The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-25
SUSPICION IS REMOVED
Unwarranted Reflection on a
Young Woman's Character.
CELIA PETERSON'S DEATH
A Coroner's Jury Inquiring as to the
Cause of the Tragic Occurrence.
No Scandal Attaches to
Her Memory.

What appears to have been a very
much un~warranted reflection on the
character of Miss Celia Peterson, the
young woman who caused her own
death by shooting herself a week ago
last evening at her home at the corner
of Utah avenue and Front street. de-
veloped at the %coroner's inquest which
was begun by Coroner Tremblay yes
terday afternoon. II was more than
limited. in fact the coroner stated ne
a been informed that Miss Peterson
had been in trouble. which resulted
from improper relations with some
man, but the testimony of DR.. Leggat,
who assisted DR.. Freund in attending
her and who performed a post norton
examination, removed the unfair sus-
picion against the memory of the un-
~rtun young woman He stated,
from expert knowledge, that II was
absolutely impossible for such a thing
to nave been true. The inquest was
not finished, and after examining two
witnesses. an adjournment was taken
to Monday evening.
Coroner Tremblay. in giving his rea-
IN for an adjournment, Informed the
jury that the brother of the young
woman was not in a fit condition to
testify. and as he desired the jury TO
hear his testimony, the adjournment
was ordered. Coroner Tremblay stated
it was the brother who communicated
to him the suspicion against the
| woman. His condition, as stated by
the coroner, may have accounted for
his statement, or IL is possible the coro-
ner was i'm error himself. At all events.
II is certain the brothers statements
have always been to the effect hat his
| sister was a virtuous m Miss
| Peterson, IL should be stated, bore an
excellent reputation in the neighbour
hood where she lived, and not one who
knew her was willing TO believe there
| was anything wrong in her conduct.
A week ago last evening, from mo-
tives which are still considerable of a
mystery, Miss Peterson shot herself.
| she was taken to Murray & Freund's
hospital and fingered till Friday morn
ing. when she died about 3 o'clock. Her
injury was of such a character that 1t
was impossible for her to survive. The
inquest was begun yesterday afternoon
at Sherman's undertaking rooms at 3
O'clock.
City Detective Jerry Murphy was the
first witness. He stated that on the
night Miss Peterson shot herself he in
vestigated to ascertain If there was
any foul play. He asked Miss Peterson
who shot her and she said she did II
herself. When asked why. she refused
to state. The witness described the
scene of the tragedy, showing that the
woman was I'm n room of her home
alone and her brother was in the front
room. The brother hearing the shot.
went for help and found a Mrs. Muir
ply. who came in and found the young
woman lying on the floor.
DIR. A. c. Leggat. the next witness,
testified to attending the woman as one
of the staff of Murray q Freund's hos
pital. A laparotomy was performed 10
ascertain what organs had been in
jured. and il was found the ball had
entered at the middle of and just below
the breast bone and ranged TO the
right. passing through the liver.
Neither the stomach nor any OF the
other organs were injured. The young
woman salt she shot herself. When
asked what trouble she was in, she said
something about a lawsuit that was
pending against herself and brother.
The coroner here sprung something
of a sensation. He stated he had been
informed that the woman had been in
a delicate condition and had had an
operation performed and that this had
been the cause of the suicide.
DR.. Leggat stated very positively that
this could not be true. from the fact
that a condition peculiar to women
had taken place while the woman was
in the hospital. Besides, by permission
Of the brother. the witness had per-
formed n post mortem examination and
had found absolutely no evidence that
the woman had ever been In a delicate
condition. Witness said also, that he
had asked the brother If he had any
such suspicion at the time he asked
permission to perform the examination
and the brother replied that he was
sure his sister had been a virtuous
woman. DR.. Leggat stated that death
was the result of ~peritonitis, due to
the accumulation of bile in the peri
toneal cavity.
As the brother and Mrs. Murphy
whose testimony the jury desired tc
hear. were not present, an adjourn
ment was taken at this time TO Monday
evening at S o'clock.