Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-27
TAKES HER OWN LIFE
Tragic and Untimely Death of Anna
Virginia Wells.
SHOOTS HERSELF THROUGH The HEART
Bodily Suffering Produces an Un-
settled Condition of Mind.
GRIEF OF HER FRIENDS

Miss Arna Virginia Wells daughter of
Judge Lewis s. Wells. the well-known law
YER and a sister of Mr. Lewis S. Wells
jr.. plain of the Columbia Athletic Club
foot ball team, took her life yesterday
morning at o'clock by shooting herself
through the heart with revolver at her
| residence, 1911 N street northwest. Miss
Wells was in her thirty-third year, and UP
t" five months ago had enjoyed vigorous
health. About that time she became trou-
bled with an affection of the eyes, and was
placed under the treatment of DR.. Wilmer,
the oculist. The ailment seemed to affect
her entire mental and physical condition.
and for the latter troubles DR.. w. w.
Johnston attended her. From a handsome
girl. with a plump and rotund figure. she
| wasted away until she became mere
frame, and her mind was evidently weak
cred as we'll as her body.
So great was the anxiety of her parents
over this phase of her sickness that her
mother consulted DR.. Johnston some time
ago in regard to it, but the physician stat
ed that there was then no indication of
mental trouble. The young lady, however.
continued to indulge in singular fancies
and queer ideas, and seemed to be always
worrying about the rest of her family. She
was particularly devoted to her mother.
and since she became so i'll four months
ego Mrs Wells has been sleeping with her.
Her Strange Actions.
Frequently the mother would awaken to
find her daughter looking at her with the
greatest solicitude. At such times she
would frequently go to her brothers room,
| which adjoined her sleeping apartment, and
express fears about her mother and in
duge in vagaries that were the subject of
intense anxiety on the part Of the family.
| She was of lovable and sweet a dispo-
siton, however, and so thoughtful and
considerable Of others. always thinking OF
them rather than of herself, that her anxiety
about the other members of the family was
attributed largely to the fact that her mind
was affected by her bodily infrmity. and
| that she magnitied her fears into realities.
| Christmas night Mrs. Wells and her
daughter retired as usual When the
| storm broke over the city young Can't
| Wells was at the Columbia Athletic Club
| and concluded to sleep there. At O'Clock
| in the morning Mrs. Wells awoke and
| found that her daughter was not in the
| bed. She heard rustlng In her son s
room, and called out to the girl. The lat
| ter answered her mother, saying she would
| be back in a minute. That brief time
| bad not elapsed when there was sharp
| report of pistol. Mrs. Wells rushed into
her sons apartment and there found her
daughter lying the floor in front of
the bureau, with a pistol clinched in he1
hand and the blood issuing from wound
in the left breast.
Screams of the Mother.
The screams of the agonzed mother
! aroused Judge Wells and the servants,
| and physicians were sent for while efforts
| We're made to staunch the flow of blood
| and resuscitate the wounded girl. She was
| beyond human help, however, as the bull
| let had passed through her heart and death
had followed instantly. The pistol with
which the unfortunate woman committed
| the desperate deed had been lying In the
| drawer of her brothers bureau for seven
| years.
The parents and brother declare to be
| incorrect the statements published in
| morning paper to the effect that Miss Wells
| was very much attached to the late MISS
Leila Herbert, and that the death of the
latter had brought on the melanchoha
which resulted in her taking her own life
My daughter was not even acquainted
with Miss Herbert said Judge Neiis 10
| The Star reporter this morning, and
neither was she a society woman. From
her earliest childhood she has devoted her
| self to church work, to music and to her
| family. Her life has been Identified with
| the Church of the incarnation In her
| childhood she was enthusiastic member
| CT it's Sunday school. Growing older she
| sang in the choir for several years, and has
been active always IN the work OF the
Kings Daughters and of the Altar Guild"
Beautiful Tributes.
! 1t was touching to hear the beautiful
| tributes paid to the dead girls traits and
characteristics by her mother. There
was never" she said between her sobs, "a
| more lovable. more tender, more thoughtful
| or more dutiful daughter"
| She was a great favorite in her immediate
| circle, and was one of the most valuable
members of the Church of the Incarna-
ton. She was tireless in doing good work.
She possessed a sweet and sympathetic
sopr ano voice Of excellent cultivation, hav-
ing been q pupil. fist of Mrs. Kaspar, and
afterward of Mrs. Mills.
Coroner Carr did not deem an inquest
necessary The funeral will take place
Wednesday at o'clock pm. from the
Church of the Incarnation.
Received No Pay.