Omaha daily bee., 1894-12-16
LEAVES A LETTER and WILL
Papers from Mrs, Notson Indicating that She
Intended TO Commit Suicide.
LOSING IN A BATTLE AGAINST ADVERSELY
Would Take the Children with Her-Asks
Forgiveness for the Dreadful Step
About to BE Taken-John
Rush the Administrators.

A package Of papers has been found
which gees to show that Mrs. Notson had
determined to kill herself and her two little
ones. These papers, together with the paid
up life insurance policies and the deeds to
her property, were turned over to the man
whom she intended TO appoint as her ad-
ministrator. The relatives CT the missing
woman and immediate friends of the family
were called into consultation that night to
discuss the documents. In this package was
a letter dated December z, 1894, which began
by saying:
Before leave the world, taking my
children with me, want to make a state
ment In Justice to my friends" She then
went on to state that one life insurance
policy had become nonforfeitable and that
she wanted it collected and the proceeds
used in paying her debts She appointed
John Rush of the Nebraska Savings bank as
her administrator, and asked him to pay all
her debts and then apply the remainder to-
ward paying the mortgage on her mother S
house.
WAS GLAD TO GO.
In this letter Mrs. Notson said that she
was glad to leave this world, and that for
the past three and one-half years she had
struggled against adversely, as serious illness
and other reverses had kept her In debt until
she had wearied OF the unequal struggle and
had given up all hope
She said that she had made some serious
mistakes last fall by leaving her school
work to do work for a publishing house
and engage in politics. She said that she
had risked all that she had and had lost
Mrs. Notson said that skc had tried to man.
age well. but that since August 1, she hat
risked too much, had banked on uncertain.
ties and had been left. She said that she
could have discharged her indebtedness in
four or five years, but that her creditors
had shown no inclination to be lenient with
her. She asked God to forgive her the dread
ful step she was about to take, and said
that she was weary of life and would take
her darling children with her, rather thar
leave them to the merces of cold world
She thanked the friends who had helped heI
and hoped that no one would suffer because
Of her rash act. She asked forgiveness, and
dated the letter at o'clock Friday evening
The informant OF The Bee said that all OF
the papers had been turned over to John
Rush, who would follow out the woman s
last wishes; He has her last will and testa-
ment, which she made several months ago,
Just before submitting to dangerous surgi-
cal operation.
After learning of the contents of the let
ter, the relatives of Mrs. Notson doubled
their efforts in dragging the river. and to-
day the searching party will be largely rein
forced.
The contents of the papers which have
been turned over TO Mr.. Rush will be made
public In a few days, but at present he will
make no statement concerning them.
REWARD OFFERED FOR THE BODY.
Mrs. Notson's father C. B. Cook, arrived
at home last evening about dark and was al
worn out with his efforts to recover the bode.
of his daughter and grandchildren. He sale
that during the past few days he hat
searched every foot of the rivers bottom
from Gibson to the mouth Of the Soutl
Omaha sewer, and that he was going to con
tinue The search today. He is organizing
party to put In the rext week searching alonf
the river. Last night he had a number o
placards printed offering $50 reward for tn,
recovery of the bodies. He describes Mrs
Notson as being a blonde, with light brown
hair hazel eyes, about five feet nine inche.
tall, and weighing about 140 pounds. Sh,
terra Gotta waist, puffed sleeves. an,
trimmed with bead ornaments She wore
black fall cloak with cape. neither of whicl
were lined. The children are Dora, aged
years, and Willie. aged g.
The family Of the missing woman are pos
itive that she has committed suicide, ant
said that the contents of the letter were cor
rectly reported, but that they had not ye
intended to make them public. Mr.. Cool
said last night that he was confident that h
would soon find the body. Mrs. Cook /
prostrated with grief since finding the letter
and has given up hopes of ever seeing he
daughter again. E. II. williams, relative o
Mrs. Notson. has arrived from Chicago, an,
is assisting In the search.