Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-30
Mrs. A. e. Bonawitz Shoots
Herself at Leland Hotel
Early This Morning
SAYS SHE LOVES CHRIS RITTER
Deed of Self Destruction Committed
About 1:3o-Death Ensues Shortly
After Noon-Letters to Husband,
Parents and Public Written Shortly
Before Fatal Shot Was Fired.

A most tragic end to young and
wasted life occurred this morning al
about 80 o'clock, when Mrs. Minnie
M. Bonawitz, wife of A. L. Bonawitz, a
well-known horse buyer of the city,
shot herself at a room in the Leland
Hotel. The aim was well taken and the
| deed gives evidence of careful premed-
itation. Until almost 3 o'clock the
| woman was conscious: at 2 she prayed
| for the welfare of her soul. Lapsing
into Inconsistencies at about she
fingered until 10 this afternoon, when
death ensued.
The scene about the death-bed was
most touching and pitiful. The hus-
band and father were at the woman's
side, each having been summoned
shortly after the fatal shot was fired.
Mrs. Mann, Mrs. Bonawitzs aged
mother and her sister, Mrs. William
Ward, were also present, having ar
rived this forenoon.
To the aged parents the blow was
most severe. There lay their daughter,
whom, only few years ago they had
fondled and petted as babe. her life
blood slowly but surely ebbing away,
Makes Sure of Aim.
Mrs. Bonawitz made sure Of her aim
when she took the step that was to
forever put an end to her existence.
She had written the letters that were
found on her dresser in the little room
on the second floor, labeled reception
ROOM" She had removed her clothing,
donned her night robe and gone to bed,
where she was found as she fell back
upon the pillows after firing the shot.
The weapon used was a new Iver
Johnson ss-caliber. Each of the five
chambers was loaded. and one empty
tered the left breast passing thru the
lung and missing the heart by one-half
inch. The bullet passed entirely thru
the woman's body, coming out under
the shoulder blade, and lodging in the
bed.
All of the guests at the Leland were
arousd by the noise of the shot, and ex-
element for a time was at a fever
heat. DR.. Montague was summoned,
and at once saw that there was no hope
for the woman, altho then she was still
conscious. All she asked was to be let
alone, and each attempt OF the physi-
stefan to ease her pain was met with a
struggle against there being anything
done for her. The patient was abso-
lutely pnlseless when DR.. Montague ar
rived, and had broken out In a cold per-
spiration, showing signs of great suf-
fering. A preparation of nitro glycer-
inc and strychnia, as heart stimulant,
was applied, after which the pulse
gave Immediate signs of action. Her
wound was bandaged to stop the seep-
age of blood. Shortly afterward she
became unconscious, and remained In
that condition until her death. The in
ternal hemorrhages were most severe.
the punctured lung filing up at every
breath.
Said She Was Foolish.
Landlord Davis, of the Leland, was
the first person to arrive at the wom-
ans side after the tragedy. and he was
followed shortly by S. A. Cohen. who
was occupying a room near that in
which the shooting occurred. Mrs.
Bonawitz was asked why she had done
it, and replied: "Oh, we all get foolish
once in q WHILE" She begged to be let
alone. however, and did not want any
thing done for her, saying she wanted
to die. When the note was seen, in
which the woman gave the name of the
man she loved. some one in the room
suggested that she should not have
taken her life because OF that, She
"Oh, you don't know the
troubles have. That is the least OF
them" At 2 o'clock she offered up
prayer to God for her soul, but her
auditors could only distinguish por-
tion of her words.
Leaves Three Letters.
Mrs. Bonawitz left three letters,
which were found on her dresser. One
was to her parents, another to Mr..
Bonawitz, and a third to the public
The letter to her parents, addressed ITO
my father and mother read as fol-
lows:
Farewell to mother, father, brother
and sisters, and dear old grandfather.
/ am dying from a sad and broken
heart. Do not blame Burt for it. I
have troubles of my own. Good bye,
Minnie. Monday night, 12:15.'
To Her Husband.
To her husband the following letter
was written:
"Mr. Bonawitz: 1890. AS went out
and told you good-bye little did you
think meant it, but it is all true. I
am only dying for the man I love. !
am driven to hell and distraction. II
don't blame you, SO will now say good.
bye forever. Minnie"
To the Public.
The letter addressed to the public is
as follows:
ITO the public: did this offal crime
with my own hands. Trouble is all that
drives me to it. Please wire c. w.
Black, Duluth, Mimi, care st. Louis
Hotel, of this act. Also have a dozen
of pictures which will come to Leland
Hotel marked Miss Jessie Lewis. Give
them to Mr.. Bonawitz. 1t is lilo and
I am now ready to load the revolver so
goodbye The photograph on the.
dresser of myself belongs to Chris Rit-
ter, so please hand it to him. (SigneO
Minnie M. Bonawitz Dec. 80, 1902"
The letter to the public was found
tackled over the picture referred to,
and over 1t also was a note of writing
paper containing the following words:
"This photo belongs to Chris Ritter.
He is the man I love-"
Mr. Bonawitz, when asked about the
C. w. Black referred to In the letter to
tho y,1hlin said that he knew but little