05/26/2026
Tonight is one of those times where we simply quote a story from the time in which it occurred because quite honestly doing so, literally takes us back to the height of the Christmas holiday season, more than 115 years ago.
Tonight's presentation is both fascinating, terribly sad, and a longggg read, 1910 style.
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⭐️Dateline: December 19th, 1910⭐️
"Mrs Harrell sends bullet through heart at. Donahoo home".
"In stones throw, young husband at his home awaits her return - Assigns no reason for act.'
"Married 3 months ago in this city as the culmination of a courtship of three weeks, and apparently in the midst of a very happy honeymoon, Mrs Ivey O. Harrell 21 years of age, brought her life to a close yesterday at 11 a.m. with a bullet sent through her heart. She died three minutes afterward declaring herself alone responsible for her decision to take her own life and giving no reason for this determination. She left no note or letter as an explanation."
"In many respects the tragedy is one of the saddest that has happened in Tampa. Mrs Harrell lived at No 2815 Morgan Street with her husband, an assistant money order clerk in.the local postoffice. There the husband had prepared for her a cosy home, but she chose as the scene of her last act the home of the Messr's James H. and F. M Donahoo, No 3821 Florida avenue, not a square removed from the home where she has presided as queen during the short interval of married life."
"Husband at Home"
"At this home her husband, himself not much older than his youthful bride, remained, entirely unconscious of the happenings at another home, almost within a stones throw of his door, where his wife figured as the principal character in the life and death drama. He did not hear the report of the pistol, but a moment later was apprised of the deed and lost no time in repairing to the scene."
"Her Mother in House"
"Apparently in the best of humor and preparing to spend Sunday with her sister, Mrs W F Burts, Mrs Harrell called at the house of the Donahoo's. She was conversing in her usual happy way with the Donahoo's and her mother, Mrs. Weathersby, when Mr. Lida Donahoo' went upstairs to his room on the second floor of the house. Mrs. Harrell followed him and went into his room. Mr. Donahoo was preparing to remove his clothes and he placed his revolver on a shelf just as his cousin entered the room. She asked him to step out on the porch and see if her husband was at home. The Harrell and Donahoo residences adjoin although fronting on seperate thoroughfares. Mr. Donahoo returned in a few moments and informed his cousin that her husband was at home and preparing to come over."
"Mr. Donahoo was trying to unlock a trunk when he heard a shot. He thought that Mrs. Harrell had been playing with the gun and accidentally discharged it. As he turned around, she staggered and fell on the bed. He asked her "What is the matter?" and she replied, "Nothing, I am alright now." Mrs. Weathersby, her mother and the members of the Donaho families who were in the sitting room heard the shot and rushed upstairs. As soon as Mrs. Weathersby entered the room, the dying woman exclaimed, "don't blame anyone mother it's all my fault."
"No Inquest"
W.F. Burts, her brother in law which arrived at the house a few moments later immediately started in search of a physician. He met Dr. Adamson and both rushed to the house, but it was too late. The doctor, after a thorough examination, stated that death was almost instantaneous, the bullet having entered the body near the heart. Dr. Adamson notified Justice Gibson who hurried to the house accompanied by Detective W.W. Woodward. The judge satisfied himself that it was a clear case of su***de and permitted the body to be removed to the Reed undertaking parlors without appointing a special coroners jury.
"A Miss Weathersby"
Mrs. Harrell's maiden name was Cola Weathersby. She came from Jackson, Mississippi four months ago on a visit to her sister, Mrs. W.F. Burts. Shortly after her arrival she met and fell in love with Ivey O. Harrell. They were married September 24 and Mr Harrell purchased the house at 2815 Morgan
street in which the couple made their home.
All her relatives are at a loss to account for her action unless it was her brooding over the fact that her mother, who was visiting her, was to return home within the next few days. Mrs. Weathersby, the aged mother of the su***de was prostrated last night at the home of Mrs. Burts and no statement could be obtained from her. She arrived in Tampa last Friday night "
Mr. Donahoo Talks
"Lida Donahoo made the following statement."
"Shortly after I came home this morning, my cousin, Mrs. Harrell told me that she had an invitation from Mr. and Mrs. Burts to take Sunday dinner with them and that Mr. Burts would call for her in his automobile." I went up to my room and she came. We were talking for a few moments and she asked me several times whether I was going to the bath room and going to dress up and attend Mrs. Burts dinner. I told her "No" and then she asked me to go out into the hall and look across the yard and see if her husband was sitting on.the back porch. Which I did." I started to get some clothes out of my trunk and was just fumbling with the lock, my back being turned to her when I heard the shot and the only thing that occurred to me was that she had picked up the revolver and accidentally shot it off. When I turned around she fell backwards on the bed. I asked her what was the matter and she said nothing, I'm all right now."
"She was so calm and collected thst it took me a moment to realize that she had shot herself. Mrs. Harrell was related to us and living right next door to our house, she spent a good amount of her time with us. I have not known of her having any serious trouble and I never heard her complain of anything. For all I could judge she and her husband were living happily and she was always in the best of spirits. Her action is a complete surprise to us and we cannot account for any possible motive that could have possessed her to take her life."
Harrell's Statement
Mr Harrell broke down completely when he witnessed the blood stained body of his wife. When asked whether he knew for any reason for her action he said: "I cannot understand why she would have thought of taking her life. We have only been married s short time and were very happy."
The husband had expected his wife to return home soon after she, with her mother went to Mr. Donahoo's home. He had expressed to her a desire to talk over with her some matters pertaining to the improvement of their residence. The mother of the Messr's James H. Donahoo, F.M. Donahoo and Lida Donahoo is an aunt of Mrs. Harrell. The news of Mrs. Harrell's su***de was telegraphed to her two brothers in St. Louis and her sister who resides in Jackson, Mississippi. The funeral will be held at 10 o'clock this morning from the Reed under taking parlors."
Cola Elizabeth Weathersby Harrell...Beloved wife, daughter, sister
Before & After
