The Daily Telegraph - Mrs Watts Commits Suicide Date: Mar. 2004 Submitted by: Lora Peppers ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** The Daily Telegraph Tuesday, February 14, 1871 Page 3, Column 2 Suicide We regret to learn that Mrs. Watts, formerly proprietress of the Battle House in this city, committed suicide by taking strychnia, while on her way to New Orleans on the last trip of the Red Cloud. No reason is given for the rash act. She was a lady of much refinement, and highly respected by a large circle of acquaintances. The day before her death she spoke several times of dying while on the boat, and requested the Captain's wife, in that event, to shroud her in a particular dress. A note was found stating where she had placed her will. A metalic coffin was procured in Alexandria, and her remains will be sent to Camden, Arkansas, for burial, in accordance with her request. Whatever the cause that prompted her self-destruction, it is evident that she had prepared for the event. The chambermaid of the boat found under the bedding after the body was removed a vial of strychnia, and when the physician went to her stateroom before her death he found a vial of calomel on the table a dose of which she said she had taken; it was supposed this was a blind. The unfortunate lady died in great agony. An insurance on her life of $5000 was effected about a month since.-Shreveport South- Western # # #