Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1895-03-06
CONCEALS Her IDENTITY.
ANXIOUS TO DIE. YET DETERMINED
TO GUARD HER TRUE NAME.
A 81. Louis Woman Takes Morphine
with suicidal Intent-she Gives
the Assumed Name Of
Helen Lesser.

a handsome and gentle hammered
young woman, who gave her name as
Mrs. Helen Lesser, of St Louis, arrived
In this city Monday night and engaged
Il room at No. 1912 Union avenue. where,
during the night she swallowed a quar-
ter of an ounce of morphine and part of
bottle of creosote. to end her life. She
was found In an unconscious condition
yesterday about noon and was taken to
the Central police station, where Police
surgeon 1uen used every means to save
her life. At an early hour this morning
she was rapidly sinking, after rallying to
such an extent that at one time
1t was supposed there was no further
danger. During a great part of the time
the struggle was going on the young
woman was conscious but she steadily
refused to reveal her true identity and
to Police Matron Taggert alone she told
part of her history. She admitted
that her true name was not Mrs. Lesser.
The only facts that could be gathered
from the young woman was that she
was born in Philadelphia, that her par
ents were dead. that she was taken to
Peirce City, Mo-. when child and edu-
Gated at Wolff Hall academy for young
ladies in Denver. afterward marrying
and residing in st. Louis. She had been
separated from her husband for about
three years and had lately lost some
property. This was all that could be
gathered from statements she made
while in semi-conscious condition. At
one time she murmured the name of
either Gertrude Gray or O'Grady. and 1t
was thought that one of those two
names might be her true one. The
young woman suffered intensely from
the effects of the drug she had taken
but showed remarkable resignation. II
am sorry to put you to much trouble"
she said to the police surgeon. One
time she asked Mrs. Taggert If she had
given her name while delrous and
when she was told she had given only
the name of Lesser, she said. II am truly
thankful for that. l would like to tell
YOU but / beg of you to be patient with
me. for ! cannot, cannot tell you that"
Great interest was taken in the case
of the woman who was anxious to die
without revealing her identity. on ac-
count of her plainly evident refinement.
About 10 o'clock last night Police Mat
ron Taggert had the sufferer taken to
her apartments in the second story of
the city hall Mrs. Taggert volunteered
to remain during the night with her. 1t
was thought at that time that she was
safe, but at IL o'clock there was sud
den relapse, and just before midnight
Dr. luen appealed to the supposed dying
woman to reveal her identity.
Do you wish to die" he asked, with
out telling us who you are. so that we
can inform your relatives?"
An expression of pain passed over the
woman's face, but she compressed her
lips and feebly nodded her head. Il beg
your pardon" she said, "for being so
obstinate. but / have my reasons. | be-
lieve | am dying. that l have only
little time left, and it is as L wish.
tell you. sir, l am not afraid. After I
am dead, what there is left of me will
have to depend on those who are char
liable to lay 1t away" All this was said
in broken sentences and with the great
est effort.
Among the young womans effects are
a light Colored satchel containing
articles bought at Sonnenfeld's and j. G.
Brandt's in st. Louis. In the satchel
was also a purse containing few dol
lars.
At an early hour this morning Police
Surgeon Iuen was still at the womans
side trying to save her life and Mrs.
Taggert was astir, assisting in the work.
Just before o'clock this morning the
Lesser woman stated TO Mrs. Taggert
that she had quarreled with a young
man in St Louis and had come to Kan
sas City to hide her identity and commit
suicide. She bought the morphine in St.
Louis. 1t Is believed that she cannot
possibly live through the day.