The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-25
SHOT WOMAN TO DEATH, THEN KILLED HIMSELF

stable by Phil Watson, the negro boy, was quickly communicated by the stable boy to his employer. David Roswald, anS it soon became public property. MT. Ros- wald telephoned to police headquarters, to Coroner Tice and to friends of Armis- tead at the county courthouse. Special Police Officers Payne and Rap port hurried to the scene of the tragedy, and they were soon joined by Coroner Tice and some friends of Armistead. A squad of patrolmen surrounded the house to keep back a morbid crowd of negroes, while the special officers and Coroner Tice made a careful investigation of the premises and closely questioned the ne- gro woman. A valise of Mary Hanson was opened. It contained several fine gar- ments and 32-calibre pearl-handled pis- tol.
 Inquest Unnecessary. Coronel Tice said that an inquest was unnecessary. Under the direction of i friends of Armistead, his body was soon removed to Tice's undertaking establish ment. H. A. Loveless. negro under taker, took charge of the body of the negro woman.
 All of yesterday and last night crowds 1 visited the undertaking establishment to look into the face of Armistead. the man who had been honored by his fellow-citi- zens and had at one time been regarded as one of the most prosperous and pros gressive citizens of Montgomery County:
 Armistead was in Montgomery Sunday and it is believed that he drove to his home at Mount Meigs Sunday night with Louis Miles, a young musician about town. The two were seen in buggy on the Mount Meigs Road late Sunday even ing. They were seen again in Montgom- cry at 63o o'clock yesterday morning. Armistead left the buggy at the Federal building and went to the county court house. Miles drove the buggy to the Alabama stables and left the horse there. The horse and buggy had not been called for up to late hour last night.
 Armistead was about the county court house as late as o'clock. yesterday morn ing. His friends say he acted, strangely and more than one of them remarked upon 1t. Some of them say he had been drinking.
 Elliott s. Armistead was one of the best known men in Montgomery County. When he registered at the county court house about five days ago he gave his age as 42 years. He was a son of the late Dr. w B. Armistead, who was the first Democratic Tax Collector of Mont gomery County after the reconstruction period, and was born near Showdown. Mir. Armistead was kinsman of several of the most prominent families of the Capital City.
 Failed in Business.
 Early in life MT. Armistead was mem- Der of a prominent mercantile firm of Montgomery, but later removed to his plantation near Pike Road, where he con- ducted a large store in connection with his farming interests. Two years ago he failed in business and his friends say he has appeared disheartened since that time: that his failure preyed upon his mind and that he was mentally unbal- anced, At the time of his failure he transferred all of his property to his creditors and L. Steiner of Montgomery was named as trustee to represent the creditors.
 Soon after his failure in business MT. Armistead removed his family from Pike Road to Mount Meigs, where his brother, George M. Armistead. resides. Since he novel to Mount Meigs he had been engaged in farming, but was fre- quent visitor to Montgomery.
 In 1892 MT. Armistead was elected Tax Collector of Montgomery County. He was reelected Tax Collector in 1896 and served the county in this capacity most acceptably eight years. September 1st, 1900 he went out of the office, being suc- ceeded by George W. Halls. who was his deputy collector. Then MT. Armis- tead retired to his farm at Mount Meigs, thirteen miles from the city.
 As Tax Collector of Montgomery County MT. Armistead came into close touch with all of the people. He was generous and charitable. There was genuine sor- row at the county court house yesterday over the terrible tragedy in which he was a participant and there was nothing but words of pity for the man who had been true to his friends and they insisted that nothing but an unsound mind could have prompted him to have so swiftly brought an end to a hitherto honorable career.
 Immediate Family.
 The immediate family of MT. Armstead consisted of his wife, two sons and three daughters. The oldest son, Robert Arm istead, and the two youngest daughters live with their mother at Mount Meigs. The oldest daughter who is married, also lives at Mount Meigs.
 During his second term as Tax Col lector of Montgomery County, MT Arm istead built fine residence at Il $. Court and removed his family to the city. They lived here about two years and when MT. Armistead retired from office he re- moved his family back to the country.
 MT. Armistead was a member of the Pike Road Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He also belonged to other organizations and it Is said that his life was well insured.
 Montgomery kinsmen of MT. Armistead made arrangements for the funeral. which will take place from Tice's undertaking parlors, on S. Court Street, this after noon at 3:30 o'clock The body will be inferred in Oakwood Cemetery.
 The body of Mary Hanson remained at the house on Columbus Street last night. It will be taken to Carter's Hill for in- terment this morning