The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-28
'IT WAS STRYCHNINE
Mary Stewart, the Noted, Committed
Suicide Yesterday.
SHE MADE A CONFESSION
Her milling Talk and Queer Aot-
ions Aroused the Citizens
There May Be Truth In
Her Words.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Missoula. Mont. Nov. 27.-Last March
John p. Stewart died at Heron from
the effects of strychnine which the jury
said was administered by MIR. and Mrs.
Ed. Clarke. his father and mother-in-
law. Tonight his widow. Mrs. Mary
Stewart. Is dead from the effects Of the
same poison, self-administered. Mrs.
Stewart spent the afternoon about the
town visiting several offices and a
drug store. What she purchased at
the drug store Is not known. but she
reached Lofrnes' residence IN South
Missoula, where she dived. at about $50
O'Clock. and at 7:2o O'Clock she was
dead. Soon after She reached home she
took some medicine. so Mrs. Lofrnes
says, and a short time after O'Clock
she had two commissions. DIR. Hanson
was summoned and reached the scene
at 7:2o O'Clock. Rigor mortis had then
set IN and the woman showed all the
symptoms of strychnine poisoning. In
the absence of Coroner Grain. Judge
Ross. as coroner. took charge OF the
body tonight. and will hold an inquest
tomorrow.
The last place In town which Mrs.
Stewart visited to-day before going
to her home across the river was the
Office OF Marshal & Corbett. who had
been her attorneys. when she was
charged with the murder Of her hus-
band. and who later represented her
in probate matters. As to THE cause OF
her suicide not much IN known, but "
is believed that she has been driven
nearly crazy by brooding over her con-
duct and testimony in the trial OF her
parents, and that she had become so
nervous and excited she was driven 20
the dreadful deed. The theory that she
worried because she could not get her
child. wahfch is IN Hope. Is not worth
considering, as she was heartfess and
cold. and had no regard whatever for
the little one.
Three weeks ago a Standard reporter
came into possession OF facts regarding
the confession which Mrs. Stewart had
made regarding her testimony at the
trial Of her mother and father for the
murder of her husband. II was her tes-
timony which went far to convict the
old people, and In this confession she
stated that IT was all false; that her
stepfatRer had not been guilty OF any
criminal relations with her. and that
she knew nothing OF any connection of
theirs with the murder. This much was
sensational but when she gave the
reason for this perjury. the climax was
reached. She said that when she was
accused Jointly with her parents of the
murder of her husband, and that whifa
she was in Jail awaiting trial both her
own attorney and the attorney for tine
state had come to her and asked what
she knew about her parents connec-
tion with the murder. She denied any
knowledge. Then these both told her
that unless they could fasten The guilt
upon Mr.. and Mrs. Clarke she herself
would be hung. This II the STORY
which she told three weeks ago and
which she supplemented by engaging
an attorney to secure II possible a new
trial for her parents. At that time the
Standard suppressed the report of this
confession at the earnest solicitation OF
the attorney to whom she told the
story. To-day she called on him again
and wanted TO make affidavit 70 her
confession. He wanted to wait until
associate counsel could be present
Later to-day she told some one else OF
the confession. and there was grea,
hurrying around. At Sis O'Clock she
rode across the river to Loffnes' house
In a hack and engaged the driver to
return for her TO take her TO the over
hand train. as she was going East. she
said. When the driver went TO the
house for her, Mrs. Loffnes said TO ham
Mrs Stewart decided not to go. They
have been trying to scare her into go
fng. but she win stay"
What Mrs. Loffnes meant by they
Is not known. but she must refer tc
those who were hurrying about with
her after the confession became known
to-day. Mrs. Stewart had drawn from
Public Administrator Brooks the al
lowance made for her by the court
last week and had made a trip to Hops
where her child is. She came bach
without the little one. as its custodlani
would not let her have II.
Yesterday and to-day she had impor
tuned Mr.. Brooks for an advance o.
/ $50. as she wanted to go east. H
could not give u to her and she lef
him and continued her journey abou
the town That she took strychnine Il
absolutely certain. DR.. Hanson says
That she made the confession giver
above Is true. That she had beer
urged to get away from here Is prob
able. and she was disappointed becaus'
she could not go and frightened a
what she had said and that the conse
quences caused her TO kill herself Il
also not unreasonable.
As TO her confession. that much OF I
which relates TO her perjury Is un
doubted1y true. but there Is doubt a
TO the veracity OF her statement tina
her attorney frightened her into per
Jury with the connlvance Of the count,
attorney. She swore falsely about he
own mother and she would not hesi
tate to wrong others. For this reason
as much as any other. the STANDARD
said nothing about confession at tn
time Il was made. Mrs Stewart wa
nothing but a girl. but she had beei
bad all her life. She was not inteli