Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-26
MRS. EVANS SUICIDES.
Wife of a Former Rock ISL
lander Ends Her Life
at Topeka.
TAKES LAUDANUM AND CREosoTE.

Tragedy the Result OF Quarrel. At
tending Little Celebration. the Wom-
an Passing Away in the Arms of Her
Husband, Who Is Heartbroken Over the
Deed-An Inquest.
Mrs. Edith Evans, wife of Robert
Evans. the former well known
| Rock Island stonecutter, ended
her life with poison during n
| lit of anger at her home in Topeka.
Kas.. Tuesday morning. Before mar
| riage she was Miss Edith Leonard, of
Davenport Evans is heartbroken
over the deed.
The Topeka State Journal contains
the following story OF the suicide:
Last night there was something of 4
revel at the Evans rooming house at
326-32S Kansas avenue, second floor.
1t was sort of a reunion of old
Friends, and they decided to celebrate
it in true Bohemian fashion. Robert
Evans. his wife. VIII Miller, Ralph
Miller, Sidney Pickens, and Flo Doug
las, Cora Barnes and Maud Belts,
were the principals in this little trag
edy of early morning. They assem-
bled at Evans place and ordered sew
eral bottles of beer. A hack ride was
proposed and agreed to. During the
ride Evans chided his wife
for some thing, where upon she
took great offense. When they
returned to their rooms the
quarrel was renewed by Evans.
Mrs. Evans hurled a slipper at her
husbands head with excellent aim,
for it struck him squarely on the
nose and forehead, Peeling of the
skin. In his sudden anger he re-
turned the compliment with Il Wig
orous slap on the head which
threw her heavily to the floor, strik-
ing her head against the casing. The
quarrel was over and quiet reigned
for few moments, which was inter
rupted by the arrival of Patrolman
John Lucas. He gained admission
and said he would have to arrest the
whole party. 1T was only a little
family quarrel, said Evans. Yes,
and | won swear against Bob, so
please let us alone and we will be
quiet said the woman. With this
the policeman withdrew. About ,
clock Evans rushed out OF the build
ing and called loudly for doctor,
stating that his wife had taken poison.
Dr.. 5. A. johnson was summoned
and he went Immediately to attend
the woman. He detected the odor of
creosote and laudanum.
Dies in Her Husbands Arms.
Mrs. Evans lay on bed breathing |
slowly. Hypodermic injections and
emetics were given. but no action |
could be effected. She fingered until |
6 o'clock this morning, when she |
passed away in her husbands arms, |
without having gained consciousness.
The amount of poison which she |
took was about three or four drachms |
of creosote and six or seven drachms |
OF laudanum. She did not suffer |
pain
An inquest was held and the jury |
a verdict of suicide. Evans |
testified to the facts as given above.
and stated further that his wife had |
taken morphine last May, but only
enough to put her to sleep, and that
in 1885 she took poison.
Mrs. Evans was 80 years of age.
The Journal says 1.-THE suicide was the
tragic ending of blighted life which
was once full of promise. In spite of
their unhappy life Robert Evans loved
his wife and his grief was pitiful to
witness.
Foul play was at first suspicioned,
but this was removed at the inquest.