The San Francisco call., 1895-07-31

was 80 o'clock when Lois was taken from
the Receiving Hospital by Mrs. Fowler to
her present home.
The little girl was CRYING for her mamma.
She was finally pacified by having the
gray kitten, which she called ''Twiddle
Vice." put to bed with her.
When seen little Lois was in bed nurs-
ing and watching the kitten beside her'
She seemed entirely content and happy IN
her youthful innocence OF the dark
tragedy.
Mrs. Fowler, who has assisted the Ed
wards family from time. to time, SAID tnat
she became acquainted with ID. ID. Ed
wards and wife about two years ago at MIS-.
Burke's boarding house, 925 .Haight street.
When Mrs Fowler moved from 1l5 Wepster
street to 100 Haight street, boarding
house kept by Mrs. Martin, the EDWARDS
family followed her there.
"They tried to live beyond their means,
think" said Mrs Fowler. .IheV haa
evidently been accustomed to living well.
Mr.. Edwards was paying $18 week Tor
suite of rooms. Mrs. Martin, who kept the
boarding house, was taking good care that
they did not run into debt, always making
them pay week in advance.
'I always liked Mrs. Edwards. She was
a lively-spirited woman, with a quick
temper Her husband was quiet man
and rather remorse in disposition.
Mrs. Edwards came to see me at l!3
Webster street last Sunday. She said 1t
was no use to fight any longer against
hardships and poverty. She told me that
she and her husband had made up their
minds to commit suicide and kill the
children.
az tried to coax her and make her look
on the bright side of life. | bought her
few delicacies for herself and the children.
When left Mrs. Edwards | told her not
to worry and that / would see that they
get their trunks flom the eXpressman and
pay the charges due on them. also
promised 10 take them some money yes
terday. You may imagine my feelings
when [ received a letter from her yester-
day morning stating that all the family
would be dead when | called to see them"
The letter that Mrs. Edwards sent to
Mrs. Fowler was written with lead
pencil. The handwriting is in round
schoolgirl style. The writer seemed to
have considered every word before writ
ing. The full text of the letter is as fol-
lows:
SAN FRANCISCO, |
Monday, July 30, '95, $3.50 P. M
My Dear Mrs. FOWIer: When this reaches you
in the morning we shall be dead. We had
made ND our minds last night. That is the rea-
son you found me SO calm when you were here
Life with the present prospects is little better
to bear. We were not afraid to die.
thank you many, many IllneS lOr your love
and kindness to me. Surely some day you will
get your reward l am leaving you all own
in this world for love and friendships sake (;
accept them from me and mine and let your
hand and your kiss be the last | shall ever re-
eeive near me. Goodbye, and hope we shall
meet soon again. l die happy, knowing all
my worry is over. The 81 you Will have 10
pay on the trunks, you know, are owing to me.
Get 1t also if in looking over my things you
think anything my milkwoman would like;
Take it to her from me. She was good friend
when did not know where to turn. NO one
knows OF this letter to you, so you need not
show it. l viii inclose written order for
trunks. If you can keep any crowd from gaz-
ing on me do so, that is all. Good-by and may
you live happier than have. Lovingly, your
friend in life and death KATIE EDWARDS,
1145 Market street, Monday, 10 P. NJ.
The inclosed order for the trunks was
written on a torn billhead of Frank DON
nelly, an expressman doing business at
Fremont and Market streets. The order
was:
Deliver to Mrs. W. NJ. Fowler two trunks, one
cedar chest on receipt OF 50.
H. H. EDWARDS.
The husband had also signed this order.
His writing would indicate that he must
have been very nervous at the time.
Mrs. Fowler does not know anything
about the early life of the Edwards, ex-
cepting that Mrs. Edwards said she was
born in Canada and that Mr.. Edwards was
from New York State.
81 have been friend to those people, !"
continued Mrs. Fowler. Mr.. Edwards al
ways seemed to me to be in trouble. No
matter what he tried everything seemed to
fail.
Nothing seemed to go right. But in all
his troubles his wife stood by her husband,
as Mrs. Edwards idolized him and the
children"
Mrs. Fowler does not know what will be
done with the little girl, Lois Edwards,
but in all probability she would try to get
her sister, Mrs. Daniel Skerrett, to adopt
the child.
Mrs. w. NJ. Fowler, the lady who has been
assisting the Edwards family is the widow
of w. NJ Fowler. Her husbands business
was that of bridge-builder. He was killed
about five years ago while experimenting
some bridge work that his firm was build
ing. Mrs. Fowler could not tell exactly
how the accident happened.
Mrs. Fowler was left in fairly good cir
cumstances. She owns beautiful cottage
at LIS Webster street.
The inquest on the bodies of II. II.
Edwards and child will take place at
o'clock this morning.