Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-09
DRIVEN TO SUICIDE.
DETAILS OF THE PERSECUTION THAT
LED TO LENA BARTH,S DEATH.

DETAILS OF THE PERSECUTION THAT
LED TO LENA BARTHS DEATH.
Her Mother Held Her Secret-Father and
Brother Kept in Ignorance for Fear of a
Tragedy-The Part That a Conductor
Played.
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 8-The entire story of
the wrongs of Miss Lena Barth, which
caused her to commit suicide, can never be
fully told. 1t was only hinted at in the tel
egram sent THE DISPATCH yesterday. The
persecution to which she was subjected was
too infamous to be detailed in all its revolt
ing particulars. Caroline Francisco Barth
was young, high-strung and imaginative
girl, and the anonymous attacks she received
would render her so unhappy that she would
often sob herself to sleep at night Her
mother, who knew of the outrageous treat
ment to which the girl was subjected, said
nothing to her husband and son, fearing
that they would become incensed and COM
nit some hasty and violent act to avenge
the insults heaped upon the defenseless
girl.
Miss Barth was a well educated, bright
and popular young lady, and had many
young friends to visit her at her home, 1907
South Seventh street. She was a pretty
brunette. Her popularity excited the envy
of others, and she received many comic"
valentines containing hideous pictures and
insulting doggeIel. But the printed verse
was not enough for her prosecutors The
valentines were sent to "Chippy Barth"
and "Hussy Barth," and lines were pen
cilled on the valentines so indecent that
their purport cannot even be limited at.
She was charged with crimes of a terrible
nature, and the charges were expressed in q
low and brutal way.
THE EFFECT ON A SENSITIVE GIRL.
After receiving such communications it is
not at all surprising that the sensitive girl,
hardly comprehending what was charged,
was greatly shocked and sought to avoid her
heartless and persistent prosecutors by end
ing her own life.
Deputy Coroner Meade has some of the
valentines and letter that was sent to Miss
Barth. One of the valentines attempts TO
picture a woman clad in flashy raiment. The
'poem" connected with this picture is head
ed, GAS Tough as They Make Them" and
is as follows:
You are a very full illustration
Ofa that she shouldn't be,
In one unlike you in all things
A model we should see.
You are tough, and brazen, and vicious,
Without a redeeming trait,
And if sheol were ralNed with flne comb
/ don't think it would furnish your mate.
As Miss Barth was a modest girl and al
ways dressed in a simple, girlish manner,
this valentine was an atrocious libel that
could only have been sent by person of an
inconceivably low and villianous mind.
Deputy Coroner Meade visited the Barth
residence yesterday morning to inquire into
the cause of Miss Barth's death Mrs
Barth. the unfortunate girls mother, de-
scribed how Lena went into the garden last
Monday evening, and took dose of arsenic
and then went TO bed without giving the
slightest token of the terrible pain she en-
dured; how the girls condition was discov-
cred the next morning, and how she died in
awful pain the day following, which was
"Wednesday. Then, with considerable hesi-
tation, Mrs Barth told how her daughter
had been prosecuted.
FATHER AND SON WERE IGNORANT.
The father and son listened to the mothers
recital in surprise and anger Mrs. Barth
stated that she never told them of her
daughters trouble, fearing that they might
do something rash. The persecution of Miss
Barth, she said, began some time ago. Ac-
cording to her statements, William Heintz,
conductor on the Broadway street railway
line, annoyed her daughter with his atten-
tlons, though he was a married man,
and when she refused to have any,
thing to do with him he sent his
little girl around to annoy Miss Barth.
Incensed by the taunts of the child,
Miss Barth slapped her, and that night she
was accosted by Heintz who beat her. He
did not cease thrashing the young lady,
though she was too weak to make any re-
sistance, until she fell fainting to the
ground, with the blood running from her
mouth and nose. Nothing was said about
this assault to Mr.. Barth or the son, be-
cause they would have wreaked speedy
vengeance Scandalous stories were circu-
lated about the girl by idle and vicious per-
sons and her life was made most wretched
and unhappy.
CASE FOR UNITED STATES AUTHORITIES.
Weary of the miserable life her traducers
forced her to lead, the girl would sometimes
weep herself sick, but she was too proud to
let her enemies see how their vile attacks
stung her, and would attempt to appear
happy and mconcerned when out of the
house and in the presence of her father and
brother, until the life she led became unen-
durable, and she committed suicide.
\ verdict of suicide from arsenical poison
ing was returned
The letter in the possession of Deputy
Coroner Meade that was sent to Miss Barth
is signed by the Missouri White Caps
and is as follows:
JUNE 90
MISS BARTH-You need not think for one
minute that people are fools. We all know
what was the matter with you. This is the
third murder you have committed. If YOU
have the least bit of sense you will leave
here. If you don't you will have to stand
the consequences. If you are not gone in so
days it will be the worse for you.
Chief Harrigan says that he has not
issued orders for the investigation of the
Barth case. Secretary Lucas says that the
facts have not yet been presented to the
Police Department by the Coroner, and no |
steps can be taken until the Coroner de- |
mands an investigation. He believes how
ever, that the case is not for the police, but
for the United States authorities
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