The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-31
4 WHOOM ...aa. 5 CHASTITY SIILLy SUICIDE SUICIDE {,
Mrs. Katherine Fritsch Both
POisOns and Cuts Herself.
Worry Over Domestic and Other
Troubles the Cause.
She Had Tried 1t Oncs Bsfore--rha n cd y
Found In n House on south Grand
Aveuus.

Mrs. Katharine Fritsch, who cam,
here two months ago from Salt Lake
City committed suicide yesterday abou
II O'Clock. She frat took half an ounce o
sulphuric acid and then cut the artery
in her left wrist.
Several months ago the woman livet
with her husband and two daughters 10
salt Lake CITY. They were woll-to dc
German people. Trouble arose between
the wife and husband which finally led
to divorce. After divorce was secured
she came to this city with her two
daughters. one OF whom is Is years OF
age. They resided at fret at Mrs. EN- ma
Wilson's, sos West Eleventh street, and
a week or two ago moved into their new
residence at 1920 Georgia Bell street.
The house is large, well furnished
residence. It was not entirely paid for,
and this fact, with her illness Of several
months standing. caused her much
worry. While laboring under sbsrra-
ton OF mind some time ago she at
tempted to kill herself.
Mrs. Fritsch left homo at 9 O'Clock
Yesterday morning, going to the drug
store o! Brown Il Brown. on Washington
street, where she purchased . four
ounce bottle of sulphurio acid. She
then went down town.
Nothing lie known as to what che did
after that until she appeared at tn resi-
dence OF t. +. Mcdonald, 1928 Grand
avenue. at IL O'Clock and asked for q
room. She seemed agitated and said
that she was i'll. Mrs. Mcdonald.
who answered the ring OF the
door bell, informed Mrs. Fritsch
that she had no rooms to
rent; that they were all occupied.
The visitor then asked to be admitted
just for few minutes, until she could
recover from a sudden ill feeling. Mrs.
Mcdonald kindly admitted the woman
and showed her into the front parlor.
She said that she would fully repay Mrr.
Mcdonald for her trouble. Then she
asked for the key to the room, and also
for pitcher of water, both OF which
were given her. She remarked that she
would be all right soon.
Mrs. Fritsch, who Was then unknown
to Mrs. Mcdonald, was dressed in
gray dress, with q long black cape, and
a large velvet hat OF very fashionable
pattern. She wore diamond earrings
and very fine finger ring and watch.
Her appearance was that of an edu-
Gated and very wealthy German woman.
Mr.. Mcdonald paid no more attention
to the incident until her husband came
home at O'Clock last evening. She
told him that strange German woman
of about 40 years had secured the par
Tors at ii O'Clock, but that she had not
seen her since. Size suggested that Mr..
Mcdonald try to open the door.
He found the door locked and met no
response from repeated knocks. An ex.
animation showed that the window cur.
tains were tightly drawn. No sign of
life was visible within and as Mr.. Nc
Donald raised the window opening ON
the front porch he could discern moth
ing. A lighted match drove away the
darkness and the form OF the woman was
seen lying outstretohed upon the
lounge.
A lamp was secured, and a closer in.
made. The woman had re-
moved her clothing, taken a razor and a
bottle OF snlphuric acid from q satchel
which she carried, and placed them ON
the lounge. She had evidently drank
half OF the poisonous fluid, for on the
stand was glass that emelled strongly
Of the poison.
After drinking the acid, she lay upon
her back. With the right hand, she
drew the razor across the left wrist The
blood from the severed artery spurted
half way across the room. saturatiug the
carpet and the lounge. She then turned
The bleeding wrist over . bowl which
,he had beside her couch.
1t 10 presumed that she died within
half an hour after entering the room.
When found, her body was covered with
blood; the bowl was filled with it, and
The lay calmly upon her back with her
mouth slightly open. There was no in
iication that she died in a struggle.
Mr.. Mcdonald notified his wife and
The other members OF the family, who
we're Mortified At the ghastly sight. He
.lao informed the police department and
Coroner Campbell, aud tie body was re.
moved to the undertaking parlors of
Areglo q Breese. at Sixth and Broad
way. where an inquest will bs held at ,,
o o'clock this morning.
When the police wore first notified OF |
he mysterious woman's death, Detect |
We Bosqui went to the residence with a |
photograph OF the woman, which had |
,een left at the station in the afternoon. |
The daughter became alarmed at her |
mothers long absence and informed |
Mrs. Fritsch's physician, DR.. O. She. !
Talbe, who resides at 957 South Broad, !
gay. The doctor, with the eldest
laughter and Detective Bosqui searched /
he city for the missing woman, but no
racp nj her Waa earutnd until aba ,-..