The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-11-05
,neclaI D,snatch to The s,andard.

Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Missouia. Nov. 4.-The most shocking
tragedy that has ever occurred In this
city took place this morning. and as
It's results the dead bodies of Lew
Hampson and his wife lie at the home
OF the iatters mother. one murdered
and the other a victim Of suicide. Both
parties were well known here and the
news OF the murder and suicide this
morning Mortified the city. An Inquest
was held as soon as possible and the
verdict was that the woman was killed
by her husband. who Immediately took
his own life.
The story Of the affair Is a sad one.
Mrs. Hampson. befors her marriage
about FIVE years ago, was Sallie
Greenough. sister Of T. L. and J. w.
Greenough OF this city. She was
perfect specimen Of womanhood and
was considered to be the handsomest
girl in the state Her friends were le-
gion and her marriage to Mr.. Hamp-
son was a surprise to all OF them and
wns opposed by her family. The finan-
cIal affairs Of the family have been
gradually getting worse a. the time
has gone on, and the husband has been
more or less despondent OF late. His
wife had been In this city with her
mother. Mrs. Greenough. for nearly the
entire summer, while Mr.. Hsmpeon
had been at work elsewhere. Last
week he arrived here and seemed no
different from usual to his friends
Last night he was on the streets read
ing the election returns and spent
long time In the rotunda Of the Flor
ence hotel writing. The night porter
at the hotel says that he wrote sew
eral letters that he mailed at the hotel
ONCE.
This morning, after breakfast, he
came down town and met on tire
street several acquaintances. He went
again 10 the hotel and wrote for some
time, then he went TO the shop OF
Bishop a. Kern and examined a revolt
yer. He wanted 10 buy one, he said.
and told Mr.. Bishop that he would
like to try one that was shown him.
and N he liked II he would call this
evening and pay for II. He was given
about is cartridges with the pistol and
went away. Three times he called at
the Office Of J. W. Greenough. his
wtfe's brother. and asked to see him.
but Mr.. Greenough had not yet come
down from his home.
Mr.. Hampson then started for his
home on the way he was met by sew
eral friends, and none OF them noticed
that ne was at all agitated. He spoke
with Postmaster Dowell jokingly about
the election and near his home he met
c. r.. Woodwork and R. =. Mentrum,
TO each Of whom he spoke cheerfuiiy.
When he met Mr. Mentrum he was
near his home. He az once went In and
walked directly 10 his room up stairs.
His wife was on the lower floor with
| her mother. but she followed him up
| stairs at once. That was the last time
| that she was seen alive.
Soon after she went up two shots
were heard and the family rushing
up stairs. found both Hampson and
wife IN the agonies OF death. The wo-
man was sitting in chair and the
bullet that ended her life had been
| fired into her head az the left temple
| In n downward direction. In front Of
| her and a little TO one side on the floor
with his left arm bent under him and
| the revolver firmly grasped In his right
| hand was the men With a bullet hole
\ In his left temple There was no sign
| Of any struggle and the position OF the
| bodies indicated that the wife had
been sitting In the chair talking 10 her
husband. who was standing in front
Of her when he shot her without warn
ing and then without moving ended
his own life.
At the Inquest. which was hAli this
| afternoon. a letter was produced which
was found in his pocket addressed TO
his mother. Mrs. Dixon. IN Butte. 1t
was one OF the letters that he had
written at the hotel last night and II
contained n postscript that was dated
at O'Clock this morning. The letter
stated that he and his wife had deter
mined 10 go together and that what
ever the trouble they had would go
with them untold In the letter were
papers relating TO life insurance in q
secret order amounting to 5000.
! One-third of this he asked his mother
! to take and the rest he wanted given
10 his little son whom he said he loved
dearly. That was all
TIE friends OF Mrs Hampson do not
credit the statement OF the letter that
she consented 10 the act They do not
know what motive to ascrihe 10 the
act IL must have been dependency.
IL Is said that Mr.. Hampson had
| threatened his life recently. hut II was
not thought that he was IN earnest.
The couple leave a little boy 4 years
Old
II Is the saddest event that has ever
| happened in this city and tire family
| % the murdered woman have the SYM
1