Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-08-11
WEARY OF BREATH.
Rashly ImpOrtunate Gone TO Her
Death
II at lie Roots suicide at the st.
James HOtel-She Takes Nor
phine ana Dies From Its
Effects-COroner's
Inquest.

dining-room girl the past few weeks, and
although it was known to the help that
she had gentlemen callers. it was not sup
posed from her actions that she had con.
templated suicide. Shortly after -
o'clock the cook, who occupied an ad-
joining room, heard her moaning and at
once notified Landlord Ryan, and the
two proceeded to her room. where
the young girl was found stretched upon
her bed in an unconscious con>
dition, while beside her were
number of letters and
box on which was written morphine,
poison" Horst Won Koeckritz, the drug
gist underneath the hotel was immediate
ly notified and he at once summoned DR..
Ludewig. Mr.. Won Koec kritz then went
up stairs and he together with Mr. Ryan
aud wife worked with the unfortunate
girl until the arrival Of the doctor shortly
afterward. The doctor administered an
tidotes and applied current to assist
respiration, but it was too late. The girl
became gradually weaker and at 2:35 life
fled
A letter was found near By which had
evidently been written shortly before, and
from which it would appear that there is
something connected with the case which
she did not care to have known. The
letter reads as follows:
DEAR FRIENDS: If have any, forgive
me for causing you this trouble, but life
is simply unbearsble to me I have no
friends nor home, and death is best for
me. Goodbye. Should letter come for
me please bury it with me unopened and
fulfill the dying wish of
HATTIE RooT.
Farewell forever.
After her death Coroner HAYES was
imme diately summoned and impanneled
Jury consisting of Horst Won Koeckritz
(foreman) T. j. Murphy, Charles r.
Wheelan. Thomas J. NormoYle, Capt.
George Long and John NulQueen, and
the inquest was held at O'Clock this
morning.
amined He testified as to his being
called at about 80 o clock TO attend the
girl who bad evidently taken poison.
Witness administered the proper sntidotes
and applied current to assist respirss
ton. The girl was in an unconscious
condition and continued to grow weaker
al a,h y. -,
T. ]. Ryan, proprietor Of the hotel,
was the next witness examined and he
testified to being called by the COOK and
finding the girl IN the cond ton as above
stated, and having assisted in applying
restoratives. Witness also testified to q
conversation which he had with the girl
on Sunday last in which she referred to a
young man who was employed as a cook
at the Rock Island house, where she had
previously worked, saying that he was
going away with the Rod IMAM Rifles, and
that she did not think he would return,
and adding that she did not think she
would wait for him.
Horst Won Koeckritz. who was the last
witness testified to being called as above
stated, and rendering what assistance be
could.
The jury retired and shortly after re-
turned verdict that Hattie Root game
to her death by poison administered by
her own hand at Rock Island, at about
? o'clock Aug. II, 1891"
The young man to whom the girl re-
ferred was Charlie Brown who was
cook at the Rock Island house at the
time the girl worked there, and from let
tiers which were found in the dead girls
possession, it would seem that mutual
admiration existed between the two. A
number of other letters among which was
one from one Chsuncey Davis, of Daven-
port, and one from one Jim Repine, of
Springfield, III were found.
The case is sad one. mas much as the
girl, it is reported, was of modest de-
meanor, and was what might have been
called good looking, and being thrown
upon ner own resources nsu come among
strangers, where, in q moment Of desper-
alton, she had taken her own life. Mes
ssges have been sent to the addresses in
her possession, and the body is at Whees
lan's undertaking room, awaiting reply
from the kilograms.
A telegram was received this afternoon
from G. B. Root, of Springfield, the faith
er of the girl. containing instructions 10
make the interment here. She will prob
unless Undertaken Wheelan succeeds in
gaining further information from her rel
atives
Simon s. Mosenfelaer's bows clothing