The times., 1897-12-27
MISS WELLS KILLS HERSELF
She Sends a Bullet Through
Her Heart.
SHOT AWAKES HER MOTHER
Young Woman Dead When Her
Parent Reached Her Side III
HeaItI. Made Her Despondent-
Favorite in Her Social Cir lie and
Musician of Some Local y Jte.

Miss Anna Virginia Wells, daughter or
Judge Lewis S. Wells. and yJrng iady
we'll krcwn in social and musical .:iTcles
committed suicide a { her 1athI' s home, W.
1911 street mort Invest, about o'clock
yesterday morning, by shooting herself
through the heart.
Miss Wells was thirty three years old.
She has been in i'll I-health for the past
four months and confined 10 her home the
greater portion Of tie time, OnlyGoinS 'or
walk or a drive on the most pleasant da US.
An afrIction Of the eyes caused the young
woulan's illness primarily, and she was
compelled to undergo difficlilt opera
tiou and long course OF treatment .or
their relief.
Duriug her illness Miss Wells had E.en
in the habit OF sleeping with her mother
in a room on the second floor III the
house, sc that her wants might De at
tended to. On Christmas night she -etlr"o
as usual. The day had not been as On
ioyaDle as she Could have wished, despite
the efforts OF her family to make her
happy. IlEhealth had forced an abandon
ment of some OF the former fuletidc lnys
and pleasures, and the young lady was
despondent when She went to bed, and
did not appear to rest well. Finally, Ms
Wells thought that Ter daughter had fallen
into a slumber, a nd, tired herself, fell nto
a sleep.
A few hours later Mrs. Wells was wax
ened by the shaI p report Of pistol coming
from the adjoining room. occupied by her
son, Mr.. Lewis S. Wells, jr. She OBJ
efyed that her da ughter had arisen. and
went immediately To investigate the cause
OF the SOUND. UPON going into her son's
room, the mother found Miss Anna lying
dead across her brothers bed, and pistol
beside her. She was still in her night
dress. which was covered with blood flow
ing from a wound in her left breast.
Mrs. Wells's screams aroused the re-
uainder OF the family. who hastened 70
the room. DR.. W. W. Johnson, the
family physi clan. was summoned and
propoInced death instantaneous.
The Young woman had evidently Iisen
from Ter bed In fit OF Testiveness and
despondency and gone directly to her
biotheI's hedchamber, knowing That he
was away. procured his revolver from u
bureau drawer, and fired the fatal slot
without deliberation. Her brother had
no knowledge of the affair until nc reached
the house yesterday morning.
Miss Wells was born and had al VI vs.
lived in Washington, her father being
" well-known attorney. She was Il ;al-
ented musician and a popular favorite
among her fashionable set when her health
permitted her to attend to soCia duties.
She had 4 large circle OF acqua intancSs,
ard for a long time was HOloist At the
Church or the Incarnation, OF which size
was n lIemrer, and Il n earnest, religious
worker.
The funeral VIII be held ON Wcdnesda Y
from the Church OF the Incarna ticn, Rev
DR.. Snyder officiating. Burial will be
made III Rock Greek Cemetery.
Curoifer Carr was yesterday notified Of
Miss Wells's suicide. and after an iaves-
tiga tioH of the oircumsta noes, issued a
certificate Of death i'll accordance with
the facts.