The San Francisco call., 1897-08-23
DEATH RATHER
THAN DISGRACE
Ada Friersen Attempts to
Commit Suicide in the
Yukon Saloon.
She Swallows a Dose of Poison
Mixed With a Wineglass-
full of Sherry.
Claims She Was Betrayed by Police
Court Attorney-She Will
Recover.

Ada Frierson, a pretty girl, 20 years oi
age, attempted to commit suicide last
night in the Yukon saloon, 25 Turk street,
kept by Ed Comyns, an attorney who Is
we'll known around the police courts.
The girl lives in Oakland with her
mother, Mrs NJ h FIierson, at S7l Fill
bert street. According to the story she
told In the Receiving Hospital she met
Comyns about two years ago and she met
him frequently. She accuses him OF be-
traying her. She told her mother, who
threatened to shoot Comyns, but she
begged her to spare his life.
Last night she went into his saloon,
called for glass of sherry, into which
she poured all ounce and nall or penny
royal and swallowed the contents. Then
she sat down in room and wrote the 1oi-
lowing letter to her mother, which was
found in her pocket.
Mrs. NJ. H. Frierson, s7f Filbert street-MY
DEAR MOTHER: Do n OF think Ill OF me ana Go
give. ASK him to pity me. l am DroKen
hearted, ruined woman, not through any
choice of mine, dear mother, believe me.
have hoped up to the last minute. L nave
been the victim of one who does not believe
as do and think. 1t is no harm TO deceive 9
girl by deceution crowned or surrounded by
the most flattering truths,
| ask you all to forgive me. 1have the mos
contempt for any one who does as l have.
prayed night and day that might be saved
from this step and God has refused 10 answer
my prayer, so L think ne tnllkS tnlS Is Ine
best step for me.
Dear mother, have not been bad before
Had l been could now bear all To my here
tofore pure mind this disgrace has brought me
to this. l will wait twenty minutes longer, Il
no help comes to me l will no longer be here
wish If you get my ring to send IL and the
watch to Rob.
Had he been true and protected me this
would never have happened. Tell Allie to al
ways be as good as he is now and tell Fred +
good-by. Kiss all my dear sisters and brothert
and plant vioiets and daisies on my grave, ano
please forgive me and never cease to ask Coo
to forgive me. l am frightened and trem bling
and SO ill-so i'll. Forgive your broken-heartec
child.
P. S.-Do not hold Eddy c. responsible fol
anything. He has been a friend. Murshor
and Frierson deserve Gods blessing. Give
them my love and thanks for this kindness
from them.
She also wrote on a card the following
note 10 Comyns:
Dear Eddy: You will not De blamed. AL
though | blame YOU l do not wish others to
Hope you will DO better.
By this time the poison began to work
and she became unconscious. The am bu-
lance was summoned and she was taken
10 the heCeiPilS hOSpLldi WHclo LIZ
Fitzgibbon applied the usual remedies
and expressed the belief that she was Out
of danger. After recovering conscious
ness she told her story and became
hysterical.
She has been engaged to be married tC
Robert Wilcox, the stepson OF a wealthy
hardware merchant in Fairmount, MINI.
but his stenfather, as she was poor, OBJ
iacted and Wilcox broke the engagement
She said she believed she had beer
drugged and betrayed as the result of :
conspiracy.