WEDDED AT A DEATH BED
Prof. Simms and Miss Anna Urquhart Married in Emporia
Emporia, Kan., April 29---A romantic wedding occurred here today, theprincipals being Prof. William O. Simms and Miss Anna Urquhart, theceremony taking place at possibly the death-bed of the latter, who waslast night thrown from a carriage and supposedly fatally injured. Theywere engaged, and the wedding was to have taken place a month later atthe end of the school term, the professor being principal of the publicschools in Americus and Miss Urquhart a teacher. Owing to the sadaccident and the desire of both to be united ere death could separatethem, the sad ceremony was performed. (Kansas City Times ~ April 30,1895)
AN ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
Mrs. Alice Perrin came to Emporia about six weeks ago from CottonwoodFalls and tried to get work. She advertised in the GAZETTE about once aweek ever since arriving. She has worked at several places since cominghere but her temper always made things so warm that she did not staylong at once house. She was a good worker but "techy" and strong as theaverage man. Night before last she went to the Third Avenue hotel andengaged a room. She was out most of yesterday but returned beforesupper, when she acted very queerly and asked for paper upon which towrite. She scribbled something upon it and put it in her pocket andthen went upstairs to her room. About 7 o'clock W. M. Woodruff, theproprietor, went to the room and knocked at the door but received noanswer. The door being locked, he finally looked over the transom andsaw her lying on the bed as though dead. A key was found which wouldunlock the door, and Mr. Woodruff entered the room. A two ounce bottlecontaining morphine was by the bedside, with about one-third gone. Shehad swallowed it, but had taken too large a dose and it made her vomit,so that after being shaken and given some strong tea, she becameconscious. This afternoon she is able to be up, and will go home withher husband, who came to Emporia today from Cottonwood Falls. (EmporiaGazette ~ August 27, 1897 ~ Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)
AN ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
A HEARTBREAKER, A BROKEN HEART AND A BOTTLE OF LAUDANUM GET MIXED UP
Della Richardson came to Emporia a few months ago from a small town inSouthern Kansas and lived with her sister, Mrs. Lizzie Roles, whosehome is near the Sixth Avenue school house. She is a young woman about22 years old, brown hair, blue eyes, medium height, brunette and verygood looking. She says that she and her sister had a falling out andlast Friday she left the Roles' house and came to town. She met WillTodd, a young man who lives near "Charley's," about one mile north oftown, and went home with his sister. She came to town Friday night withthis same young man.
At this place another man enters the story.
Ed Downey is a barber who came to Emporia from Parsons about threeweeks ago and has worked near the Santa Fe depot for a few days. DellaRichardson was his sweetheart. She loves him very much. He did love herwell enough to make her a present of a very handsome gold watch. He hasblack hair, black mustache, dark eyes, dark skin and looks like a ladykiller. When Ed saw Della at the "Army" with another man, he called herto one side and told her everything was up between them and that hewanted his watch back. She said, "Nay, nay." She says he said he wouldmeet her in hell. He says that he made no such remark. At another timehe told her in a sociable way that he was not going to marry her. Thatwas evidently a disappointment to her. After this, she began to talksuicide. She told Downing she would do it. He told her to go ahead. Hewas charitable enough to offer to buy a second bottle of laudanum ifone was not enough. He is a heartless man who did not appreciate thedepth of love which she had for him.
Last night about seven o'clock Dr. Boylan was called out to the home ofC. N. Todd to remove an ounce of laudanum which Della Richardson hadtaken. She was pretty nearly gone to keep her caloric trust with herlover.
The doctor managed to pull her through. She is very sick today however.She still insists that she will kill herself despite the efforts ofanyone. She wants her Ed but Ed wants her not. He is regreting onething and that is that she has his watch. (Emporia Gazette ~ November2, 1897 ~ Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)
A SUICIDE
Yesterday morning Etta Clopton went to Mrs. Brewer, at the Fifth Avenuehotel, and asked for work, supposing it was the Whitley. She was sentthere, where she applied for work, but could not get an answer untilthis morning. She returned to the Fifth Avenue hotel about 4 o'clockand engated a room. She said that she had been walking all day andcould get no work. She went out after engaging the room and came backabout 7:30, telling Mrs. Brewer to wake her in an hour, as she wantedto take a train. Mrs. Brewer went to the room at 8:30. The door wasunlocked and the young woman was lying on the bed. Mrs. Brewer supposedshe was asleep and started to waken her, but found that she was dead.She gave the alarm and Coroner Boylan and the police arrived tenminutes afterwards.
The body was taken to Samuel's where it awaits the arrival of EttaClopton's mother, Mrs. Marina Clopton. The girl was slight in figureand had rosy checks, and was 21 years old. Her hair was of a chestnutcolor. She wore a dark blue dress trimmed with velvet. She came withher sister from Pueblo, Colo., where she had been for the last threeyears, about two months ago. She worked in a family here for a fewweeks. She visited her mother, who lives at Verdigris, and returned toEmporia a week ago, and has since stayed with her sister, Mrs. W. E.Wilson, No. 1002 Central avenue.
When the body was found, a small bottle of strychnine was on a chairbeside the bed. Under the bottle were some specimen leaves from adictionary, on which was written a letter. It is as follows:
"NOTICE.
"Dear Mother: I am innocent of ever doing wrong. Some people think Ihave, but God knows that I have always tried to do right. There is noroom in this world for me, so I must leave it. I have tried so hard tolive for your sake, but I can't find honest work to support me in theway I would like to live and I will not take help from my friends. Ihave always tried to live a Christian and I will die before I will livedishonestly. God knows I am innocent of any wrongs. I have tried tobear the burdens of life but it is getting too great. People will saythat it is a pity, but I will be better off. on't weep for me but meetme in heaven. God will forgive me for leaving a place where I cannotbear to live. I remain ever your loving daughter.
ETTA CLOPTON, TO HER MOTHER.
On the other side of the sheet was also a letter that had been crossed out. It read as follows:
"My mother's name is Marina Clopton, Verdigris, Kansas.
Dear Mother: I am innocent of the crime accused of. There is no room inthis world for me, perhaps there will be in the next. I do not think Ihave done any great wrong. God will forgive me for leaving a placewhere I cannot stay. I have always been a Christian and always donewhat is right. Meet me in heaven. God knows what is right. He knowsall. He will forgive me for taking the poison. Your true lovingdaughter.
ETTA CLOPTON
Goodbye forever. Please send this to mother. Goodbye forever. Send to O. H. Thornton, Madison, Kansas."
The crime alluded to in the above letter was not a crime but asuspicion of one. During the past week the girl had been suspected oftaking from a house in which she worked, a shirt waist.
Coroner Boylan called a jury this morning consisting of W. A. Anderson,foreman; Charles Marsh, Tom Evans, Harry Douglass, D. A. Dryer, W. T.Craigtiton. They decided that her death resulted from taking abouttwenty grains of strychnine.
Her mother has been telegraphed for and she is expected to arrive thisafternoon. Her father is in Pueblo. Her sister returned to Pueblo lastweek. (Emporia Gazette ~ April 1, 1898 ~ Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)
WAS IT SUICIDE?
Frank C. Sparks, a former Emporia man, well known among railroadershere, died last night from drinking wood alcohol. His remains werebrought here today at 2 o'clock and buried in Maplewood cemetery. Mr.Sparks began work on the road here as fireman. Later he went toHutchinson, where he had charge of the yards. He had just returned fromthe hospital at Topeka and his health was bad.
There are two theories regarding his drinking the poison. One is thathaving suffered a long time from sickness from which he had littlechance of ever recovering, he had deliberately planned to take his ownlife and drank the liquid with suicidal intent. The other theory isthat he was temporarily deranged and drank the liquid under themistaken idea that it was ordinary alcohol. From the circumstances itwould appear most probable that he determined to take his own life.
Mrs. Colin McCulloug, living just west of town, is Mrs. Sparks'ssister. She went to Hutchinson and returned with the remains today. Shewas accompanied by her sister, Mrs. T. W. Ross, of Argentine, and Mrs.t. L. Hafer, a sister from Hutchinson. The funeral services wereconducted in Hutchinson. (Emporia Gazette ~ August 24, 1898 ~ Submittedby Lori DeWinkler)
SUICIDE FOLLOWED BANK FAILURE
Charles S. Cross, the Well-Known Kansas Banker and Stockman, Shot Himself
First National at Emporia Closed Yesterday by Comptroller Dawes
Emporia, Kas., Nov. 16---Charles S. Cross, one of the best-knownbankers in Kansas, shot and killed himself on his Sunny Slope farm,three miles from here, today, just an hour after a notice was posted onthe door of the First National, of which he was president, declaringthat the institution was in the hands of the Comptroller of theCurrency.
Cross left the bank 10 minutes before it closed, waving his handpleasantly to all his associates. He went immediately to Sunny Slopefarm, and, speaking pleasantly to the employes, passed into the southbedroom of the manager's house, and when he did not come outimmediately Manager Evans went in and found him lying in a pool ofblood with a pistol in his hand. The shot went through the bank of hishead. Death must have been instantaneous. The news of it was on thestreets of Emporia a few minutes after the white card appeared upon thedoor of the bank.
Mr. Cross leaves a wife, a daughter and a widowed mother. He wascustodian of his father's estate, and those who know say he left hisaffairs in very bad shape. It is believed that his private fortune wentdown with the bank.
Mr. Cross leaves a wife, a daughter and a widowed mother. He wascustodian of his father's estate, and those who know say he left hisaffairs in very bad shape. It is believed that his private fortune wentdown with the bank.
To the majority of the people of the town the Comptroller's card o thedoor of the bank came as a complete surprise, but in financial circles,both here and in the State, the result has been anticipated for sixmonths. The statement published quarterly by the bank has been growingvery bad, and last May the bank had only one-half per cent of itsdeposits more cash on hand than the law required.
Since then examiners and special examiners have been in and out of thebank and the statement published in midsummer was a little better onthe face of it, but not much. The full statement did not materiallyimprove. The talk in the town spread quietly and there has been a smallwithdrawal of deposits, but most of the business men in town did notbelieve the rumors, and heavy deposits were made up to 10 o'clock thismorning. The bank has half a million dollars on deposit, but its assetsare hard to determine. For a week Charles Jobes, the bank examiner, hasbeen wrestling with the problem of the assets, and it is authenticallyreported that he has found them badly shrunken. The loans and discountsare now about $40,000, the capitalization $100,000, and the surplusabout the same. The officers of the bank were Charles Cross, president;William Martindale, vice president; D. M. Davis, cashier. Cross andMartindale were popularly supposed to be worth the amount of thedeficit liabilities, but each was a heavy borrower at the bank.
The following is a statement of the condition of the bank made to theComptroller of the Currency, under call of September 20, 1898:
Liabilities--Capital, $100,000; surplus and profits, $101,289.53, dueto depositors, banks and bankers, $513,599.42, circulation, $22,500.Total resources, $737,388.95.
Examiner Jobes, who has been appointed temporary receive, said:
"While I do not know exactly what the outcome of this matter may be,still I think I am justified in saying that the depositors will notsuffer seriously. Yet, when a thing like this occurs it tops off 25 percent of the assets of the bank at one blow."
Among the heavy losers by the bank failure are Lyon County and the cityof Emporia. All the city and county funds were deposited there.
The father of C. S. Cross, president of the bank, was one of the bank'sorganizers in 1871. Mr. Cross came to Emporia with his parents in 1865.He had been employed in the bank since boyhood and at his father'sdeath succeeded to its management. He was 39 years old. Thirteen yearsago he became interested in stock raising and in 1892 began hisimportation of Hereford cattle, for which his farm is known all overthe country. Since his father's death Cross has spent most of his timemanaging his stock farm. The farm has been a large borrower at thebank, and as Mr. Cross was preparing for a big sale at the Kansas CityStock Yards soon, it is believed he was preparing to turn the farm intocash to relieve the bank.
"Sunny Slope," Mr. Cross' famous farm, is three miles north of Emporia.The farm consists of 2,250 acres. Twelve men are required most of thetime to care for the stock. In the Hereford herd are over 435registered animals, worth from $300 to $1,000 each. It is said that Mr.Cross has sold calves sired by Wild Tom, his prize-winning Hereford,for $75,000. At the auction sale at "Sunny Slope" in March 150 headwere sold at an average price of $407.
The raising of Herefords was the hobby of Mr. Cross. Sunny Slope Farm was his pride.
Charles S. Cross was one of the young men of Kansas upon whom fortunewas believed to have showered special gifts. He was the only child ofColonel Harrison C. Cross, who died suddenly of heart disease atMackinaw a few years ago, and who was believed to have been worth atthe time of his death several hundred thousand dollars. A considerableportion of this fortune was accumulated by the elder Cross while he wasacting as receiver of the M. K. & T. Railway.
The younger Cross was a graduate of the Kansas State University atLawrence, and while there became engaged to Miss Kate Smeed, thedaughter of the president of the Union Pacific Railway Company. Theywere married late in the seventies, but were divorced after livingtogether about 15 years. Mrs. Cross went to live with relatives nearAltoona, Pa., and her husband kept the only child of their union, alittle daughter. Some years later Cross married a Miss Wilder ofLawrence, who was a cousin of his divorced wife. The marriage provedentirely happy. They dwelt in a beautiful home, by the side of a finemansion which was owned and occupied by Cross' mother, and everythingapparently contributed to their peace and contentment. Cross was a manwho made friends with the greatest ease. His nature was gentle and hismanner thoroughly engaging. He was fond of books, and was refined inhis tastes. He was an affectionate and dutiful son, and after hissecond marriage was devoted to his home. The cause of the differencebetween himself and his divorced wife was the extreme fondness of thelatter for society and gayety, a taste which her husband did not share.
TOPEKA, KAS., NOV. 16---As a result of the failure of the FirstNational Bank at Emporia, State Bank Commissioner Breidenthal tonightdirected the State Bank at Madison, Kas., to suspend business.According to its last report the Madison bank had $39,000 in the FirstNational at Emporia. It is not thought that any other banks will beinvolved. (St. Louis Republican ~ November 17, 1898)
McCRERY, DR. EDITH
COULDN'T GET CASH
Dr. Edith McCrery Who Acted Strangely in Wichita
SUICIDED AT EMPORIA
Her Sad Life Story Told in a Letter to Girls
Dr. Edith McCrery, who committed suicide at Emporia Sunday morning, wasin Wichita last Friday and Friday night, and is supposed to be the sameyoung woman who was at the Santa Fe depot with a young lady friendresiding on North Market street, whom she had accidentally met after along separation and was very much in the company of after they methere. The two were at the Santa Fe depot, where Miss McCrery was totake the Santa Fe east. The train being late, she made some extraacquaintances and had a change to meet a traveling man with whom shewas acquainted, who was then stopping at the Manhattan. Miss 'McCreryclaimed that she was the advance agent of a trio of evangelists, whomshe claimed would be in Wichita in about three weeks. She also toldseveral other stories which seemed very much on the fake order, and itis thought that possibly her mind was not right when she took her ownlife in the Emporia hotel. She told the young men at the Santa Fe depotthat she had been recently left an ineritance amounting to $68,000,which she would get possession of somet ime next summer.
A reporter for the Eagle learned this fact and questioned her about it.
"Yes," said the woman, 'I have an inheritance for $68,000 recently leftme by relatives in the east, but tonight I must confess to you Ihaven't but 60 cents to go on'."
She then mentioned the fact that she was very much "gone" on a certainyoung man in Wichita, and would like to spend some of her wealth uponhim. She would not tell her name, and neither would her Wichita friendwho was with her at the depot, and there seemed to be somethingmysterious in her demeanor. Before bidding her friend good-bye she toldher to address her first at Lyons, then at Emporia and it is thoughtthat the Dr. McCrery who suicided is the same woman, who was eithermentally unbalanced or playing a very queer game to get sympathy andcash. At times she was gay and audacious.
The Emporia Gazette gives the following account of her death:
Dr. Edith McCrery committed suicide either late Saturday night or earlySunday morning in a room in the Emporia hotel, corner of Third avenueand Merchants street. The first known of the affair was when she wascalled the second time for breakfast. The woman could not be awakened,and the landlord, Sam McNealy, after trying the door and finding itlocked, threw several things through the transom to awaken her. Whenthis failed a man was hoisted through the transom and unlocked thedoor. When the people who had been attracted by the efforts of thelandlord went into the room it was found that the woman was dead andcold. By the bed was a good-sized bottle of strychnine. The woman hadtaken poison.
The dead woman was a graduate of the Weltmer Institute of MagneticHealing of Nevada, Mo. She came here two months ago with Dr. Penroy andwith him has been practicing until about a week ago, when theydissolved partnership. She was a young woman of about 24 years,unusually prepossessing in appearance. When she left the doctor shewent to Wichita and remained until a week ago Saturday, when shereturned here and went to the hotel. Friday morning MIss McCrery againwent to Wichita to get money, so she told McNealy. She returnedSaturday night on the fast mail, and, going to the hotel, said: "Ididn't get the money, but you need not to worry about your board bill.It will be paid." During the evening she was around the house talkingwith the women folks and seemed in her usual spirits.
The doctor, besides being a magnetic healer, claimed the power of aclairvoyant. she had made several trials while at the hotel. Thelandlady says that she went to heaven often and looked around, but shenever could find hell.
Among her personal effects was found a half chewed plug of tobacco inthe pocket of her dressing jacket and about a pound in her trunk. Theremains were viewed by the coroner and then taken to Samuels'undertaking establishment. Dr. Boylan at the inquest today broughtforth the following letters, which explain the woman's life and hertroubles. The first is in the shape of a confession:
"Dear Mother, Sister and Brother---I expect this will almost kill youall, but I got discouraged, did wrong, and then I never could quit thisdevilish habit and never could pay the note, and haven't a cent, so Iwill be now where you will always know where I am. God bless you all,and I hope this will be a lesson for all that have ever done wrong. Iwant you to sing "Guide Me, as the Apple of the Eye," and "Lead Me tothe Rock." May the Lord guide you all. This foolish girl has done sovery wrong. Good-Bye. God bless you all.
"EDITH M'CRERY (Dead).
Another letter says:
"Dear Mother and All---You will hear from me again. I am sorry for youall, and myself, too, but it is too late now and can't be helped. Senda telegram to Mr. Frank Hall, Monmouth, Ill."
"To the Coroner---Be sure and send me home to be buried. Lay me outnicely. Tell my folks in the telegram that I want to be taken home.Good-bye to all."
"Girls, take warning, and don't do wrong any more, and then you will behappy and not sorry. Trouble is the cause of all this. Send for Pendroyand tell him to take good care of me till my folks come. My folks arewell fixed and all bills will be paid. God bless you all.
"P. S.---'She is more to be pittied than censured. A man was the causeof it all'." (Wichita Daily Eagle ~ Wednesday ~ November 29, 1899 ~Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)
COMMITTED SUICIDE
A case of suicide was reported in town late last night. While thefamily was in town yesterday, May Johns, a girl of about 16 years,hanged herself in the buggy shed at the home, eight miles southeast oftown.
The case is an unusually sad one. The girl is a daughter of Mr. andMrs. William Johns. They have a son and a younger daughter who isblind, besides May. The blind daughter has been at the school for theblind at Wyandotte. She was to arrive home yesterday afternoon and themother and the brother came to Emporia in the buggy to meet her. Theywanted May to come along but she refused, saying she would stay at homeand do up the work. Mr. Johns also came to town in the wagon. Returninghome early last evening the folks entered the house expecting to havean affectionate meeting between the sisters. May could not be found anda search was made for her. A note addressed to her brother and put in aconspicuous place was found, which said, "You will find my body in thecreek near where my sunbonnet lays." The father started on a run forthe creek, but before he reached the place was recalled by the brotherwho found the body hanging in the shed. A second note was found later,saying that the body would be found hanging in the carriage shed. Onthe back of the note the girl had scribbled, "This is the reason Ididn't go to town."
The body had probably been hanging for three hours. The girl had tied arope to one of the rafters, made a slip noose in the unfastened end,put a keg under the rope, and after fastening the rope about herthroat, kicked the keg from under her and dropped to her death.
No reason or cause can be assigned for the girl's action. She had notgone out much, had no disappointed love, or as far as known, anythingto trouble her. She was an intelligent and bright girl and the lastperson in the world to be suspected of thinking of such a deed.
She had read with interest the story of the Lowther girl who committedsuicide and it is thought that perhaps the suicide by drowning of theLowther girl preyed upon her mind, until it was unsettled. The notewhich spoke of finding the body in the creek seems to give some colorto this.
The members of the Johns family have the sincere sympathy of friends intheir sad bereavement. The funeral will be at Upper Dry Creek cemeteryat 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. (Emporia Gazette ~ May 29, 1901 ~Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
Another Emporia young woman, becoming tired of life, last nightattempted suicide. She is Mrs. Olive Clements, who lives on West Firstavenue. Her method was by drinking carbolic acid and the attempt was afailure. Olive Clements, formerly Olive Frizell, and later OliveArcher, has lived in Emporia for some time. Her first marriage was toIra Clements and the match proved unhappy. Before a divorce fromClements could be secured she married young Wm. Archer, after a twoweek's acquaintance. They have only lived together part of the timesince and he is now staying at Americus. Last night Archer came downfrom Americus and called at the house. He found another fellow there.Trouble ensued and the men were going to fight. She became frightenedand declared she would settle the trouble herself. She produced abottle of carbolic acid, and tried to drink it. She spilled it on herneck and clothing but did not succeed in drinking enough of it to provefatal. Dr. Hunt saved her life. Mrs. Frizell, Clements, Archer oncebefore attempted suicide but did not succeed. That was about a yearago. (Emporia Gazette ~ June 6, 1901 ~ Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)
THE MYSTERY OF EMPORIA
The last place on earth where one would look for the development ofsuicidal mania would be Kansas, and the last spot in Kansas where sucha tendency might be expected to manifest itself would be Emporia.Travelers on the great Santa Fe system are always on the lookout forthis goodly town. They crane their necks far out of the car windowswhen the train passes through the place, to catch a glimpse of thestately Normal school, standing at the head of Commercial street, andto obtain a view of the handsome stone college on the hill, built bythe Presbyterians in the middle '80s.
In the enchanting pastoral scene which forms at this season of the yearan emerald setting for the town; in the wide, clean thoroughfares whichare intersected by the railroad track and which open up on leafy vistaafter another to the eye of the tourist; in the fresh and comely facesof the pretty girls, who, to use a Kansas provincialism, "make thetrains," and are always to be seen at the station, there are no tokensof disaffection or misery. There is a certain note of cheerfulness evenin the clamor of the hackmen, and in the bells which call the wayfarerto brief refreshment in the lunch rooms near the depot.
An acquaintance with the people of Emporia tends to strengthen theimpression that they are fortunate and happy. Several fashionable whistclubs stimulate the social activities of the community, and theintellectual development of the feminine population is assured throughthe agency of a number of literary organizations.
The masculine youth of the town betake themselves to wholesome andmanly sports, and find a fruitful source of pleasure in a baseballteam, which is the joy and pride of the community. The arts are notneglected, and a brass band of rare excellence bids dull care begoneand throws a gauntlet in the face of melancholy. In order that theremay be pleasure for all, a roller skating rink and a natatorium offertheir allurements to those who may care to embrace them.
Why of all the places on the great round globe should Emporia beselected as the scene of many successive suicides? That is the questionwhich is puzzling the people of the town, and for which nobody can findan answer. Within two years there have been twenty-four attempts atself destruction in and about Emporia, and seven within the lastythirty days. It baffles the understanding of the wisest citizen anddefies explanation by the most analytical observer. What makes themystery all the more profound is the fact that a large proportion ofthese attempted, and in many cases, successful suicides are caused bydisappointed love. It would be much less remarkable to hear that theywere induced by poverty and hunger, for the fruits of the soil inEmporia are not more abundand than the encouragements to tenderassociations and fellowship. The very air of Kansas is filled withromance, and in Emporia it is surcharged with sentiment. Why the lovelymaidens and the ruddy swains of that community should be crossed inlove and seek relief in muddy creeks and rivers is past allunderstanding. It used to be accounted a dull year at the State Normalschool in Emporia when all the single teachers didn't marry off andwhen most of the boys and girls in the graduating class didn't becomeengaged. What malign influence has spread itself like a noxiouspestilence throughout the community to lure people to death by theirown rash deeds?
The mayor of the city, who has evidently gone into the subject withmuch gravity and earnestness, seems to account for the mania on thetheory of imitative crime and has forbidden the newspapers to exploitsuicide or to make any mention of them. There may be some basis forthis conviction in a town where rivalry is active in the matter ofhouses and furniture and other vanities of the flesh, but it appearshardly tenable that the influence of example should apply to death. Themayor's experiment, however, will be attended with unusual interest andwill be instructive to the country at large, though how so startling anevent as a suicide can be kept quiet in a community where a secret likea marriage engagement has never been kept for more than two hours issomething that has yet to be found out. (Emporia Gazette ~ June 17,1901 ~ Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)
Dr. L. D. Jacobs who is sick in Chicago is not improving rapidly. Wordwas received today that he is somewhat worse. His son Charles left forChicago today. The Emporia Gazette (Emporia, Kansas) Friday, April 22, 1904 (Submittedby Candi Horton)
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
Robert Walker, a Farmer Living Near Lakeside, Tried to Kill Himself Last Night
WALKER WAS DESPONDENT
Was Probably Out of His Mind
He Had Suffered From Sickness and Flood Losses and Wanted to End HisTroubles---He Was Better Today, and His Family Think He Will Be AllRight
Robert Walker, a farmer about 38 years of age, who lives near theLakeside school house three miles west of town, tried to commit suicidelast night. Because of the persistence of Mr. Walker in trying tokill himself, the sheriff was called and Deputy Sheriff Dave Cowan wentto the Walker farm and brought Mr. Walker to the county jail for safekeeping.
Mr. Walker made three futile attempts at suicide before he was put injail. The first was with a pocket-knife, with which he tried tocut his throat, but was stopped by members of his family. Hisnext attempt was with a pair of scissors, which he managed to get aholdof although he was closely watched. Before he did much damage thescissors was taken from him, and he got a rope with which he saidhe intended to hang himself. His family by this time becamealarmed and sent for the officer.
Mr. Walker is much better today and appears to be rational. Atnoon some of his family were in town and he was in such good spiritsthat he was permitted to leave the jail with them.
Mr. Walker about six months ago suffered from a severe attack ofsickness and has not been well since. His farm was flooded by thelate high water and the flood losses together with poor health causedhim to want to commit suicide. It is said that when he wasinterfered with, he threatened to kill others if he was not leftalone. It is probable that he will not be tried for insanity, asit was thought to have been only a temporary attack. (Emporia Gazette ~Monday ~ June 20, 1904)
INSANE FROM WOUND
At Emporia William Miller, 34 years old has been declared insane as aresult of a blow on the head fifteen years ago. An unidentified manattacked him for his money. (Wichita Searchlight ~ December 17, 1904 ~Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)
EDMUND GEORGE---SUICIDE
DESPONDENCY CAUSED OLD SETTLER TO TIRE OF LIFE
Body Not Found Until Evening, Although the Deed Was Probably Committed in the Morning
Edmund T. George was found dead in a patch of corn north of his home,23 South Market, yesterday afternoon, about 5:30 o'clock. Mr. Georgewas last seen by the family about 7:30 yesterday morning when hestarted toward town. He did not come home to dinner as usual and towardevening the family began to get uneasy, and a search was started, whichended in the discovery of the body in the corn field. Coroner Corbettwas immediately summoned. Around the lips of the dead man were theunmistakable signs of carbolic acid, and inside his coat pocket was aneight-ounce bottle about one-third full of the poison. The arm of thedead man was wrapped around several stalks of corn, as if he hadclutched them in his agony, and the body was stiff when found. Theevidence was conclusive that Mr. George had taken his own life bydrinking carbolic acid and no inquest was held. Whether he wentimmediately to the corn field on leaving the house in the morning andcommitted the deed or whether he first went to town and then returnedwith the poison is not known, but he had without doubt been dead anumber of hours when found, probably drinking the acid shortly afterleaving the house.
Despondency on account of the sickness of his wife and othermisfortunes is thought to have been the reason for Mr. George takinghis life. Mrs. George has been seriously sick for the past two yearswith cancer of the stomach, and is at present in a serious condition.Grieving because of this, Mr. George had been despondent for some time,and had often told the neighbors he intended to commit suicide. Theother day he was at the river and remarked to his companions that hehad a notion to drown himself.
Mr. George is about 65 years old, and was born in Wales. His parentswere wealthy people, owning some valuable coal lands in Wales, fromwhich they derived a large income. It is said because they thought hemarried below his social position they disinherited Edmund George, whothen came to this country. Several years ago he went to Wales to visithis old home. He was a man of good education and did manual labor ofmost any kind of a livelihood. An estimable wife and six children,three boys and three girls survive him.
The funeral services were held from the house this afternoon, at 3o'clock, and interment was made in Maplewood. Rev. W. A. Parker, of theChristian church, conducted the service. (Emporia Gazette ~ July 24,1906 ~ Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)
AN EMPORIA WOMAN'S SUICIDE
The Atchison Globe says: "Helen King, of 308 Utah avenue, died at 6:30o'clock this morning, as the result of taking corrosive sublimate,evidently with suicidal intent. The dose was taken last Friday morning,but the fact was not discovered for four hours, when a physician wassummoned. He tried to counteract the effects of the drug, but it hadgotten a start that could not be overcome. To the physician she statedthat it was taken accidentally, but her friends say that she had beenblue, and had cried considerably of late. They also say she had talkedin a despondent manner, indicating an intention to put herself out ofthe way. It is said that she took carbolic acid, with suicidal intentbefore coming to Atchison. She was well educated, was 21 years old andis said to have belonged to a good family in Emporia. Her people arereported to be prominent, and have been notified. She had been inAtchison only a short time, and little is known of her past, exceptingthat she had been married. King is supposed to have been her marriedname. The body was removed to the undertaking parlors of Sawin &Douglas to await the wishes of relatives. (Emporia Gazette ~ August 22,1906 ~ Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)
JOE MAYES A SUICIDE
DRANK CARBOLIC ACID YESTERDAY MORNING
Body Found In Barn At 1010 Congress Street By Mrs. Mayes, On Her Return from Church---Had Often Threatened to Kill Himself
Joe Mayes committed suicide yesterday by taking carbolic acid. He wasfound by his divorced wife, Mrs. Mary Mayes, in the barn in the rear ofher home, 1010 Congress street. This barn is the second one south ofthe one in which Fred Terhune, a Normal student, committed suicide alittle more than a month ago. Mrs. Mayes returned from the UnitedPresbyterian church services and had scarcely got in the house, whenthe older of her two sons told her that someone was in the barn andbreathing heavily. She went to the barn and found her divorced husband.Mrs. Mayes called Drs. Parrington and Eckfall, but the carbolic acidhad done its work and he lived only a few minutes after the doctorsarrived.
"Joseph Mayes was killed by carbolic acid administered by his ownhands." This was the conclusion reached by Coroner Corbett and theother physicians present at the inquest yesterday.
Twenty cents in money, an order on the city for 75 cents, a few nailsand matches, and a note were found on the dead man. The substance ofthe note was that he killed himself because his wife would not let himcome home.
Three months ago Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mayes had a quarrel, followingwhich Mrs. Mayes caused a warrant to be sworn out for her husband,alleging that her husband had assaulted her. The trial was heard beforeJudge Dryer and Mayes pleaded guilty.
Mrs. Mayes was granted a divorce from her husband about this time.Since that time, Mrs. Mayes says she has seen him only two or threetimes. Mayes has worked wherever he could get work. He worked for thecity the greater part of the time, and Saturday he worked on thestreets. Saturday evening after the fire, he was at the city buildingand helped the driver take care of the horses. He boarded with J.Nichols, at 301 South Merchant street, and the last seen of himyesterday was at 10 o'clock in the morning.
His brother, H. B. Mayes, who lives at 15 South Commercial, said thatJoe Mayes was at his place about 10 o'clock yesterday morning. No oneseems to have seen him later than this, and some time between 10o'clock and 12 he went to the barn at 1010 Congress street, where heended his life.
Mrs. Mayes, asked today if she had ever heard her husband speak of taking his life, said:
"For the past ten or eleven years, when anything went wrong, hethreatened to kill himself, and to take my life as well. I think it isa good thing I was at church yesterday, or he might have killed me."
H. B. Mayes was asked if his brother had ever said anything to him about suicide, and he replied:
"Several times he told me that he intended to kill himself, but Ialways laughed at him and told him that I wouldn't kill myself for anywoman. A week ago I went up town with him and he bought a new suit ofclothes, and told me that a sad accident was going to happen. Sincethen he has said nothing more about it to me."
Joe Mayes was the father of three children, two boys, aged 11 and 3,and one girl, aged 9. His mother, Mrs. Harriet Mayes, lives three mileswest of Hartford. He is the oldest of a family of eleven children, fiveboys and six girls. The brothers are H. B. Mayes who lives at 15 SouthCommercial, W. M. Mayes, Winnie Mayes and Sam Mayes, all of Hartford.His sisters are Mrs. Lizzie Ferguson, of Camden, Ill.; Mrs. CarrieBoone, of St. Joseph, Mo.; Mrs. Mattie Davis, who lives in Emporia onSouth Commercial street, Mrs. Hattie Robinson, of Hartford; Mrs. RosaFerguson, of Topeka and Mrs. Ed Mayes, of Hartford.
The funeral services will be held tomorrow morning at the Chicago Moundchurch. (Emporia Gazette ~ February 11, 1907 ~ Submitted by LoriDeWinkler)
TOM LAUDERBECK A SUICIDE
Thomas Lauderbeck shot himself through the heart and died within threeminutes afterward, about 10:40 o'clock Wednesday, in front of the ThirdAvenue hotel. The shooting occurred when many people were returningfrom the amusement places, and a crowd soon collected. Sheriff Cowanwas in front of the Lenox restaurant when he heard the shooting, and hewalked immediately to the railroad. As he reached the sidewalk in frontof the hotel where the wounded man lay, Lauderbeck breathed his last.Shortly afterward Night Marshal Raymond arrived and the coroner sooncame, and pronounced it suicide. The body was removed to the Samuelundertaking rooms.
The man was scarcely dead before his wife, from whom he had beenseparated about a month, arrived on the scene screaming, and when shesaw her husband's prostrate form on the sidewalk, she fainted severaltimes. After a few faints a doctor was called to attend to her.Thursday her attendants at the hotel said she was calling for Tomincessantly, though they said she took time between these sobs to askfor the man with whom she is said to have been Wednesday night.
The suicide is said to be the result of trouble between Lauderbeck andhis wife. They were married in October, and while the woman's age givenon the marriage affidavit in the probate judge's office after her nameis 22 years, her oldest daughter is said to be 16 years old. She was awidow with four children, and her name was Mrs. Fannie Dow, when shemarried Lauderbeck. For a number of years she has worked at the ThirdAvenue hotel. The police and others in a position to know, say herreputation has not been good.
Twice since she was married to Lauderback she has attempted suicide,once early last spring when they lived on Union street, just below therailroad, and again about two months ago, though the doctor whoattended her both times says he thinks she knew just how much not totake each time. Since Lauderbeck and his wife separated, he has been tosee her a number of times and only last week the police were called toquiet a disturbance between the two.
Wednesday about 8 o'clock, Lauderbeck called at the Third Avenue hoteland asked for his wife. Martin Cottenmeyer, proprietor of the hotel,said that she was not there, and Lauderbeck told him to go to the houseand call her. A part of the time Mrs. Lauderbeck stays at the hotel,and the remainder of the time at a house on Mechanic street, betweenFirst and Second avenues. Lauderbeck left and returned to the hotelabout an hour later, and again asked for his wife. Again he was toldthat she was not there.
Shortly after 10 o'clock, Mrs. Lauderbeck says he called at the houseand placed the barrel of a revolver against her breast. She says shewrenched it away from him, and that after a scuffle he regained therevolver and ran. He returned to the hotel, and after demanding hiswife again from Cottenmeyer and being given the same reply, he steppedto the other side of the small house used by the Santa Fe flagman, andwith the words, "So long, Cottenmeyer," shot himself. The wounded mangot up and staggered a few paces and then fell on the walk in front ofthe hotel. A number of men who were guests at the hotel witnessed thetragedy. When the coroner arrived, an examination showed that the ballhad entered the right breast and had gone through the heart, coming tothe surface in the back. It was afterward removed.
The revolver was a thirty-eight caliber and contained two bullets,while in Lauderbeck's pockets were found a score or more of cartridges.The fact that two cartridges were in the revolver gives ground for thesupposition that Lauderbeck intended to use two bullets instead of onlyone. John Mackenthum, a boarder at the hotel, who was there whenLauderbeck first called, says he heard Lauderbeck say he was going toput an end to his wife's foolishness.
Lauderbeck is of a respected family, who till two years ago, lived inthe neighborhood of Twin Mound, southwest of town. His father andmother then moved to Bethany, Mo. A brother, Fred, works at the W. E.Julian farm, twelve miles southeast of town, and another brother,Charles, works at the Sowerby dairy. Tom worked at the Lyons stable,and people who rode in the Lyon's wagonette during Chautauqua willremember him as the tall, raw-boned driver of that wagonette. (EmporiaGazette ~ September 5, 1907)
AN ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE?
CORYDON MINER, SERIOUSLY WOUNDED, IS IN HOSPITAL
Miner Claims He Was Attacked and Shot Three Times by a Highwayman,Saturday Night, but Officials Doubt His Story----Miner's Record
Corydon H. Miner is in St. Mary's Hospital with three bullet wounds inhis body. He says they are the result of an encounter with acolored man, or white man, in a hold-up at the alley between Neosho andState Streets, on Second Avenue, Saturday night. The city andcounty officers are inclined to believe that the wounds wereself-inflicted, judging by Miner's past record. Three times, itis said, Miner has attempted suicide. One bullet is through theright hand, and another through the right forearm, while the thirdentered the left side of the body, below the second rib, and passedthrough to the right side of the back. Miner's condition wassomewhat improved today, and he may recover, though the third wound isof serious nature.
Miner, who has been working in Topeka at his trade as painter, came toEmporia on the motor Saturday night. The motor was late, and didnot pull into Emporia until after 11 o'clock. Miner went directlyfrom the car to Hedgecock's restaurant, where he talked a few minuteswith M. Gartha, O. K. Miller and some others, who were visiting whilethey waited for train No. 2. Shortly after he left, the men inthe restaurant heard several shots in quick succession. Withinfive minutes, Miner staggered into the restaurant by the east door,fell to the floor, and exclaimed: "Some black (using a vile term)shot me." The men seized him and carried him to a chair, where hesat cursing, they say, and bleeding horribly. The city officers,together with a physician, were called at once, and Miner was put intoa hack and taken to the hospital. Before he was taken away, hesaid he did not know whether it was a colored man or white man who shothim. He declared that the assailant had jumped out upon him fromthe shadow of a small barn at the location of the alleged encounter,that he (Miner) had scuffled with him, and knocked the gun from hishand. He said: "Boys, you will find that gun at the cornerof the barn." The officers searched, and discovered the gun whereMiner said it would be.
The gun is a cheap wagon, of .32 caliber. One chamber of the sixwas empty, four contained shells discharged, and oneundischarged. The officers made close search for signs of ascuffle in the snow, as mine said, but found none. The path alongthe walk, through the snow drifts at this point, is barely two feetwide, the officers say, and declare that such a set-to would beimpossible in the confined space. There were no other tracks inthe snow at this ponit to indicate the presence of such a hold-upartist as Miner describes, they affirm.
The bullet wounds in the right hand are taken as an evidence thatsomeone besides Miner did the shooting. It is inconceivable, sometheorists hold, that a man attempting suicide should shoot himselfthus. If he did so, when were the hand and arm wounds inflicted,before or after the agonizing body would? A left-handed man,however, might hold a gun and easily make such wounds as these uponhimself. In fact, it seems almost impossible to believe that arevolver held in the right hand could cause the wound, which rangedfrom the extreme left of the abdomen to the right side of the back.
The attempted suicide explanation of the occurrence is supported by thefact that Miner's clothing was badly burned, which indicates that thegun was held at close range. He wore no overcoat, and his coatabove the abdomen wound, as well as the sleeve over that of the arm, isextensively burned. Miner's tendency toward suicide is theofficers' strongest card that the alleged hold-up is a fake. Thestories are that Miner shot himself with suicidal intent about tenyears ago, and several years afterward attempted to kill himself bytaking carbolic acid. A third attempt at suicide, which occurredoutside of Emporia, also is reported.
Miner has had family troubles. Following a divorce from his firstwife, he was married to Sarah Isabel Divine, September 30 of lastyear. This woman lives below First Avenue on CommercialStreet. She told Marshal Randolph, the other day, so the marshalsays, that Miner became despondent recently, and knelt before her wtihan open razor, threatening to cut his throat there, so that the bloodwould spurt into her lap. This woman's father, the marshal, alsodeclares, in his recent letter from Miner, in which the latter said hewas going to Oklahoma, kill himself there, and that the family wouldhave the expense of bringing his body to Emporia. Such reports ofMiner's mental state cause the officers to have little sympathy for histale of the hold-up. Miner is about 25 years old. (EmporiaGazette ~ Monday ~ March 4, 1912)
J. W. FICHTNER A SUICIDE
TOOK HIS LIFE BY DRINKING CARBOLIC ACID
At. Home of R. W. Keating, East of Emporia, Last Night---Had Threatened To Kill Himself Previously
John W. Fichtner committed suicide by drinking carbolic acid, at thehome of Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Keating, four miles east of Emporia, about10:30 last night. The family had retired for the night, and Mr.Fichtner had gone to his room on the second floor. Those downstairsheard the thud of the falling body, and found Fichtner lying on hisback with a 2-ounce acid bottle, nearly drained, close beside him.Fichtner lived about five minutes after swallowing the chemical. He didnot regain consciousness, however, and left no message. He hadthreatened previously to take his life, and the Keating family hadgrown to disregard his threats. The last time he made an open threatwas in December.
Fichtner walked to town yesterday and purchased the acid from anEmporia druggist, giving as his reason for wanting the poison that hewished to use it in killing mice. Fichtner must have sat on the edge ofthe bed while he turned up the bottle for the fatal draught, accordingto an investigation made at once by Dr. A. W. Corbett, county coroner.Apparently, then, he slipped from the edge of the bed to the floor,where he was found by the family. Fichtner had taken his watch, knifeand personal belongings from his pockets and piled them on the bureau.He had not undressed, though he had removed his shoes. Only a smallportion of the poison was left in the vial. The coroner says thatFichtner received the full effects of the acid. A few drops burned hislips, while his tongue and the roof of his mouth were burned white bythe strong chemical. Some of the acid splashed scatteringly down on thesuicide's left hand and some on his left trousers leg. The evidence wasso complete that Dr. Corbett did not feel impelled to summon a jury.
The body was brought to the Dumm undertaking rooms, where it will bekept until the arrival of Fichtner's adopted son, J. A. Fichtner, ofParsons. The son is expected late this afternoon, and funeralarrangements will be made upon his arrival.
Fichtner never had been married. He lived in Hartford a number ofyears, having been manager of the telephone exchange in that place. Hewent to LaHarpe from Hartford, and stayed there a year. Then he came tothe farm east of Emporia, which was the property of the youngerFichtner. He had lived there since two years ago last March. IinDecember, he went to live with the Keating family. From December untilMarch, he lived with the Keatings on an adjoining farm. Fichtner was 58years old. John Hoch, of Lyon County, is a cousin, and other relativeslive in Chase County and in Iowa. (Emporia Gazette ~ July 3, 1913 ~Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)
A. CARROLL A SUICIDE
Arthur Carroll, of 1 South Neosho Street, committed suicide thisafternoon by drinking carbolic acid. Bad health and despondency aregiven as the cause. Carroll was 22 years old, and had been marriedabout a year.
Carroll had been working for Lee Musick, a cousin, who lives with hismother, Mrs. E. J. Musick, at 1 South Neosho. His father, J. G.Carroll, lives at 109 Cedar Street.
Carroll had been despondent for several days, according to Musick.Musick said he believed that Carroll had been brooding over his affairsfor some time, and that he had shown it in his actions for severaldays. Carroll drank the acid about 12:30, while in a barn back of thehouse, but ran to the house at once. He would not give a reason fortaking the acid, and refused to talk, except to ask Musick to take careof his wife. He died about 1:40 this afternoon. (Emporia Gazette ~February 17, 1915 ~ Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)
AL TRIGGS A SUICIDE
PROMINENT FARMER KILLS SELF WITH SHOTGUN
Temporary Insanity Thought to Be Cause of Death of Pike Township Resident---Was Alone When He Died
Albert Triggs, a prominent farmer living seven and one-half mielssouthwest of Emporia, committed suicide yesterday afternoon by shootinghimself through the heart with a shotgun. The suicide took place on theback porch of his home while none of the family was near.
A temporary derangement of his mind, which has been noticeable forseveral months, is said to be the reason for his suicide. Friends ofMr. triggs while shocked to learn of the act said Mr. Triggs had actedstrangely for several days.
The body was found at 6:15 o'clock yesterday evening by Fred Triggs,his son, and C. W. Binyon, his son-in-law, who had gone to the farm tosee Mr. Triggs.
When the men arrived at the home they noticed blood on the stepsleading up to the back porch. The body was found lying inside of thescreened porch, as it had fallen when the shot pierced his heart. Mr.Triggs was lying on his back with the discharged shotgun nearby.Apparently, Mr. Triggs had held the muzzle of the shotgun touching hisbody above the heart when he discharged it. The body was scorchedaround the wound, which was only an inch in width. The shot took adownward course, coming out on the left side of the back, a few inchesbelow the heart. (Emporia Gazette ~ July 3, 1919 ~ Submitted by LoriDeWinkler)
BILLY LEE A SUICIDE
SHEEP GROWER KILLS SELF WITH REVOLVER
Lee's Body Was Found This Morning in Loft of Barn West of Emporia
William (Billy) Lee, sheep grower, and former proprietor of the LastChance restaurant, was found dead at 8:30 o'clock this morning in theloft of a barn west of town. A bullet from a .38 caliber Colt revolverhad pierced his skull. Suicide was the cause of his death, Coroner D.L. Morgan said today.
Mr. Lee had not been seen since about 2:30 or 3 o'clock yesterdayafternoon, and it is thought he shot himself yesterday afternoon. WhenEd Cox went to the sheep sheds to feed the sheep this morning hediscovered the body of Mr. Lee in the loft of the barn. Sheriff CharlesGibson and Coroner Morgan were notified immediately. A .38 caliber Coltrevolver was found near the body. One chamber had been discharged.
Financial worry is said to have been the cause for suicide. Mr. Lee issaid to have invested considerable money in the sheep feeding business,and the present slump in market conditions probably had struck hisbusiness a severe blow. The body was removed from the barn loft andbrought to Emporia today noon.
"No inquest will be held as it is not necessary," said Dr. D. L.Morgan, coroner, today. "There is no question, the suicide was thecause of death." Lee purchased a revolver at an Emporia hardware storeyesterday.
William Chase Lee was born at Toledo in Chase County, November 24,1871. He was brought up in Chase County. He was married to MissGertrude Obley in Emporia in 1907. He is survived by his wife and onedaughter, Mrs. Haimer Lee, who attends Emporia High School. (EmporiaGazette ~ January 29, 1921 ~ Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)
NORMAL GRADUATE DIES FROM SELF INFLICTED WOUNDS
Coffeyville, June 18---Miss Evelyn Boyd, who gouged both of her eyesout with a nail file Saturday died early today of the self-inflictedinjuries. She was age 26 and had taught five years in the Coffeyvilleschools. Physicians say hers was one of the most violent cases ofinsanity ever handled in a Coffeyville hospital. Had she lived shewould have been totally blind. She was a graduate of the EmporiaTeachers College. (Emporia Gazette ~ June 18, 1923)
BOY SICK WITH LOCKJAW CURED BY SERUM TREATMENT
Eighty thousand units of tetanus antitoxin saved the life of RichardWilson, 15-year-old colored orphan boy, who has been in the NewmanMemorial hospital for the past 11 days, suffering from lockjaw.
The source of the tetanus infection is unknown, but it is thought thegerm entered the boy's body through a wound on the foot, received whilegoing barefoot. He had been sick several days before entering thehospital.
When brought to the hospital the boy's body was rigid, and he wassuffering with spasms every two or three minutes. He was given theserum treatment from July 5 to July 10, and the day following thegiving of the last srum he bgan to relax, and was able to eat lightfood. His improvement since has been gradual, and yesterday he was ableto be up in a wheel chair and to take several steps. Ninety-six dollarsworth of serum was used in the six days' treatment.
As long as his condition was critical, the boy was under the constant care of a special nurse.
The extra pursing service which was necessary in the boy's fight forlife will be paid for out of the Newman fund---a fund created by theinterest of the G. W. Newman $10,000 endowment, provided for at thetime of the bequest of $50,000 for hospital construction, to be usedfor extra hospital service for patients who need it and have no fundsto pay for it. (Emporia Gazette ~ July 17, 1923)
FARMER A SUICIDE
JOHN BLOMSTROM SHOOTS HIMSELF WITH GUN
Old Age and Inability to Work Caused Pioneer to Take Own Life
Because he was old and unable to work, John Blomstrom, aged farmer nearAmericus, committed suicide Saturday afternoon by killing himself witha shotgun. Reasons for his action were given in a note Blomstrom leftfor relatives bidding them farewell. He killed himself with a shotgun.Blomstrom was 82 years old.
Blomstrom was at the home of his son, Emil Blomstrom, four milessoutheast of Americus, when he shot himself. The family went to townabout 1 o'clock leaving Blomstrom alone. When they returned about 5o'clock they found Blomstrom lying in the yard dead, with a shotgun byhis side. His heart and left lung were torn away by the explosion.
Americus and community had been the home of Mr. Blomstrom since 1888,when he came to Kansas direct from Stockholm, Sweden. He settled on afarm near Americus where he lived until several years ago when he movedinto town. Mrs. Blomstrom has been dead six years and he has beenmaking his home with his son, Emil, and his daughter, Mrs. CharlesHurst, six miles northwest of Emporia.
In addition to his son and daughter with whom he lived, he is survivedby four other children, three daughters, Mrs. Mary Broden of Sweden;Mrs. Emma Williams, of Boivaird, Okla., Mrs. Hilda Bruderlin of LosAngeles, Calif., and Olaf Blomstrom, of Medicine Lodge.
Funeral services will be held this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from theAmericus Methodist church of which Mr. Blomstrom was a member. Rev. J.M. Wallace, pastor of the Americus Presbyterian church, will conductthe services in the absence of the Methodist pastor. Interment will bein Americus cemetery. (Emporia Gazette ~ July 30, 1923)
SUICIDE AT HARTFORD
VANETTE ENERY, 14, DRINKS POISON WHEN REPRIMANDED
Girl, an Orphan, Had Been Living With the G. W. Brittons
Hartford, Oct. 29---Vanette Enery, a 14-year-old girl who had livedthree years with Mr. and Mrs. George W. Britton in Hartford, took herown life this morning when she drank a small quantity of nicotinesulphate, a deadly poison. The child lived only six minutes afterdrinking the poison.
Mrs. Britton reprimanded the girl about 9 o'clock this morning for aminor offense. She went to the bathroom and drank the liquid, which hadbeen used by the Birttons to kill bugs on plants. The girl then went tothe back yard where she fell. A doctor was called and Mr. Britton, whois a druggist, was called home. The child remained conscious, butemergency treatments failed to save her life. She told Mr. and Mrs.Britton and the doctor that she was sorry she had taken the poison andthat she did not know why she did it.
County Attorney O. R. Stites, Undersheriff Charles Gibson and R. E.Evans, acting coroner, went to Hartford this morning and investigatedthe suicide. No inquest was held.
Officers said that the girl and the Brittons always had gotten alongwell, but that the child was of a nervous nature with a tendency to actquickly without thinking. The girl was in an orphans' home in Topekabefore she went to live with the Brittons. She never had had a homebefore and was an affectionate child, spending much of her time helpingMr. Britton in his drug store. She attended high school and took partin a play at the school Friday night.
Funeral services will be at 2:30 o'clock Monday afternoon at theMethodist church in Hartford. (Emporia Gazette ~ October 29, 1927 ~Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)
