Wilson - Edward - 1894 - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

This morning a telegram summoned Coroner Barcus and his clerk, C. M. Scott, to New Richmond to investigate the death of Edward Wilson, a popular young man of that place, who was also well known here. Young Wilson died last night by morphine poisoning self administered and the story of suicide, as told by New Richmond people here today, is a very dramatic one.  Wilson clerked in Hollins’ general store there and was quite an industrious young man, well liked by all. His widowed mother married Jere Potts some time ago and Ed was self supporting. He had some town lots in New Richmond and some other property.  In New Richmond lives Miss Bertha Pritchard, a very pretty and vivacious young lady, a sister of Fred Pritchard, of the New Richmond Bank. Miss Bertha was connected with her brother’s bank, and when Ed Wilson began to pay her attentions, he was graciously received. They became engaged and for a while all went merry as a marriage bell. It seems, however, that Miss Bertha received calls from one or two other young men, among them Tom Clark, of this city. This annoyed young Wilson considerably and a quarrel ensued. It was made up, however, and preparations for the marriage began in earnest. Week before last the happy couple visited Crawfordsville together and Miss Bertha engaged Mrs. Miller to make her dresses, while together they visited Kostanzer’s store and purchased their furniture. They appeared a very loving couple then, and very joyous too. The furniture they ordered to be on hand by December 18, and it was sent to them last Saturday. They had built a pretty little home on one of Wilson’s lots and were ready to begin housekeeping. On Thursday Tom Clark was in New Richmond and very innocently called on his friend, Miss Pritchard, taking her to church in the evening. This caused considerable talk and led to a quarrel between the lovers. It was fixed up, however, and they were together last night at Miss Bertha’s home. What, if anything, transpired there is not known, but Mr. Wilson went home and took morphine in a deadly dose. He was found dead this morning and, it is said, a letter to his mother.