Aged Women Is Found Dead In Well Early Today

Coroner's Jury Finds that Mrs. Amanda Gilbert Jumped into Unused Well. Grief Over Death of Loved Ones Believed the Cause.

Grief over the death of her husband in October and of her daughter in January of this year, is believed to have been the cause of the suicide of Mrs. Amanda Gilbert, widow of Charles B. Gilbert, who was found dead in an unused well at the home two and a half miles north of Waltonville, at an early hour this morning.

Mrs. Irene Morgan, who lived with Mrs. Gilbert, awoke and noted her absence from the home about 5:45 o'clock this morning, and notified her son, Alvin S. Gilbert, who, with Marion Newell instituted search, finding the body floating on the top of the water in an unused well a short time later.

Coroner J. D. Dodds was notified and he and Bob Carroll left immediately for the Gilbert home where an inquest was held, the jury returning a verdict that Mrs. Gilbert committed suicide by drowning. The testimony of Mrs. Morgan and Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Newell was taken, after which the verdict was returned.

Mrs. Gilbert was bereft of her husband October 4, and a daughter Mrs. Geo. W. Stoddard in January of this year, and grief over, their loss is believed to been the cause of her desire to end her existence. It is stated that on November 9, she sent word to her son that she intended to commit suicide, but it seems she made no attempt to do so at that time.

Mrs. Gilbert was 70 years old. Her husband was one of Jefferson county's best known and most prominent citizens.

She is survived by her son, Alvin S. Gilbert and four grandchildren.

Mrs. Gilbert was highly respected and had many friends in the southwest part of Jefferson county and wherever known. She was a member of the Waltonville M. E. church. Funeral services will be held in the Waltonville M. E. church Friday at 10 o'clock a.m.

Source: The Register-News
Date: December 7, 1932
Submitted by: Cindy Ford