The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-12
DRANK CARBoLIC ACID
HORRIBLE END OF BEAUTIFUL
YOUNG WRETCH AT THE HOSPITAL.
Maynard Farmers Daughter and Her
Peculiar Criminal History
Was hut Nineteen.

Pretty Rose Stewart put an end to her
own stormy career at the City Hospital
yesterday evening. She drank of a solution
of carbOlic acid as she sat under the trees
in the hospital yard with other patients.
She was observed as she raised a lineup
containing the deadly liquid to her mouth,
but, although she drank from two tincups,
the other patients thought nothing of it.
After a few moments they saw her Keeling
in her seat and ran to her assistance. Find
ing that she was suffering great agony. at
tendants from the hospital were summoned.
One of them, picking up one of the cups
from which the girl had drunk detected
the odor of carbolic acid and antdotes for
that poison were administered unavailing-
ly. In less than half an hour she was dead.
In the bosom of the neat blue calico wrap
per she wore were found three or four let
tiers, one addressed to her father William
Stewart, farmer. of Greencastle Junction,
another to Mrs Rose Lee, a visitor to the
hospital. who had been friendly to the girl.
and another to the hospital attaches. The
letter addressed to the girls father was
mailed to him. a telegram was sent to
him last night which simply read
Rose Stewart died at the City Hospital
tonight Answer at once"
The letter to the hospital attaches ended:
To my dear, sweet friends, superintendent,
physicians and nurses. Goodbye forever.
Love and kisses
1t was written in an even hand, its pune
tuation and spelling indicating that the girl
had considerable intelligence and some ed.
ucation. The letter was fun of simple
pathos. breathing the regrets of a young
girl for an erratic life. 1t read:
My dear. kind friends-Perhaps you will
thlnk this is very silly letter, which
Is not, for | have as SOUND mind any
one The reason l have acted the way
nave is because | am forsaken by the
only one l love and by my own brother
and sister. My own father drove me awav
from home, and said he wished | were
dead and in torment. | thank you all very
much for good care, also your kindness 10
me, although / do not show it in my ac-
tions. Ever since / was fifteen years of
age have seen nothing but trouble and
1t seems to me like l never will see any
thlng but trouble. / wish | had never been
born for l have never done any good in
the world, and if l should live to be fifty
years Old l would never do any good, for il
is born in me TO be stubborn and disobe-
dent. l have tried very often to be-
a Christian but have failed every time.
mentally BOTH and l would rather die and
be out of my misery. l am tired of life.
| long for death. There is nothing for me
to live for now, and | know that if l do
not commit suicide / will lose my mind and
be more miserable than l am, for l have
been over to the Insane Hospital. l was a
was my physician, and was so kind to
me, also the attendants, especially Mrs.
Wheeling. She was very kind to me. 1t
is enough to drive any one crazy to so
through there for there are so many, and
all in such awful conditions and have TO
suffer so much. | have never forgot the
awful sights | saw there. They have been
on my mind ever since l left there. Per-
haps have studied too much about them
is the reason l am in the condition i am
to-day. | have been told that | am losing
my mind, and, to prevent my going there,
| will take my life, for / never want to go
back there again. If l am losing my mind
1 will take my own life and be out OF
my misery. Oh, feel so sad this morning
my heart feels like it would break
Rose Stewart was otherwise known as
Edith Pearl Morrison. She was nineteen
years old. Last June she was found by
police officers in a box car where she had
been maltreated by tramps, who had left
her to die alone She was in a pitiable
condition. The officers were touched by
her wretched condition. Her clothing was
in tatters and her person showed effects of
the slum life she had passed for some time
before. The Police Court turned her over
to the Rescue Mission 1t was found that
she was suffering from disease, and she
was sent to the hospital. Much interest
was taken in her case. In her letter she
speaks of having spent three months at the
Central Hospital for the Insane. She was
sent there from the Reformatory after at
tempting to hang herself But little is
known of her early life. She was pretty,
melancholia, and was liked by the hospital
physicians for her general cheerfulness and
willingness to perform the slight duties
quired of her. Last week she was given
permission to visit the Rescue Mission. On
her, return she professed conversion, and
said that after she was cured she intended
to spend the remainder of her life at the
mission.
Since she has been in the hospital she
tried to end her life on a former occasion.
Procuring a bottle of nitrate of silver she
went to the Fall creek bridge. A man was
passing. She showed him the bottle, told
him that il contained poison and raised IL
to her lips. He hurried to the hospital and
gave. the. alarm. Physicians went to her
but found no burns on her lips. After the
stomach pump was used she laughed when
DR.. Ferguson questioned her as to whether
she had taken the stuff, but refused TO
reply.
Her lips were slightly discoored as she
lay with beautiful hands by her side when
Coroner Brayton stood over her last night.
She looked as one sleeping peacefully.
There will be an autopsy held by the coro-
ner to-day