Mexico weekly ledger., 1892-08-11
ASHAMED TO LIVE
Because Her Father DID Nor Act
Honorahly.
SAD SUICIDE OF A FAIR ST. LOUIS GIRL.
Annette Carroll Ends Her Life with
Stryehnine Out of Honest Shame
at Her Father Not Paying
His Just Debts.

ST. LOUIS, Aug, 2-"If papa would
only pay his bills how happy we all
could have been" These words, writ
ten in pencil with steady hand, is all
that remains to explain why Miss An
nette Carroll, a handsome 1s-year-old
girl, highly-conneeted, ended her life
with stryehnine.
In her home in the west end she was
surrounded with everything that a
girl conld wish for. She was in good
society and society was fond of her.
She also had a lover, a young N of
means and influence, MI. Richmond
Cornwall, to whom she was engaged,
and whose wife she would have been in
a shoot time.
Apparently she was q very happy girl.
embittering her life. Her father was
addicted to the use Of intoxicants. and,
according to her dying declaration,
failed to pay his bills. How this affected
her directly is not explained.
That it did is very evident, bat she
did not make it known to her mother.
1t was not until after death had sealed
her lips that the fact was made known.
The note was written on a piece of red
paper in which the drug clerk wrapped
the poison, and was not found until the
coroner went to the house to hold the
inquest.
AS a as could be learnrd she must
have taken the poison between 1880 p.
m. Monday and midnight. At 1880 she
was in her mothers room asking for
flowers Mr.. Cornwall had left her. A
half hour later she was writhing in
pain and crying to her mamma to save
her. She died about lis a. m.
Because of her family connection the
matter was kept a secret until almost
noon.
Mrs. Ellen Hodgen Carroll, mother
of the deceased, testified at the inquest
that Miss Annette was IS years of age.
She was born in Lamar, No., and was
brought to St Louis with the family
when 4 years of age. For some years
she has been attending a boarding
school known as Wards seminary at
Nashville, Tenn.
/ 81 was in the parlor with my daugh-
ter until 1890 o'clock Monday night.
Mr.. Arthur Garrison and MIR. Richmond
Cornwall were her company.
She played the piano and sang for
them. Mr.. Garrison left the house
about 10 o'clock, and half an hour
later L went upstairs. She was
engaged to MI. Cornwall, and
l left them together in the parlor.
About IL o'clock Mr.. Cornwall left
the house, and Annette came up stairs
onH oclra1 for $500. Gor,a,. kl-4
Mr. Cornwall left for her. / gave
her the flowers and she kissed me good
night and went to her room. About
midnight 1 was awakened by loud
moaning and heard Annette calling me.
/ hurried to her room and found her
writhing in agony.
Mamma. l have taken poison" she
said. Save me, mammal! Save me,
mammal" she exclaimed two OF three
times.
Iawoke the servants and sent them
for the nearest doctor, who, on arrival
found her rigid and having commissions
every few minutes. Her head was
thrown back and when he asked what
she had taken she answered." Strych-
nine.
"Her mind was clear, and her mother
asked her why she took it, but she only
rolled her eyes pitifully and made no
answer. She would not say when she
took the poison or where she bought it.
The paper that contained the deadly
drug did not show where it had been
purchased. The only reason | can
assign for her act is the few lines she
left. She was an honorable girl and
could not bear the thought ofher father
not paying his bills. She always paid
the bills she contracted. She had been
a member of the Central Christian
church since she was IL years of age
Mr.. Cornwall, when informed of the
girls suicide, was profoundly affected.
He said when he left her Monday night
she was as cheepful as could be. When
she kissed him good-by he said he no
ticed something peculiar in her man.
ner.
Her parting was so unusually affec-
tionate, and her good-by so profound.
He said he intended making her his
wife, and lever knew that she had any
secret sorrow.