MRS. MOSES TEWELES [Anna]

Death of the wife of Moses Teweles on Tuesday. She committed suicide by
jumping into a well. The article describes previous suicide attempts.
Der Nord Westen, 4 Feb. 1875
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FOUND DEAD IN A WELL—One of the saddest events which we have been called upon
to chronicle for some time took place in this city on Monday morning last. Mrs.
Teweles, a lady well known and highly esteemed in this city, whose ill health
of late has caused several fits of temporary insanity to come upon her, during
which she would attempt self-destruction; but until Monday all her efforts to
take her own life were baffled by the vigilance of those about her. On Monday
morning, however, at an early hour she succeeded in persuading her husband, who
was weary and worn by log watching, that the cloud had passed from her mind and
that he might safely lie down and rest, but he had scarcely fallen asleep before
she quietly arouse and rushed out of doors to a neighboring well, and threw
herself in. This occurred before daylight, consequently no one saw the rash deed,
and as a fierce snow storm was raging at the time her foot prints were so obscured
that it was impossible to follow them up and discover her, although a vigorous
search was immediately instituted. Her body was found about eleven o’clock in the
forenoon, after being in the well seven hours. As the water in the well was not
sufficient depth to drown her, she in all probability was chilled to death. Only
a week ago she made an attempt on her life by jumping into the river, but was taken
out before death took place only to renew the attempt at self-destruction by
drinking boiling water, which was again prevented. She leaves a large family of
children, the youngest being only three months old, who will sorely miss their
mother’s tender care. Her funeral which took place to-day was largely attended.
Manitowoc Pilot, February 4, 1875 P. 3
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MRS. MOSES TEWELES [Anna]

DISTRESSING SUICIDE
A Woman in A fit of Insanity Springs into a Well and Died From Exposure
One of the saddest cases of suicide which we have been called upon to chronicle
occurred in this city on Tuesday last, the wife of Mr. Moses Teweles throwing
herself into a well and dying from exposure, the water not being deep enough to
admit of her drowning herself. From intimate friends of the family we glean the
following particulars. Mrs. Anna Teweles was 43 years of age and the mother of
eight living children. For some weeks she had been suffering from sickness which
had the result of finally driving her to a state of insanity. She had once before
made an attempt to take her life by jumping into the river at the foot of Sixth
Street and would have been successful had not some men in the vicinity observed
her movements and rescued her. A strict watch was kept on her by her friends, but
at about four o'clock on Tuesday morning, she eluded them and with nothing on but
the scantiest of raiment, she left the house and sprung into a well nearby and
although a search was immediately instituted she was not found for several hours
afterwards, her head, one shoulder and one knee being visible above the surface of
the water, which proved to be only about two feet deep. There is no questions but
what she died of exposure. She was taken out and conveyed to her house, a jury was
impaneled who found a verdict as follows:
"At an inquisition taken at my office in the city of Manitowoc, Wis., on the 2d day
of Feb., 1875, before me, one of the Justices of the Peace for the said city and
county, upon the view of the body of Anna Teweles, there dead, by the jurors whose
names are here unto subscribed, who being duly sworn to inquire on behalf of the
people of the State when and by what means, the said Anna Teweles came to her death,
do find that her death was caused by jumping into a well while in a fit of insanity
and from exposure."
Wm H. Glover J.P.
Ira P Smith, H.C. Albrecht, H. W. Murphy, Norris Ross, Wm Gonine, Albert Bomier
Dr. H.C. Coakley testifieis: "I am a practicing physician of this city. I was called
to see her body. I was acquainted with Mrs. Teweles and know it to be her. I examined
her body. I don't think she was drowned in the well but died from exposure in the
water. She has been subject to fits of insanity. I have been her physician."
The unfortunate family resides in one of the buildings owned by Jacob Peterson on
Chicago Street between 6th and 7th and the well in which the poor woman ended her
career was within a stone's thrown of the house. The affair is to be the more
regretted particularly as the eight children are still young, the smallest being but
five months old. The domestic relations existing between the unfortunate woman and
her husband were of the happiest, were proof of her insanity requisite it could be
found in the fact that she left a home where a kind husband and bright, intelligent
children did all in their power to make her happy. We sympathize sincerely with them
and the relatives of the deceased who constitute some of our prominent Hebrew residents.
Manitowoc Tribune, Thurs., Feb. 5, 1875
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Card of Thanks
I hereby tender my sincere thanks to my brethren of the Order of the Sons of Herman
and to the Order of Odd Fellows for their kindness to me and mine during the sickness
of my wife. I also tender my thanks to my friends and lodge brethren as well as to the
speaker at the grave, for their sympathy at the burial of my wife.
M. Teweles
Manitowoc Tribune, Feb. 11, 1875