La Junta tribune., 1912-01-27
Mrs. n. Fred AIsrseh.

Mrs. H. Fred Aldrich, OF Sugar
City. known here az Miss Bertha Me
Conncll. took her life last Sunday af.
ternoon by shooting herself In the
head with a pistol. Mrs. Aldrlch
Was In Sugar City on the day Of
the tragedy, having come In from
Mr.. Alirich's ranch where they were
living. to spend several days with
her husband. who had been held
constantly at his office for some
time becaus. of the severe weather
and unusual stress Of business. The
two had had their midday meal and
having returned to Mr.. Aidrich's Of.
flee suite. had been spending some
time reading and writing letters,
when Mr. Aldrich left the room and
went TO nearby drugstore to get
cigar While he WAS out OF the
room the fatal shot Was fired He
says that no unpleasantness OF any
nature existed between him and his
wife. and that he Is at loss to
understand her rash act when be
and a friend. who. were both near
the offices and heard the shots. had
hurried In. they found Mrs Alirich
breathing her lat breath.
The body was brough, to La Junta
Tuesday to be pierared for burial
Mrs. Alirich's mother. Mrs. Eliza
Mcconnell. who had been in Jamaica
Iowa. since last May caring for hIr
invalid mother was notified by wire
OF the sad tragedy. aud came n, one.
reaching La Junta Tuesday at 10
O'Clock
b rtha Sybn Mcconnell Was born
May 10. 1854. IN Bayley, Iowa. and .
came to this city ten years ago with
her parents. The family lived tWo
years In the Holbrook district. but 10
the past eight years had made their .
home In North La Junta Miss Nc.
Connell was married in Pueblo on
the 9Th day o, last September 10
Mr. H. r Aldrich ard since that
time has made her home In and near
Sugar City. She was. at the time
OF her death. twenty-seyen y.ars,
nine months and eight days old. She .
Is survived by her mother. tao sis
ters. Mrs. Ada Rich. Of Weeping /
Water. Neb., and Mrs. Mabel car
michael. Of Curtis. Neb.. and three
brothers, II. A. Mcconnell. II Hi
drcth. Neb.. c. A. Mcconnell. Of
this city. and Ray A. McConren. Of
Trinidad.
Tn. funeral service vas held st
o'clock Thursday afternoon. at the /
". r. church. conducted by Rev. W. |
A. Brown. and the body was Inferred |
In fairyiew cemetery.
The following statement Vas hand. |
ed to n representative OF the tribune |
by Mrs Aldrich's mother:
Bertha had many friends who
loved her fondly. In fact. all who !
knew her loved her for her many |
beautiful traits OF character She |
Was very loyal to her friends. was |
generous TO n fault. the soul Of honor.
None could surpass her IN Wit and
gayeiy when she WAS In good spir-
its. but unfortunately she WAs ex.
uem.ly scnsitiyc--an unkind word |
from one she loved having power TO
throw her into n paroxysm Of grief |
and despair. Why she did this deed V
mystery To her friends Perhaps. |
a fancicd slight or ncglec, at q time |
Of extreme nervousness All a.ree |
that she did not fully realiz. what |
she was doing. and that the act Was
not prcmeditatcd. Sh. hal written |
to friends Sunday morning telling |
them she would be In La Junta on
business In a few days Though not |
a member Of any church she believed
In the religion Of our Lord and Sav.
ior and often prayed that sh. might
be saved from her sins and in Gcd's
lA