Obituary Gonzales Inquirer Apr. 23, 1902 pg. 1

Committed Suicide

Body of Negro Woman, Mittie Collins, Found in River This Morning

The body of Mittie Collins, colored, was found in the river this morning at about 11 o'clock. The body was found in the Guadalupe river below the brick yard by colored people searching for her. For several years she has been with the family of Mr. G. N. Dilworth. She had been sick about a week and last night between 7 and 8 o'clock she disappeared from the servant house. Her absence was soon discovered by another negro woman who was attending her and search was immediately instituted as it was thought she was out of her mind to act so strangely. All night the search was kept up and the city thoroughly gone over without finding a trace of her and it was feared that she had wandered to the river and drowned herself.

She also talked strangely to her companions and it is suppose during their absence she left her room and wandered to the river and cast herself in.

A negro committing suicide is hardly ever heard of, therefore it is thought almost conclusively that she was out of her mind and did not know what she was doing.

She was a prominent negro woman among her people, and the widow of a negro preacher.

For several years she was also a servant in the family of Mrs. Sayers. She was held in esteem by all who knew her. No reason can be assigned for her drowning herself except that her mind was temporarily unbalanced from her sickness.

Obituary Gonzales Inquirer Apr 24, 1902

The remains of Mattie Colin's, colored, which were found yesterday in the river, were interred in the colored cemetery. The funeral was largely attended by colored people. Quite a number of white people knew the negro woman and appreciate her worth, also attended the funeral.