Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-08-02
DEATH
BY OWN
HAND
Pretty Gertrude ChriSIer
Takes Her Own Life
Without Cause.

Gertrude Chrisler pretty girl seventeen years
wears of age committed suicide Wednesday morn-
ing at the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Straub by
shooting herself through the heart
The deed was committed about 7:I5 oclock IN
the morning, while evidently in fit of despond-
ency.
Miss Chris1er arrived in Idaho Springs about
ten davs ago from Denver for the purpose OF pay
ing a visit to her friend, Mrs. Straub. She was an
orphan. her father and mother being dead, but she
had two sisters living at 1926 California street.
Denver and brother, Chas. Chrisler, OF tins CITY
1t was the intention of the young lady to return
TO Denver on the morning she committed the act
but she evidently changed her mind IN the nlgft
and decided that life not worth the living.
She arose about 6.3o o'clock to all appearances
for she was entirely dressed with exception OF her
shoes Her hair was combed and IN short tinle
she would have been ready to make her intended
journey.
Some time during the night Miss Chrisler wrote
two letters. one to Mrs Bessie Dodgeson, sister
i, Denver and another to Chas. Straub of this
citv. The exact contents of these letters are not
known. as Coroner Trathen, after reading them
turned the letters over the parties to whom they
were addressed.
When Miss Chrisler sent the bullet through her
heart she was sitting on the edge of the bed, facing
the looking glass. She had secured possession OF
A1-caibre Colts revolver, and which IS the prop
ertv of Chas. Straub. She had carried the weapon
in her grip for some time and it was only on the
evening before her death that Mr. Straub had told
chas Chriser that he had better secure possession
of the gun.
The girl evidently was well posted as to the
co,,-s bullet would take and to the exact spot
to nace the rnuzze of revolver in order to secure
instant death.
The first thing Mr. and Mrs. Frank Straub knew
of the tragedy was when they heard mutfied re-
port. They were sitting down stairs, when the
shot was fired The next thing that attracted their
attention was thud as if someone had fallen 10
the floor They hurriedly made their way to the
room occupied by the girl, and upon opening the
door of her room, found that she was to all appear
arces dead Blood was gushing from the wound in
her breast and also from her mouth and nose. Dr.
Allen B. Fraser was sent for and arrived on the
scene with all possible haste Only one look was
required by the doctor announce that the suicide
had nassed from this life. The weapon had been
nlaced lust at the top of the left nipple and went
straight through the body, then on through the
partition of the adjoining ROOM where it landed on
the floor.
Coroner Trathen was summoned at once and
arrived on the scene in a short time. He gave in
structons that no one to disturb the room, and
then notified his assistants to go and take the body
to his undertaking parlors.
When the girl fired the fatal shot, she had the
muzz1e so close to her body that the was terribly
powder burned.
Few people were given the opportunity of view
ing the remains but those who did see them, pro-
nounced the young lady more beautiful even in
death than in life She was the possessor OF an
almost perfect complexion, with dard brown hair
which was inclined to be wavy. She was well
formed and weighed about I35 pounds. She was
robust and healthy.
Miss Chrisler had, just previous to firing the
fatal shot, put her nightgown on over her dress
She then drew back the opening of the gown and
pulled the trigger.
Why this young lady, who was just blossomng
into womanhood, should commit such rash act, is
not definitely known, but the supposition is that
she met with a disappointment in love. She was
always known to be of jolly disposition, up until
a short time ago. but of late had not been in the
best of spirits. Especially this since her
arrival in Idaho Springs. On the evening preced-
ing her death she appeared to be brighter than
usual, and for awhile sitting on the porch
talking to Mr.. and Mrs. Straub. She even went so
far as to play on the piano and sing song for the
entertainment of her friends
If was quite late when she retired and Chas
Straub to whom she was enamored, had been in
his room for some time. As she went up stairs to
her room which was the hallway from
Straub's she quietly entered his room and placing
her hand on his forehead, asked him if he was
going to Empire. Straub told her that he was