass plate.
The defendant is a hard character, with
an unsavory reputation in police circles.
He has a prior or two charges against him.
ard his chances of escaping justice on this
count are extremely slim.
lie is defended by San Francisco at
torney, and the people are represented by
Deputy District Attorney Frick.
A jury was chosen yesterday, and the
prosecution nearly completed its Ease.
The jury will probably have the case be-
fore tonight.
Bad Boys.
A crowd of boys in the vicinity of
Twenty-fOurth and Market streets are
preparing themselves for life Of crime.
Citizens say they have taken possession of
a vacant ior. on which they assemble and
put in their time creating 4 disturbance.
They have on different occasions obtained
possession of liquor and mothers have been
surprised to find their boys come home
drunk. Passers-Dy have been assailed ana
strange boys had their belongings taken
from them. They are a hard crowd aud
the neighbors are devising means by which
they Can break up the gang.
ALAMEDA.
Alameda is very unfortunate as recards