PALMER, Eleanor

Arizona Journal-Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory Wednesday, May 30, 1894 It Was A Deadly Dose Mrs. H. N. Palmer Commits Suicide by Taking Carbolic Acid. General Despondency, Superinduced by Illness, the Cause of the Rash Act. The community was horrified this morning to learn that Mrs. H. N. Palmer, wife of the well known mining man, had committed suicide last night. The deed was done in her room at the Windsor hotel, during the temporary absence of her husband from the room. Mrs. Palmer had been out at the Henrietta mining camp for about ten days, collecting their goods together to bring them to town. She returned on Saturday evening, and it was discovered that she was ill and her mind was considerably unbalanced. Dr. McCandless was called to treat her and prescribed for her. He warned Mr. Palmer that she was in a serious condition mentally, and advised him to watch her closely. She remained in bed most of the day on Sunday, while her husband watched her and attended to her every request. About 11 o'clock last night she requested her husband to carry out a bucket containing some dirty water and empty it. At first, he declined to do so, not wishing to leave her for even so short a time, but as she insisted on it, and thinking that there was nothing in the room with which she could harm herself, he complied. He walked through the hall rapidly, emptying the bucket in the alley from the rear porch, and immediately returned. Just as he entered the door, she took a cup away from her mouth, having drunk its entire contents, and throwing it aside, told Mr. Palmer of what she had done. When asked as to when she obtained it, she pointed to her valise, and upon examining it, a large bottle containing carbolic acid was found, from which she had taken and drunk nearly a cupfull. She had evidently secured the deadly drug at the mining camp, and had concealed it in her valise with this object in view. Drs. McCandless and Davis were hastily summoned, and were at her bedside in less than ten minutes, but before their arrival, and within two or three minutes after swallowing the poison, she became unconscious and remained in this condition until relieved by death, which occurred in about thirty minutes. Justice Fleury summoned a jury this morning and held an inquest, the jury rendering a verdict in accordance with the above facts. Deceased has been subject to spells of despondency ever since the accidental shooting of her son, about two and a half years ago, and was of a nervous, excitable temperament. She has constantly brooded over the loss of her boy, and added to this, she has not enjoyed good health, which has aggravated her complaint. She was a native of Massachusetts, aged 33 years. Her aged mother is still alive and resides in her native town, while her sister, formerly Mrs. Al. Cook, now Mrs. Bryant, resides at Cripple Creek, Colorado. Mr. Palmer is completely prostrated by the sudden and tragic end of his wife, to whom he was perfectly devoted, and whose every request he always granted. The funeral will take place tomorrow from the parlors of the Windsor hotel at 11 o'clock a. m. Rev. Father Quetu will officiate.