Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-08-14
DRIVEN TO DEATH.
Sad Story Of the Ruin of Lovely School
girl in De nve-.s

replete with sensation, an d bios fair to be-
! come one of the most famols tragedies
! ever committed in Colon ldo. The victim
is Fannie Pierson or, as she il commonly
known, Fannie Birdsel1, a pretty little
! sehool-glrl Of II, still wearing short dresses.
The chlid's history is a particularly sad
| one. Two years ago she, with an elder
| sister, bade adieu to a W idowed' mother
living in Rock Island, H., and came to
! Denver. The children were warmly re-
ceived by Mr.. and Mrs Dr. Caleb Birtlsell,
| an elderly couple famous fox their tindness
! to the unfortunate.
DRUGGED AND RUINED
Bsst night little Fannie lay a co-pse in
| the home of her benefactress, WHO is al
most distracted with grief After s. bitter
week of misery and distress the child,
weary of life, early yesterday morning de-
! liberately swallowed four drachzas of
''tsough on Rats" The effect of the fatal
drug was immediate, and with q despair
ing cry the little one sank back, CRYING:
On, help me; ! am dying" Medical as
slstance was in vain, and for nearly four
teen hours the child writhed in the agony
| of death. She remained conscious to the
| last and before yielding to the cold en-
brace of desth, made confession OF the
most startling character. Just q few mo-
ments before her demise, when realizing
that her life was fast ebbing away, the
little unfortunate, calling her foster mother
to her side, whispered the details OF
HER SAD STORY.
She had, she sad, been the victim o. one
of the most notorious men in Colorado, no
less q person than Jim McDaniels, famous
as the first legitimate comedian who
ever played in Colorado, and known E7om
Maine TO California. McDaniels is 53
years of age, has wife in Virginia and a
young daughter living in Ohio. He is re-
pulsiye both in appearance and manner.
His Establishments were Intellectual, and he
is,alleged to have called in the assistance
of q Mrs. Mason, who some years ago
figured conspicuously in famous murder
trial in Colorado.
ARREST OF THE CULPRIT.
MeDaniels was arrested at the instigztion
of the District ATTORNEY. He denied all
knowledge of the girl, but there is sufficient
evidence that he is not speaking the truth.
By little Fanny Birdselrs dying confession,
which is corroborated by Mrs. Mason and
Miss Bal er, the child AYERS that McDan;els
forcibly assaulted her. On the night of
August 4th, MeDaniels got the little girl
and woman of thirty into box at the
Olympic Theater, plying them both with
beer and wine.
As the hours advanced Fannie became
home. McDaniels offered both lis pro-
lection. They accompanied him to his
home.
EER LIFE WRECKED.
During the following week Fannie. re-
mained awey from home, and when she re-
turned was dispirited, and after declaring
/ that her lie was wrecked and that she
| wished to die, passed to her room and
Immediately swallowed the fatal doe of
poison which she had just before. pur-
! chased. She died at o'clock he same
evening. Preparations for her bRriaI were.
made at once and all arrangements wers 3,
perfected for her interment at c'elook yes
terday afternoon.
THE FUNERAL STOPPED.
Regarding this as suspicious circu-a-
stance the police and the Coroner at m ID.
night entered the Birdsell residence. Thes
were received resentfully and bitter scsne!
! followed, which ended in tbs, Coroner Der
emptorily refusing to allow the fuIeaal
! preparations to proceed any further. as 9
! o'clock in the morning the remains ca she
| little gisl. were removed to he office Is the
| Coroner.
The child was extren s5y pretty. bad
beautiful black eyes and Z prosuss0I, OF
| BLACK hair worn down hCs back in sefsool.
| girl fashion. She gave premise of 1ass ynifi.
cent sonanhood. AS ske lies dead s.n hel
unca1py quarters, a CstAolic cro5s aae
be25s encircle the white neck, il strange
contrast 20 her terrible ate.
at late hour last Stsning the woman
Emma Baker, was placed un5a arrest
Fearing the consequences of her most un
natural crime, the WOMAN became Jlysts1ica
\ aud, csied for mercy.
THE coMMU fsGT ,ARo gsHA.
The tragedy has created pe feet Juror,
OF Indignation in beaver. Il is the uni
yersal topic of discussion, ~, which th,
4 participants in the crime ara o Jndemned il
. the most severe tesms. Tia ,matssr will b,
Z Investigated mos, carefully. and the Who'll,
plot exposed. 4. CoroueTS inquest and
post mortem examination will Go held.
most determined effort will ke made /
punish McDsn, SIS.