The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-10-28
BETA JOHNSON SUICIDES.
Takes Her Life By Throwing Herself Into
the Lake.

LAE 1dhC
Miss Beta Johnson, a Swedish girl
of about 90 years Of age, who had been
a domestic in the home of Ezra Sim
mons for two or three years, committed
suicide Saturday afternoon by jumping
into Lake Michigan at a point about a
mile south of Kemper hall. She must
have started down that way at about
I O'Clock in the afternoon. She was
noticed by some men who were work
ing near the lake shore at about that
hour. Nothing was noticed about her
more than usual. She was very well
dressed and no particular attention
was paid to her She followed the
water line of the lake straight south
There is a fence running down to the
waters edge at point near where the
Butcher property begiLs. She could
not get beyond this, so she stopped
and tied her handkerchief to q fence
post or wire, then removing her hat
and cape threw herself into the water
She must have been there about half
vi IuiCC~N uGl LClo VI an IOAA " ANAI Nv "
young boys from the University school
happened along that way on a hunt
ing trip. They discovered the body
where it had washed ashore. Thor
oughly frightened by this fact they
FASTENED to:..the city and gave the
alarm. Justice Slater was notified
and and went out after having left
orders to summon jury. The jury
arrived at the point at about 5 o'clock.
Undertaken Hansen came soon after
and removed the remains to the
morgue. The boys who discovered the
body were Russell Gilbert and Louis
Fay.
Great mystery surrounded the iden
THY Of the girl for hours after the
remains had been found. The news Of
the suicide soon spread throughout the
city and crowds focked about Mr..
Hansen's place to see the remains. 1t
was ot'until about O'Clock that they
were partially identified by young
Swedish man who scalled. He said he
thought he. knew the girl and that she
had at one time worked for Mrs. Ezra
Simmons. Mrs. Simmons was sum-
moned to the morgue, She identified
the girl at once and stated that the
girls mother lived in the western end
of the city. The mother was notified
at once.
The cause for the suicide is given as
i'll health and trouble with relatives.
The girl came here about four years
ago directly from Sweden. 1t is said
that her father was brutal to her and
she came to this. country to escape his
prosecutions. She went at once to the
home of Ezra Simmons toowork. Soon
with the assistance of Mrs Simmons,
the girl was able to send for her moth
er. Together they occupied two rooms
in house in Snakeville. But trouble
is alleged to have risen again, the girl
preferring to remain with Mrs. Sim
mons instead of going home. The
troubles thus arising and the fact that
during the past year the girl has been
sick much of the time undoubtedly led
to the deed. At one time she had a
lover, but she tired of him and rejected
him. He wandered away into Indiana
somewhere and committed suicide by
shooting himself This was some five
months ago. He left note saying
that it was love for Beta Johnson
which had prompted the deed When
the mother was notified of the deed she
was very much affected The father is
still in Sweden. The funeral will be
held tomorrow afternoon from the old
Unitarian church.