Estella (Fouts) Shanks |
| Posted 2019-02-12 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Weekly Journal-Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory Wednesday, July 7, 1909, page 7, column 5 Woman Found Dead. Colored Resident of Red Light District Dies Suddenly (From Saturday's Daily) Bella Shants, more commonly known as 'Blue Dick," for over twenty-five years a colored habitude of the red light district of this city, was found dead in her room on Granite street last night about 7 o'clock. She had been in failing health for some time. A coroner's jury was impaneled and a verdict of death from natural causes was returned. When the body was discovered she was found sitting on the floor, her head resting on the wall, and the end must have come without any suffering whatever. In gathering up her effects Judge McLane and others who assisted him were somewhat surprised in making the discovery of a some of money, totalling $326.25 in different points in the room, together with a gold watch and chain and other valuables. A peculiar feature of the financial assets of the deceased was shown in the denomination of the money. Two hundred dollars were in $1 pieces, with the twenty-five cent piece. This money was sound wrapped up in an old towel, tucked away in the trunk, under cover at other points, and scattered where her whims directed. She was a native of Kansas and her people have been notified of her death. It is said of her that she was addicted to the use of a hair lotion in order to create a reddish brown in preference to the glossy black that was natural, and that the result was the poisoning of the scalp that later affected the brain. She persisted in the use of this dye and it is possible that this practice cause her death. Transcriber's note: Mrs. Shanks is buried in an unmarked grave at the Citizens Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona. |
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