Williams, Nellie "Nell" (d. 1882)

WILLIAMS, GARLAND

Posted By: Karyn Techau
Date: 2/23/2026 at 09:42:20

"The Daily Nonpareil"
Wed, Jun 14, 1882, Page 5

"Suicide at Atlantic"

The other day, a young woman named Nellie Williams, an inmate of an Atlantic house of prostitution, succeeded in "climbing the golden stair" by the morphine route. No reason is given for the rash act.

One the day following the death of the Williams girl a 'demi monde' name Miss Garland also took a dose of morphine and died from the effects.

And on the next day, a girl of the same character, who is know as "Omaha Joe", downed a dose of the same uncertain drug, but prompt medical attention save her life, and at last accounts no more frail ones seemed inclined to take the dangerous step and be ushered hurriedly out of the world.

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Atlantic Daily Telegraph, June 9, 1882, Pg. 4, Col 3:

The old, old story is told in another column of the death of a woman who had followed a degraded life for some years. It was not known exactly whether it was suicide or accidental death, but the supposition points strongly to the former. The deceased bore the name of Nell Williams, and she was one of the most notorious member of the demi monde . She had lived in the city several years, and had frequently been under arrest for making disturbances. Such a publication as this is always a sad duty to the press. In infancy the lost woman was some mother's darling, with chubby hands, winsome face, and all the loveable graces of babyhood; in maidenhood she was bright and winning, the delight of her parents and friends; in early girlhood she became the happy bride of a man by the grossness of whose nature she was dragged down, and finally a separation took place, and thence forward her feet were on the downward path.

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Atlantic Daily Telegraph, June 9, 1882, Pg. 4, Col 3 and 4:

DEATH OF NELL WILLIAMS
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She Dies From an Over-Dose of Morphine
Administered by Her Own Hand.

About 7 o'clock yesterday morning Nell Williams, who had been confined in the county jail for a few days, was released and proceeded to her home in the neighborhood of the depot. Soon after being released she began drinking and during the rest of the day she indulged in frequent potations of whisky, and by night was in a badly intoxicated condition. At about 5 o'clock the inmates of her house discovered that she was in an unconscious condition and after a futile attempt to revive her, Fannie Moulton, who lives near by, was called in and soon discovered that she was under the influence of some drug or opiate. Accordinly she immediately started for a physician, and Dr. Graves was called and pronouced her without any hope of recovery. Dr. Graham was then sent for, but before he arrived the poor woman had expired. Dr. Wilder, the Coroner, was then called, who proceeded to summon a jury and hold an inquest. A large number of witnesses were examined. The inquest began about 10 o'clock and was not finished until nearly 3 o'clock in the morning. The poor woman was buried this afternoon in the cemetery, the burial services being held at the home of the deceased. Below is given the verdict of the Coroner's Jury:
D. F. HAEWe find that she came to her death on June 8, 1882, in the town of Atlantic, Cass county, Iowa, about 9 o'clock P.M.; that she died from an over-dose of morphine administered by her own hand."

D. F. HAWKS.
ED. SIMONS.
JOHN WHITFIELD.

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