The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-09-10
A TRAGIC DEATH.
Miss Millie Comstock Burned Herself
Fatally Sunday Morning.

Fatally sunday morning.
A thrill of horror swept over the commu-
nifty Sunday morning as the news spread
from lip to lip that Miss Millie Comstock,
daughter of the late Luther Comstock, had
during the early morning hours stepped out
into the yard and set fire to her clothes,
burning herself so badly that she died about
eight o'clock.
Miss Comstock has been In poor health
for the past few years and her mind has
been giving way; in fact arrangements had
been completed for taking her to the East
ern Michigan Asylum for the Insane at Pom
tiac, Tuesday. For some time past her
brother-in-law, Chas. I'll. Otis, of Hudson.
Wisconsin, has acted as her guardian ih
business matters and lately she has been
personally attended by a nurse. More re-
Gently the disease has taken the suicidal
mania. Last Saturday night it was found
that she had concealed butcher knife un-
der her pillow and later during the night
the nurse found that she had turned on the
gas at the gas stove and evidently had de-
termined to die by inhaling gas. She was
induced to 60 back to bed again and after
while the nurse fell asleep, completely over
come with fatigue and lack of sleep.
Miss Florence Zimmerman was staying
with two cousins In the rooms in the east
part of the house, occupied by her sister and
husband, Mr.. and Mrs. III. w. Osmer, while
her sister was spending the night with her
mother. About $3.50 o'clock Miss thinner
man was awakened to see the light from
flames shining in the window and quickly
saw that the flames enveloped woman's
form. Seizlng quilt she hurried out and
succeeded in putting out the flames before
her screams and those of her cousins brought
In the neighbors. She was taken into
the house and Drs. Crum and Sellick
called. They did what they could to save
her and relieve her pain, but she died about
eight o'clock. The only statement she made
was in answer to the question as to the
reason for such deed, and her reply was
something about having good motive.
1t will probably never be known just how
she did the deed, but appearances indicate
that she poured oil from lamp over her
night dress and a light cotton bed covering
which she wrapped around her. Then she
seems to have crouched down and lighted
the fire in the front of her wraps, as her
hands, arms, breast and face were terribly
burned.
Miss Comstock was an educated and tai
ented lady, and musician Of no mean abil-
ity. She loved her musical studies and for
years had as many pupils as she could at
tend to, being the foremost teacher of that
art in this city. OF late years her mind and
general health have compelled her to aban-
don this position.
During the days of her health she made
many friends in and about the city who are
panied beyond expression at the horrible
end to which diseased mind brought her.
Miss Comstock, who was about forty years
Of age, leaves an aged mother in very feeble
health, brother, Frank Comstock, of this
city, and sister, Mrs. G. ii. Otis, of Hud-
son, Wisconsin, who with her husband ar
rived in the city Tuesday morning.
The funeral was held at the family resi-
dence at ten o'clock Wednesday forenoon,
Rev. j. G. Cromer officiating. The service
was quiet one on account of Mrs. Com
stocks condition. Rev. Cromer's remarks
were appropriate and very conso!ing to the
relatives and friends Among the beauti-
full floral offerings was fine piece from the
high school class of rs, of which Miss
Comstock was member.