Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-01
IN
THE CISTERN
Mrs. n. c. Fletcher Meets With Vic
lent Death on Ranch Nine Miles
From lewistown.
1T is SUPPOSED TO BE SUICIDE
Unfortunate Woman Was Subject -
Periods Of Despondency-Funer-
al Occurs This Afternoon.

49, fEA ~ 49, 'N
band and two sons at the bottom OF
a cistern on the Fletcher ranch about
nine miles south Of this city Monday
evening shortly after Z o'clock. The
coroner's jury empaneled for the in.
quest brought in a verdict of suicide,
but members of the fanny think that
in all probability she accidentally fell
into the cistern. which was open, and
in that manner came to her death.
As soon as the news was brought
into this city States Attorney o. w.
Belden. Judge William r. Mcfarland
and DIR. j. b. Atchison. left for the
Fletcher ranch. A jury consisting of
w. n. Pitt, Firmin Tullock. Jesse
pinkley, Ed. Skinner, Alec. Van Ider-
stne and Chas. Meyersick was EN-.
paneled. After viewing the body the
hearing was set for yesterday after.
noon at 2 o'clock in the Office of Act.
ing Coroner Mcfarland.
At the inquest the husband of the
deceased was examined at length and
gave all OF the known details of the
drowning and everything which might
throw some light on the Ease to deter
mine whether il was suicidal or acct.
dental. According TO his testimony
the deceased was subject to attacks
OF me~lancholia and had. while in that
mood. on several OCCASIONS. expressed
a determination TO kill herself. Over
a year ago. according TO the testimony
of the witness. she made an attempt
to carry out that threat by taking
a big overdose of strong medicine,
which had been secured y the hus-
uand to relieve her of an attack of
nervousness and wakefulness. She
was sick for several days from this
attempt and afterwards told some of
her neighbors that she fully intended
to commit suicide.
At other times, the witness said,
the deceased was in the best of hui
NOR and appeared as well satisfied
as the average woman with the cares
and responsibilities of a lone and
family of children on her mind. On
the day of her death she was in good
spirits when the boys left for school
in the morning and manifested no
signs of hysteria or melancholia when
the husband left the house al 1880
o'clock. She was washing then. and
the husband had o the slightest sus-
picion that upon his return he should
find her other than as he left her
living and in the best health she had
enjoyed for several years.
The boys returned from school at
about > O'Clock. but did not think II
strange when they failed TO find their
mother. as she could easily be some
where else about the place or at the
neighbors. They proceeded TO do
their chores until their father came,
when he made enquiry as to the where.
abouts of the mother. Not finding her
about the house they searched all ov-
er the place. first looking into the
cistern. but were unable TO see any
thing. Later they returned TO the
cistern and the father put the stick
used for drawing up the bucket into
the water and discovered some OBJ
ject to be at the bottom. By fastening
a hook TO the pole he was able 10 get
a hold on the object, which, when
brought to the surface. proved to be
the body of the wife and mother. IL
was only with the greatest eXertion
that they were able to get her out
o. the well. as the opening would
scarcely allow the passage OF her
body. The body was cold, and from
this and the further facts that the
kitchen fire had burned out and that
but a few clothes had been washed
after the departure Of the husband
from the house, it is thought that
death must have occurred about three
o'clock in the afternoon.
The two eldest sons oil the deceased,
Ivan and Dean. also testified. their
testimony being substantially the
same as that given by the father.
w. J. Cameron, who arrived at the
Fletcher home shortly after the dis.
covery of the body. and DR.. Atchison,
were the only other witnesses. After
due deliberation the jury handed In
a verdict that the deceased. Lena
! Fletcher. came to her death from
drowning in a c~istern. said drowning
having been the result of a suicidal In
tent.
The body was brought into this city
early this morning and the funeral
services were conducted from the
home OF the dead woman's sister
Mrs. George j. Wiedeman. at two
o'clock this afternoon. Rev. Sheldon
of the Beaver Creek Methodist church
officiating. Followed by a large mum
her of friends. her body was taken e
the city cemetery, where it was laid
to its final rest.
Deceased was almost q years n
age. her birthday coming in August
and was the daughter OF Mr.. and Mrs
Paul Weydcrt. The mother is living
with her daughter. Mrs. Wiedeman
in this city. Lena Weydert, as sh'
was then. married II. C. Fletcher II
1855. and TO the union three children
all boys. were born. and are left u
their youth to MOURN the sad death @
their mother. Albert Weydert, of thii
city. and p. c. Weydert. of the Nc
Donald Creek Sheep company. are thu
only surviving brothers. while Mrs
Wiedeman is the only sister OF tn,
deceased.
Both Ier death, and the sad name
OF Mrs. Fletcher's taking away. wer,
a severe shock not only to her mothe
, and immediate relatives, but to al
/ the large circle of acquaintance o
her and her family.
! Continued i'll health had an effec
on her mind and was largely respor
: sihle for the attacks of melancholi
! to which she was subject. If she di
take her own life. as the coroner
I jury decided. It was doubtless durin.
one of these unfortunate attacks.
| The sympathy Of all in the commur
ity goes out unstintedly to the mother
4 who. while yet in the shadow OF an
= other grief, is called upon to bear thi
new sorrow; to the brothers and sis
. ltaFC Whn ara time ct1dapty rut nj