The record-union., 1895-05-18
MYSTERY ABOUT 4 WOMAN'S DEATH
Mrs. Louise Hornung's Demise at
Boulder, Montana.
She Was From California, and Her
Maiden Name Was Belle L. Ru-
gault-Was Wealthy.

The Jefferson County Sentinel, pub
lished at Boulder City. Mont. on the 9Th
inst. contained an account of the death
there, under strange circumstances. of a
lady from California, named Mrs. Louise
Hornung. 1t says:
A lady whose actions were very mys-
terious came in on the Butte train Tues
day OF last week, and took the wagon Ior
the springs. She had every appearance
of lady of refinement and education,
and of course was shown every courtesy
while there on Thursday she SAID sne
wanted to go to Gregson Springs, conse-
ouently Major Beckwith had her brought
to town in a buggy and taken TO Inc
depot: while there her actions were so
mysterious that Agent Hundley had DR..
Leighton called, and he pronounced her
too sick TO travel, and ordered her sent to
the poor farm.
That was Thursday afternoon. On
Friday afternoon she died, and was
buried quietly on Saturday. She had the
best of care while there-Mrs. Dunks do
ing everything in her power to console
and comfort the distressed woman. She
was evidently suffering from severe
attack of nervousness, but no one seemed
TO know exactly what allied her. After
her burial her trunk was opened at the
Treasurer's Office in the Courthouse, and
the revelation was startling. John
Sheehy, Chairman ofthe Board of County
Commissioners, took a view OF every
thing contained therein, tagged the differ
ent articles, locked and sealed the trunk,
then turned the key over to Judge
Showers.
She was evidently a lady Of rank, as
her casket OF jewelry was IN keeping
with a lady of wealth and refinement.
There were several large clustered dia
mond rings, necklaces, bracelets, pins, a
lovely gold watch and chain, ETC., all OF
which are inlaid with diamonds. a
large stack of bonds with coupons draw
interest in the Compagnle Natlonale Des
GauauX Agrlcales, which has capital
stock of $4,000 900, at Toulon, France.
Oceans of tine lace underwear. six or
eight pairs of shoes, some OF which she
had never worn, beside everything else
necessary for a lady who Is travelling for
health, which is evident from the fact
that she had been in the hospital at Mis-
soula for several days, II not longer. Why
she was travelling alone no one knows.
Her marriage certificate states that she
was married at MarysvllIe, Cal, ten years
ago, and that she is 81 yesrs old.
The lady was small of stature, dark hair
and eyes, very petite, rather reserved, but
had the appearance of being we'll edu-
Gated and well raised. From her gen.
her for an actress.
No one could find out her name until
after her death and her trunk was opened,
which revealed several letters, but they
are nearly all in French. Following is one
from the United States Consul at Toulon,
France:
ToULoN (France), June l, 1894.
Mrs. Louise Horaung, formerly Belle
L. .HugGutt, PtittlpSburg, Mont.-MADAM:
It is my duty to inform you of the death
Of your mother. Mime. Hugsult, who died
at Toulon on April 29. 1894
Her estate. valued at 800 to 5000 francs,
has been left to you, and 1t Is In the hands
of Mr.. Brest and myself.
Please send at once instructions to this
Office, and state if you are coming over
here yourself; II not, send power OF at
torney, and l will at once take steps to-
ward obtaining your succession; any per-
son of age can be chosen by you TO rep
resent you here.
Awaiting your instructions. believe me.
yours, respectfully,
CHAs. M..WALTER,
u. s. Cons'I Agent.
She had one dou uble-setted gold ring
which was purchased of q. NJ. Wright OF
Kansas City. The settings were out, but
IN the box neatly wrapped in a small
piece of paper is a very large sapphire,
which she probably intended putting
into the ring.
1t appears that the lady originally came
from Marysville, Cal, where she was
married ten years ago, at the age OF Il,
but the marriage was failure In this in
stance and a divorce was secured. She
started for the East somewhere, but was
taken sick at Missoula, and was taken to
ST.. Johns Hospital where she was ten
derly cared for by the Sisters for some
time. After getting better we are of the
opinion that The sickness left her mind
impaired, and that she really was insane
when here, and did not know what she
was doing.
Mrs. Dunks was very kind to her. and
cared for her like the good motherly
woman that she is, and in this connection
We want TO say right here that Mrs.
Hornung was very fortunate indeed IN
having her lot cast in the place it was as
the large amount OF valuable Jewelry and
money she had might not have been kept
intact Is II was. consequently Chairman
John +. Sheehy and the Dunks family
should be greatly appreciated for their
many kindnesses toward this most unfor-
tunate woman.
Just before she died she asked Mrs.
Dunks to take hold of her hands and rub
them; they were SO soft and cold; she said
If anything happened to her that she had
plenty OF money TO pay for all the
trouble. But she was no particular
trouble further than that she needed a
protecting care, which she received
and greatly appreciated at the hands OF
Mrs. Dunks and her daughter Allie.
After she was dead her trunk was sent
Tor, AMI almost on the top OF everything
was beautiful white silk shroud, which
proves that she was fully prepared tor
death, but no one had the least idea that
the woman was in any Immediate dan
ger. II she had had proper care little
sooner she might be living to-day.
In this connection We want to say that
we are emphatically opposed TO putting
strangers under the ground with the dis