The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-12-28
MRS. FERGUSON
FOUND DEAD
HUSBAND ARRESTED CHARGED
WITH MURDER, AND HELD
UNDER $4,000 BOND
Ferguson Attempts Suicide

rested Wednesday afternoon.
charged with the murder Of his
wife. attempted suicide by slash.
ing his left wrist with a safety ra.
zOr blade which he found On n
shelf In the corridor Of the jail.
Sheriff Butte and Deputy Clay were
both In the Office Of DIR. PaddIeford
when a phone call from Mrs. Clay,
notified them that Ferguson had
cut himself and was bleeding bad
Iy. All three left for the jail Inn.
mediately where II was found that
an artery had been cut. DIR. Pad
dlefOrd stopped the flow OF blood
with t0urniquet and dressed the
wound. Although weak from the
loss Of blood, Ferguson seemed
none the worse for the ordeal.
led Clark, an inmate of the jaii,
discovered the attempt nj Suicide.
ne heard something dripping ON
the flOOr In q corner Of the cell
where Ferguson had gone, when
be found what was wrong he mott.
lied Mrs. Clay, who called assist.
ance.
Mrs, A. j. Ferguson, formerly Mrs.
Gilbert Collins, was found dead in bed
at her home in Miller last Monday
morning about 1880 o'clock.
According to reports and testimony
at the coroner's inquest Mr.. Ferguson
was awakened by his wife who he
soon found was in a dying condition.
He immediately went to the VIM. Col
linz home across the street and noti-
fed the family. She was dead upon
their return. DR., McWhorter was
summoned about 900 and also other
members of the deceased family, who
upon a brief examination found a
number of bruises about her head.
Undertaken E. o. Reck was called
and after a short consultation it was
decided that it was a case for the
coroner Upon Coroner Paddleford's
arrival a close examination was made.
A large bruise was found over the left
eye and across the bridge of her nose,
three smaller bruises under her left
ear, and p light discoloration on her
chin. hiaquestioning Mr.. Ferguson.
who s6s o,Gen somewhat under the
infiuent Df liquor during the day and
evening, he stated they were SCOT
marks from an oil burner in their
range, and later stated that she had
injured herself while u to the chick
en- house a day or so previously.
Coroner .Paddleford selected a jury
and an inquest was held Monday
morning, which was adjourned until
Wednesday afternoon. Tuesday night
Coroner Paddleford, with DR.. Nc
Whorter of this city and McKie, of
washington, held a ~post-mortem, and
their hnding given to the coroner's
jury Wednesday.
A number of members of the family
had see Mrs. Ferguson during the
afternoon and testified at the inquest
that she was in good health and thai
at that time there were no marks or
bruises upon her face of any kind.
The jury composed of j. f. Bard, F..
NJ. Brown and w. J. Halloween, re-
turned a verdict that Mrs. Ferguson's
death was caused by external injury.
A warrant, charging murder was is
sued and Mr.. Ferguson vas taken into
custody and held In the county Jail,
bond being placed at $40. 000.
A hearing on the murder charge will
be held next Tuesday. He was also
arrested on a liquor charge and the
hearing Will be held today.
Obituary
Sarah Jane Scott was born in Or
leans county, New York in November
1851. and came with her parents to
Dallas Center, Ia, in 1868. In 1871,
she was united In marriage to Gilbert
Collins, at Des Moines, Ia. To this
union were born ten children, of which
four died.
After her marriage she made her
home al Storm Lake, Ia, remaining
there until 1883, when with her family,
she moved to Hand County, living here
until the time of her death.
In 1906, Mr.. Collins passed away,
ana in 1910 she was united in marri-
age to Arthur j. Ferguson.
Mrs. Ferguson leaves to mourn her
sudden death one daughter, Mrs. Ed.
Miller, and five sons, w. L. Collins,
O. HI, Collins, John Collins, Harrison
Collins and T. l.. Collins; three sisters
Mrs. Moore, of Storm Lake. Ia, Mrs.
Jesse Cole Of Topeka. Kans., and Mrs.
James Walpole of Rock Valley, Ia,
and three brothers, VIM. Scott. John
Scott, and Robt. Scott. all OF Miller.
Funeral services ase being held
pending word from relatives.