Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-04-16
[From the Chicago Republican,
Sad Suicide i'm ChicaSO-The DE
ceased a Cousin of Gen. Hooker.

S50 SUICIDE IN CnlcSlSO-1he ne
ceased a Cousin of Gen. Hooker
Yesterday afternoon an inquest was held
before Deputy Coroner Gustav Fisher upon
the body of Jane M. Mitchell, woman of
about 33 years of age, who died in the morn
ing at No. 130 Blue Island avenue, from
the effects of poison administered by her
own hand. ID ~ s,H.l Hl
From the testimony elected before the
jury. it appears that the deceased was born
in Warren county, Ohio. She was married
at Keokuk, about sixteen years ago, to
James w. Mitchell. with whom she resided
at Keokuk for twelve years. In 1862 the
ill fated woman accompanied her husband
to Pixies Peak, where they lived for about
two years. About this time, it is alleged,
the husband deserted his wife, leaving her
to struggle through the world unaided and
alone. She Immediately left Pixies
Peak and returned to her friends
in Ohio. In the month of September,
1865, the deceased came to Chicago, and,
until the month OF February of the present
year, resided in the family of Mr.. James K.
Martin, pork packer, living on the Archer
road. She then removed to the house of
Mr. Leonard, No. 130 Blue Island. avenue,
aud with him she remained until her death.
On Monday last she was taken sick, when
the medical services of DR.. Higgins were
called to her relief. DR.. Higgins treated
her tor two days, without learning the
cause of the woman's disease; and then the
idea appears to have struck him, for the
first time, that she had taken poison. He
charged her with the act, and, after some
little hesitation, she confessed that she had
swallowed quantity of arsenic two days
before The usual remedies under the Cir
cumstanceS were administered, but with
out avail, and the rash woman died yester-
day morning about five o'clock.
The Jury returned as their verdict that
deceased came to her death from the effects
of poison administered by herself. Under
the impression that there is no State law
prohibiting the indiscriminate sale of poi
sons, the jury recommended the passage of
an ordinance by the City Council prohibit
ing such sale.
The deceased appeared to have suffered
from settled melancholy ever since her
desertion by her husband. This feeling
is supposed to have been the reason of her
determination to terminate her exist
ence. Some time ago, Mrs. Martin took
a quantity of arsenic from her trunk,
and from that time Mrs. Mitchell seems
to have steadily determined to die. Previ-
Gus to her death she told her medical at
tendant that when she purchased the poison
she was suspicious that it was not arsenic,
and she accordingly repaired to another
drug store and asked the keeper if it was
the genuine article. He convinced her that
it was, and then she returned to her home
and swallowed it.
The deceased was woman who was
highly spoken of by all who knew her; she
was quiet and lady-like in her demeanor.
and had many friends. She has two sisters,
now living in Iowa, and had three brothers
in the army. She claimed to be the cousin
of the wife of Gen. Joseph Hooker, and as
such was always recognized by her friends.