The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-08-12
A GIRLS SUICIDE.
a Lovers Quarrel Leads to the Suicide of
Robenia Black.

Robenia Black, aged between sixteen and
seventeen years, committed suicide at the
residence of her brother-in-law, William
Griffin, formerly connected with the Board
of Health Office of this city. She purchased
twenty-five cents worth of morphine at
Haags drug store Saturday afternoon and
took all but about three grains in two doses
ats o'clock in the evening and died at 4
o'clock yesterday morning. The funeral
will be held tomorrow. Rev. Mr.. Day will
preach the funeral sermon.
Miss Black and her mother arrived at Mr.
Griffin's house 9S Yandes street. Saturday
afternoon. for visit. She seemed to be in
Der usually cheerful condition, and played
with her niece, Maud Griffin, during the eve
ming. Mr.. Griffin came home as usual, and
about 9 o'clock he went over to the school
house well for bucket OF drinking water.
He then arranged to take bath before retir-
ing for the night, and Miss Black went to the
bucket for drink, at which time it is be-
heved she took part of the morphine She
walked out to the gate and looked down the
street for moment after which she returned
to the house and took another drink, taking
with IL another portion of the NOR
phine Her sister, Mrs. Griffin. asked
her why she drank so much water to which
she replied that she was very thirsty. Soon
after this she went to bed with her niece.
Half an hour later Mr.. and Mrs. Griffin heard
her moaning, and went in to see what was
the matter. She was unconscious and in
commissions. DIR. Elder was sent for.
and after a time succeeded in restoring
the girl to consciousness. He then de-
cided that she was simply hysterical,
as the result OF certain physical conditions
and a possible social excitement. Upon in
quiry it was learned that she had had
quarrel with her lover Turner Bottom, en-
ployed at the silver plating establishment at
81 East Market street and upon final seDa-
ration from him had given him a ring-his
gift to her-and some other articles DR..
tom of n1 morphine GhSs ah hdr leff te snfs
the family she would be all right
by morning. The family again retired, but
Mr.. and Mrs. Griffin continued to discuss
the matter, when Mrs. Griffin finally remem.
bered that her sister had been writing in the
afternoon i'm the sitting-room This alarmed
Mr.. Griffin, and search was made through
the young girls dresses, resulting finally in
the discovery OF the box of morphine, which
still contained little of the drug and
note, of which the following is a copy:
MA-Please give Turner everything back that he
ever gave me-that Chinese tan. Christmas cards.
anu ali the letters he wrote, and also that box that
had the writing paper in, and take them to his
store, 81 East Market street. Please send Seymour
the Two SILK nanukerCnicfS that have
his You will ind them in my dress pockets. All
OF the folks try and forgive me for this act.
ToDD B..
9S Iandes street.
She lay at this time sleeping heavily, the
morphine beginning to act on her system.
DIR. Woollen was hastily called and at his
request DIR. Elder was also called. The two
physicians labored until o'clock yesterday
morning trying to restore the unconscious
girl, but il was useless, for she died at that
hour.
Todd was pet name for Miss Black.
She has always been quiet, ex-
emplary girl. but very sensi-
tive, and at times melancholy.
A few days ago she asked her mother.
Don't you sometimes wish we were both
deady' and in explanation OF the re-
mark said she was nearly distracted at times
with the thought that they had no home of
their own, and that perhaps they were not
always welcome where they went. This
with her lovers quarrel is the only reasons
assigned for the deed. She was
very cheerful seemingly when
she purchased the morphine,
and upon the hesitation OF the druggist as to
whether she should be given the drug she
said she knew il was dangerous poison, bnt
that she knew how to take IL, having taken
1t before. Seymour Sullivan is a young man
who lives at Gwynnville near Morristown.
on the C.. III. and /. Road. The Coroner will
make an examination to-day.