The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-27
SHE KEPT HER WORD.
A Young Girl Suicides for Fear
of Her Father.

Victoria Valencia Marisco,a girl nearly II years
OF age. who was afraid OF her father, took her
own life yesterday afternoon in the house of Mrs
Kelly, 8 Morris avenue. OF Harrison street, with
a dose OF rat poison containing arsenic. The
poor girl was driven almost insane with fear,
whether real or magniiied, OF her parent and
preferred death to living near him.
On June 81, 1888, when only Is years OF age,
she was taken from the care of her father, II.
Marisco living at 227 Green street, and placed
in the charge OF The Boys and Girls Aid Society.
AT the time Marisco was arrested for cruelty 10
the child, and il was shown at the trial that he
had whipped her most brutally because of the
loss of a dog, which lie claimed had escaped from
the house Oh account of the girls negligence.
her mother had then been dead about a year
and the neglected girl was suffering from gross
carelessness and cruelty. She mad never been
10 school, had never been taught to read or write
and wondered what clocks were In the world
for. She could not tell the time of DAY by the
dial. Hali-staTyed, nearly idOtic, altogether an
outcast bearing the marks OF parental brutality
she was found by the Society Tor the Prevention
OF Cruelty 10 Children and given temporary
home with the Aid Society. After spending
short time there she was employed by Mrs.
Kelly and taken to Morris avenue. There she
improved intellectually. became brighter and
happier and liked her mistress.
But last week her father visited her at Mrs
kelly's residence and informed the girl that he
was about to take steps 10 have her returned to
his charge. After he had left the house, Victoria
appeared to be terribly frightened, and more than
once informed Mrs. Kelly that sooner than re-
,
she would commit suicide. All at once her happy
disposition changed and she grew fretiu and
nervous. She was afraid 10 60 alone on the
streets, and was stll more frightened al the
prospect of her fathers return TO take her back
TO the terrible lille on Green street.
"Fll die first" she exclaimed between her
sObs, Saturday night. I'm die rat her than re-
turn with him."
She kept her word faithfully.
The neighbors and Mrs. Kelly heard the
threat, but thought 1t was an Idle statement only
They endeavored to pacify the girl, but did not
pay particular heed to her threats, believing that
she merely used them TO show her dislike for her
father and had no intention OF putting them into
execution.
Early yesterday morning Mrs. Kelly went to
Oakland, leaving Victoria in charge of the house
About noon neghbor heard the girl Ietching
ana moaning, aud went 10 her assistance.
Ppm not very Sick" said Victoria, asSuIingly,
and the ueighboF went away.
She was found by her mistress in the after
noon vomiting large quantities OF blood. She
then told Mrs Kelly, in answer to that lady's
searching questions that she had boiled halt
can OF rat poison with some coffee and had
swallowed the mixture. Drs. GraZer and Deas
were immediately summoned, but when they ar
girl. as the poison had already permeated her
whole system, aud she was IN the agonies OF
death.
The body was removed TO the Morgue for Off
eial investigation. IL was found that the poison
had been purchased as proprietary article in
Frazer's drugstore on The corner OF Sixth and
Harrison streets.
The unfortunate young suicide was native OF
this city, and would have been II years OF age
on the 9Th OF June. The acquain tances she had
MADE on Morris avenue were loud in their de-
nunciatluns of her father