Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-01
Her LIFE
Girl Shoots Herself in the Pal
mer House in Chicago.
OTTUMWA INTERESTED
Just Before killing Herself Minnie M.
Wray Writes Letter to AN. Ohler,
Recently Agent of American Ex-
press Company in This City

The following account of the suicide
of Minnie NJ. Wray in the Palmer
house at Chicago last night, taken
from the Chicago Tribune, is of espe-
cial interest to Ottumwa people, mas
much as the man mentioned in the
case. A. N. Ohler, of Moline, was re-
Gently resident of Ottumwa and is
well known in this city. Mr.. Ohler
was agent for the American Express
company here for several months, and
left in February for Moline, Ill, where
he is now cashier in the office of the
same company at that place. The
story follows:
Standing and facing mirror in
which she saw the reflection of her
own youth and more than ordinary
beauty, Minnie NJ. Wray, % years old,
shot herself in the temple in her room
at the Palmer house, some time Sat-
urday night, and instantly ended a
life of which she had grown weary
Before doing SO she took precautions
to conceal her identity, but left in a
waste basket fragments of a letter,
copy of which she is supposed to
have sent to A. n. Ohler, cashier for
the American Express company, at
Moline, Ill. By piecing together these
fragments, detectives gained at once
a clew to her identity, and hint OF
her reasons for self-destruction. 1t was
learned later thru dispatches from
Moline that Miss Wray's home was at
or near Bedford, Ind.
The letter pieced together from the
fragments in the waste-basket reads
as follows:
"All my regret is that you will be
sad. 1 have tried to muster the nerve
to fight on, but it fails me. | have
wrecked too many lives already and
must cease. / cannot be happy with
SO many mistakes in my memory, nor
can ever forget them. The world has
too many sad people here now. have
no ambition, so end all. Remember ]
love you and il | fail in my attempt
today, perhaps l shall forget, but hope
to be successful in ending all. 1t may
be some one will write you regarding g
me, as | have to put an address on
my trunk, but / will send it to the
American Express company, there
by avoiding embarrassment for you,
liz possible. Will send an order for it
and the key to YOU
The letter was written on the hotel
stationery, and the writing was that
apparently of an educated person
The young woman's appearance when
she registered at the hotel as ''I4.
Gray" on Friday afternoon indicated
that she was we'll to do and of good
|antecedents. Since that time she had
not left the room on the sixth floor
to which she was assigned
Everything shows the suicide to
have been deliberately planned. To
hide her identity the young woman
sent away all her former garments
in her trunk. Her body when discov-
cred was clad in cheap black wrap
per, evidently purchased for the oc-
casion, and a small revolver was firm
ly grasped in her hand.
Besides the longer note, scraps of
another were found, reading: Twill
send trunk under assumed name as
per inclosed order. Please do not
write home about ane. 1t will cause
them SORROW The name "Leona
Graves was signed to it. The inclos-
Gu OlASl was w VIZ plCSo
company and as follows:
american Express Company, Mo-
line, 1ll.-Please deliver to NJ. Ohler
Graves, Chicago. L. Graves
not attempt to destroy. 1t was for
the management of the hotel, and was
as follows:
"Am tired living. Do not make a
fuss about me. Find money in purse
to settle hotel bill. Dispose of body
quietly. Do not try to locate friends
or relations. Don't want them to
know. Farewell. L. Gray.
The money she referred to amount
led to $3.50. She had in addition two
diamond rings.
When she came to the hotel on Fri
day afternoon Miss Wray was dressed
in stylishly-made grey travelling
suit, with hat to match. Clerk
Campbell asked her what name he
should register, and she said 81.
Gray" Asked what place she was
from, she hesitated u moment ,and
then said: "Oh, well, Chicago will do
but finally said, Perhaps Mon
mouth"
Her body was not discovered till
1870 p. m. The chambermaid, unable
to get into the room, reported to the
office, and House Officer Will Palmer
went up to investigate.
The police We're notified at once,
and the body taken to Ralston's un-
dertaking rooms at % Adams street.
The bullet entered the right temple,
and passed out at the top of the
head. An inquest will be held to-
day.
Ohler Receives Letter and Trunk.
Moline, H., April aO.-The girl
who committed suicide at the, Palmer
house was Minnie NJ. Wray, % wears
old, and her home is in Indiana. Yes
terday morning. A. n. Ohier, cashier
|of the American Express company at
this place, received a letter from Miss
Wray, in which She said she was go
ing to destroy herself and had ship