The San Francisco call., 1897-08-24
WRECKED FOR A
FANCIED WRONG
Ada Frierson, Self Accused,
Supposed to Be IRE
sponsible.
A Diseased Brain Was What
Led the Girl to Seek
Her Life.
Her Charges Against Herself Are
Believed to Have Been
Imaginary.

Ada Frterson, the young girl who swal-
lowed dose of pennyroyal in the Yukon
saloon, 25 Turk street, Sunday night, with
suicidal intent, was able to be taken home
TO her mother, Mrs. NJ. H. Frierson, S71
Filoert street. yesterday morning by her
sister Catherine.
Her sister said she had an attack OF
brain fever ABOUT four years ago and since
then has had periodical attacks OF in
sanity. She has always been a highly
strung, hysterical girl, given TO romantic
experiences and peculiar whims, and her
actions Sunday evening were certainly
the result of diseased imagination.
She left home Sunday afternoon, saying
she was coming to the City to visit
friend. When she did not return her
mother was worried, but concluded that
she had remained all night with her
friend. 1t was a terrible surprise and
shock to the family when they read in the
morning papers OF her attempted suicide.
Ada had always been good girl and was
8 devout memb Der of the Presbyterian
church. She was not going with any
Young man TO their knowledge.
Edward Comyns was an intimate friend
of the family and had paid no partic cular
attention to Ada. The story of her sup
posed wrong had been told when under
the influence OF a morbid spell and the
blame should be'lald to her diseased i'm
agination. But if it were true their
brother would protect the honor OF the
family.
Once before Ada had caused her family
great anxiety by leaving home and re-
naming with friends. The assistance of
a detective was sought and after great
trouble she was located.
Comyns is rather reticent in talking
zbout tue affair, and seems 10th to say
anything that will reflect on the girls
character. lie admits an acquaintance
OF about two years with the girl, but
claims that she must have entirely mis-
construed any attention which he may
have shown her.
She visited the saloon on Sunday night
and asked to see him, and he says he
joined her in one of the private apart
ments for about five minutes, and that she
mentioned having missed the 10 o'clock
Oakland boat, and expressed the intention
OF remaining in the City over night. He
tried 10 dissuade her and induce her to
catch the boat at Ills clock.
After drinking a glass OF sherry he re-
turned to the bar and sent another glass
OF sherry to the room. The girl must
have emptied the poison into the last
drink, after which she left the saloon
She then went to another saloon in the
neigh borhood, where she was overcome
by the effects of the poison, and from
which she was sent in an ambulance to
the hospital.
Comyns gives an unqualified denial to
the girls sensational story that he
drugged and ruined her five weeks ago,
or at any other time. He had not seen
her for nearly five months till Sunday
night.
Ada Frierson at Home.
OAKLAND, CAL, Aug. 23.-Ada Frier-
son, who attempted to commit suicide in
Turk-street saloon in San Francisco last
night, was brought to her home this even
ing. The family resides at 8l7 Fibert
street. No one was permitted 10 see her
tonight, ana Mrs. Frierson, her mother,
declined TO discuss the matter. ut is not
any business of the public" she said,
"and too much has already been said.
Ada is peculiar girl, and l am inclined
to think tnat she is under delusion. If
she wrote those letters she could not have
known what she was doing. | do not be-
lieve the circumstances which have been
published in connection with the affair
and | won I say another word"