Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-04-08
DISTRESSING SUICIDE.
A Young Girl takes Strychninc and
Expires from its Effects within
Two Hours

the possession OF nealtn, lficnus, coinl"TLs,
glowing hopes and .inbow- tinted anticipa-
tions, in moment when the sentinel reason is
temporarily absent from his post, rashly snaps
the cord Of life, and passes, self ushercd, into
the realm Of the unknown, VIC arc appalled,.
The shock IS for moment Supplying, and we
re cover from it only to utter feeble protest and
unavailng regret.
Such was the effect upon this community
Of the intelligence which flew from lip to lip
last Monday afternoon, that Anna Simmons,
young girl Of Is, the step-daughtcr Of Rev.
w. l.. Hunter, and the life of every joyous cir
Gle of her young companions was dead, poison
cd by her own hand. SO inconsistent was the
intelligence with the innocent character, and
what was generally known of the temperament
of the young girl, that it was at first declared
a false rumor, and later, when confirmation of
her de tn followed on the footsteps of the first
report, many maintained that the poisoning
was accidental. Bat alas, the story was only
too true.
The circumstances attending this most mel
ancholy affair arc as follows: Miss Simmons
was of that peculiar temperament which mani
tests itself in the remotcst extremes of gaycty
and depression at one time lifting her into
the seventh heaven of enjoyment and anon
plunging her into a moodincss bordering on
despair. She has frequently while under the
influence of these dark spells, avowed her con-
viction that she was in the way in the world,
and that if she left it her absence would not be
noted. She sometimes gave out vague hints
of purpose to destroy herself but as they
were never accompanied by even the slightest
attempt to put them into execution, they were
lightly regarded by the family. These seasons
of depression were invariably followed by the
opposite extreme of cxhuberant light hearted
ness and JOY, at which times she was the gay
est of the gay within the bounds of modcsty
and prudence. OF late, however, combina-
ton of circumstances has tended to make the
gloomy phase Of her mind more than usually
predominant. These circumstances were the
failure to procure certificate to teach, upon
which she had set her heart i'll success in imme-
datey getting class in music, and other
crosses and disappointmeHts, in themselves in
but which doubtless seemed in her
morbi imaginat on more than serious.
On Monday Of last week in company with
another young lady, Anna stepped into the
drug store Of Smale & Brother, and purchased
l. grains of strychninc for the purpose, as she
said, Of destroying rats. On the way home
she declared in a joking manner to her com
panion, her purpose to take some of the poison
herself, but Immediately afterwasd turned off
the remark as a joke, in which light the young
lady accepted it. Time passed on with no un-
usual happening, until Monday morning of the
present week, upon which morning Anna arose
in excellent health and spirits. She assisted
her mother in washing. during which time and
until noon she seemed in particularly happy
frame of mind At the dinner table. however,
. cloud came over her, and at the end of the
repast She was discovered to be in tears. Up |
} being appealed to by her scp-father. Mr. |
Hunter, for the cause of her grief, she gave no
satisfactory answer but proceeded with her |
sorh about the house. Mr.. Hunter shortly left |
o go to the depot, and Annals mother, Mrs. |
Hunter. stcpIe ed out to the house Of Il ncighhor |
Mrs. Plane, leaving only Anna and Willie
Hunter, her half brother about four years old |
n the house. About quarter after two
,'cock the little boy ran over to the house of
lir. Mani, with the message to Mr. MAN.
daughter Amc!ia--onc Of her intimatcs-that
4
Fouid go soon, and the boy departed, but i'm
nodately returned saying that Anna was very
ick and must see her quick. Upon this Mr..
,Ianz. his wife and daughter started in great
taste for Mir. Ilantcr's residence. Entering
hey found Anna on the he'd on her face, aud
p aranty in great distress. Her mother, who
ntercd in moment. said Gamma what is the
nattcr?" She answered 20, Mother, | have
10 it 7" 81 don't know, mother, save me and
will not dc thi, again" answerc! the dying
i'll. In about Is minutes Mr.. Hunter arrived.
Upon sight Of HIN, she exclaimed in agonz-
az tones. FEATHER, father, save me - Pre-
ous to this, emctics had been freely admins
cred, but with no effect, nor were the
forts of the doctor who now Gaze on the
Gene, attended with any success. The par
xysms peculiar to poisoning by strychnine,
ontnned at intervals Of about five minutes,
ntil > o'clock, at which time the sufferer ceas-
d to breathe. In the intervals between the
aroXysms she continued to implore assistance,
fnr bn oh of hr |
yell be imagined, the scene at the bedside of
he dy ing girl was affecting in the extreme
The shock to the mother, a slight fragile wo
nan, was too much for her strength. She was
Frustrated Immediately, and yet lies in a con-
lition of utter Generalization of mind and
'ody. The family have the spontaneous and
heartfelt sympathy of the whole community,
n this their deep aflliction. The funeral took
,lacc from the residence of Mr.. Hunter on
y Wednesday and was very numerously attended.
fhe services, conducted by Rev. j. NJ. Boggs
If the Presbyterian church. were solemn and
impressive.
In addition to what has already been said o.
Miss Simmons peculiar moods and conl iton
u Niiii, tuC iHoHliDu Oh an lHcluSHL OF HCT
years may go far to establish a the
Try of incipient insanity, and to explain why
his young and innocent girl, in possession of
rything which usually makes life happy and |
attractive, should shuttle it off like WON gar
rcnt. Woar informed by the family that
When about eight years of age, a lamp full Of
burning fluid was acciden tally spilled upon
lcr during the absence of her parents She
vas not seriously burned, but the nervous
shock was 50 violent, that for six months after
ward she was subject to daily spasms, or fits,
which dcfed the best medical skill to relieve,
md which the doctors predicted would end in
docy. She took the whooping cough however,
md during its continuance the spasms gradu-
Ally became less frequent and finally ceased. |
She has ever since at intervals complained Of |
pains and curious sensations in her lead.
A NEW pLANOF LIFE INSURANCE..
CONN ECTKCUT MUTUAL BENEFIT
COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN.