Garland, Nellie (Regan/Ryan, Mary) (d. 1882)

GARLAND, REGAN, MOULTON, WILKINS, FORD, RYAN, EDDY, HOLLIS, WALTON, LANG, RYAN, THARNISH, TARNISH, WILLIAMSON

Posted By: Karyn Techau
Date: 2/23/2026 at 12:36:50

"Atlantic Daily Telegraph", Pg. 4, Col. 3, 4 and 5
Atlantic, Iowa
Monday, June 12th, 1882

ANOTHER SUICIDE
"Nellie Garland one of the Public Women Commits Suicide in this city last Saturday Night by Poisoning."

One Saturday evening quite a commotion was created in the vicinity of the depot in this city, by the announcement that Nellie Garland one of the women of easy virtue who has lived in this city for several years had committed suicide.

The inmates of the house kept by this women on discovering her condition called in Officer Ford, who immediately started out on the search for a physician.

He found Dr. Wilkins, but before the Doctor arrived the unfortunate woman was dead. The Coroner was summoned and an inquest held. The following is the testimony and the verdict of the jury:

Fanny Moulton, being sworn says; The name of the dead women is Mary Regan, known here as Nellie Garland. I became acquainted with her two years ago this coming July. This girl "Omaha Joe", told me that she was not any relation to Nellie Garland. Have heard her folks live in Springfield, Illinois. "Omaha Joe" says her father's name is either Pat or John Regan. I do not know how she came to her death. Have heard her say that she would poison herself. Heard her or someone else scream while I was at home. Mrs. Eddy said that "Omaha Joe" thought Nellie had taken poison. I then came over to the house and saw the Marshall take some morphine from "Omaha Joe". Think it was her I heard scream. Mrs. Eddy told me that Omaha Joe said Nellie had taken poison.
her
C.L.N Moulton
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Mrs Eddy being sworn says: My age is thirty-seven; occupation a housekeeper, was acquainted with deceased during her lifetime; her name was Nellie Garland; saw her about noon to-day sitting in the door with a cup in lap. "Joe," told me this evening that Nellie had taken poison and called to me to come over. Fanny Moulton was there while I was and thought she had a fit. We then went after an officer; think she died between nine and ten o'clock. The girls that were stopping with her were Josie Walton and Pet Hollis. "Omaha Joe" said that if she died she wanted her (Joe) to take her rings from her fingers. I do not think Nellie took morphine; think she took poison; did not see any poison except what "Joe" had. "Omaha Joe" said that she got the morphine she had at Wilkins drug store. Dr. Wilkins was here this evening. He came about the time Nellie died; he felt her pulse and said she was dead. "Omaha Joe" said that her folks lived in Quincy, Ill. Nellie, I think, owned this property; think she owns the personal property, at least a portion of is it. "Omaha Joe" is very tough; cannot depend on her. I heard Pet Hollis say to-day that Joe and Nellie had quarrled [sic quarreled] to-day. The girls said that Nellie had said that if she took anything at all she would take poison.
L. J. EDDY

Pet Hollis being sworn says: I am sixteen years old; occupation a shirt maker. Was acquainted with deceased during her lifetime; was stopping with her in this place; heard her and "Omaha Joe" quarreling; told them not to quarrel; told Joe not to quarrel with Nellie, and asked her to come in the room with us; she said no, she would rather stay where she was. I next heard her scream in her room, and went in the room and found her jumping and swearing. I then went after Mr. Tharnish; don't know what time it was, but it was after dark; don't know what the girls were quarreling about. Nellie would not tell Joe what she was going to do; I saw her drink only one glass of beer to-day. Nellie told me that she was in the habit of taking landanum; have seen her have fits in the jail, have no idea what caused her death. The officers showed me a bottle that was marked poison and said to contain strychnine; it was empty when I saw it; have known the deceased about three weeks.
OLLIE HOLLIS

John Tharnish being sworn says: Age 37, occupation city Marshal; was acquainted with deceased about three years during her life time. I was her about 5 or 6 o'clock this afternoon. The next time I was here was about 9 o'clock; she was then about dead. I then went after the doctor and when I came back she was dead. Found a bottle in the adjoining room, labelled strychnine; found bottle behind the curtain (witness shows bottle.) I also found a bottle of morphine on the person of "Omaha Joe," (exhibits bottle) and also found a bottle in the bureau draw[er] that had not been opened. I think Wilkins has the full bottle; do not know where the bottle came from, (witness shows letters) and says he thinks they are the defendants writing, and that the aim was that she wanted to bid her friends good-bye and tried to show that she contemplated killing herself.
JOHN THARNISH

Ada Williamson, being sworn says: Reside in Atlantic age 20 years, occupation house keeper; was acquainted with deceased during her lifetime; was present at the time of her death. The first I knew of her death was after I came to the house. From the time I knew of her sickness until her death was perhaps one-half or three-quarter of an hour. When I first saw her she was in a spasm, and was getting purple in the face. The doctor said she had taken poison; seen a bottle of morphine fall out of "Omaha Joe's" bosom; she did not want me to tell that she had it; did not hear Joe say anything about rings; am not in the habit of visiting this home. Joe and Nellie have been here some months together; perhaps a year. Nellie told me that she and Joe were not relatives, and heard of Joe and Nellie having harsh words together.
ADA WILLIAMSON.

Nellie Lang being sworn says: Age 16, occupation dressmaker; reside in Atlantic at present. Was here this evening when Nellie was taken sick; when I came here she was dying; do not know what caused the death of Nellie Garland.
NELLIE LANG.

Josie Walton being sworn, says: Age 24, reside in Atlantic; occupation house keeper; have know deceased about four years; first saw her in Quincy, Ill. Her parents live in Springfield, Ill., and her true name is Mary Ryan. I think her father's name is Pat Ryan. Was not here when she was taken sick; she was cross all day; the first I know of her being sick was when Pet called me to come and see her; Nellie and I did not have very much trouble; witness was shown poison bottle and said she never saw it; was shown morphene bottle and says it is mine and I got it filled at Dr. Wilkins; did not tell Tarnish I did not have the bottle of morphene; did not tell the girls not to tell that I had the morphene; do not think the bottle fell on the floor; did not try to conceal the bottle. The only time I know of her having poison was the bottle that Charley Radley took away from her at the jail.
JOSIE WALTON.

The verdict of the jury was as follows:

"At an inquest holden at the house of Nellie Garland, in Cass county, on the 10th day of June, 1882, before B. A. Wilder, coroner of said county, upon the body of Nellie Garland there lying dead by the jurors whose names are hereto subscribed, the said jurors upon their oath do say she came to her death about 9 P.M. of June 10, in the town of Atlantic, by taking strychnine with suicidal intent, administered by her own hand.

JOHN A. WIRT,
J. F. HARVEY,
T. M. BRYAN.

The funeral was held yesterday afternoon and the body was interred in the Atlantic cemetery.

HER LAST LETTER.

On the afternoon of the day she took the poison she wrote the following letter to a young man in this city:

Atlantic, Ia., June 10, 1882
BABY:--When you read this note, the lips you kissed so often through life will be cold in death.
YOUR OWN NELLIE.
BABY--I would rather die than leave and I know that I have to leave you.
YOUR OWN NELLIE.

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