The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-06
ENDS HER LIFE
IN THE HOUSE
OF HER FRIEND
Mrs. F. V. Baer Kills
Herself.
DIES IN TERRIBLE AGONY
"A TRAGEDY IN THIS CITY YES
TERDAY MORNING.
The Victim Takes Rough on Rats
While Visiting at the Resid ance
of W. E. Lutz-Former
Attempt.
DIES IN TERRIBLE AGONY
a TRAGEDY IN THIS CITY YES
TERDAY MORNING.

There is no reason in the world
for me to feel a lack of interest, but
/ cannot seem to get hold of life
earnestly and put my whole soul in
my work. Frank is SO loving and
good. | feel so depressed thar | do
not wish TO keep others from being
happy. do not seem to lust know
how my life can be useful and make
others happy. With love to all.
org1Ve me. GRACE L. B.
The foregoing pathetic note, evidently
written under great excitement by Mrs.
Frank V. Baer, the wife of a Berkeley
druggist, taken in connection with an
empty poison bottle, tells the story of yes
.terday mornings tragedy.
The young woman committed suicide by
: taking Rough on Rats at the house of w.
= L. Lutz POPS Baker street, this city. She
was alive when found but died in great
agony before a physician could be sum-
moned.
Mrs. Baer came TO San Francisco
=: Wednesday afternoon, leaving a note for
her husband, saying she was coming to
+the city and would spend the night with
Mrs. LutZ, who was an old friend. She
asked Mr.. Baer TO call for her in the
morning and they would go downtown.
. She went directly to the home OF ner
friend, Informing her she had come to
spend the night. OJner. friends came IN
during the evening, and Mrs. Baer ap-
peared to be in lie best OF spirits, play
ing cards, and apparently enjoying herself
When the family retired Mrs. Baer oc-
cupied a room with Mrs. Lutz's little
daughter. About a. m. the little girl
came into her molner's room and said
Mrs Baer was sick, Mrs. Lutz Went in
10 see her, but Mrs. Baer said il was
nothing but sour stomach At $50
% Mrs. Lutz was again awakened by her
.: daughter, who said Mrs. Baer was very
i'll. Mrs. LUtz found her writhing in
agony and sent her husband for a doctor
while she tried to relieve her guest with
the simple remedies al hand.
=: DR.. Brunn, whose residence is but few
doors, away, was coon on The scene, but
the unfortunate woman was dead when
be arrived. The Coroner was at once no
tified, although at this time neither II.
or Mrs. Lutz nor the doctor, who had
made no examination, had any idea of
the true cause of death. Coroner Hill and
Chief Deputy J. P. Mccormick went to
the house, and after brief search
found the note and the empty poison
bottle.
At this moment Mr.. Baer arrived from
Berkeley. He was almost Frustrated when
told of the death of his wife, and pleaded
with the Coroner not to take the body to
the MOrgue. The Coroner. therefore, sum-
moned jury from among the neighbors
and held an inquest at the house. The
only. witnesses examined were Mr.. and
Mrs. Lutz, A. f. Kennedy. father of Mrs.
Miss LutZ and Mr.. Baer. The evidence
established the facts as related.
Mrs. Lutz said Mrs. Baer was of a very
affectonate and sunny disposition, and
was the last person in the world she
would think of as a suicide. The only
thing peculiar she had ever noticed about
the dead woman was that she was a be-
lever in Christian Science. Mr.. Baer
said his wife was apparently happy and
.contented. He admitted that she was a
Christian Scientist. and that she had at
tempted to take her life year ago, when
she swallowed a dose of chlOrOform. He
discovered what she had done in time to
save her Since that time she had given
; no intimation that she still contemplated
. self destruction.
. : The jury returned a verdict that de-
ceased came to her death by Rough on
Rats, taken with suicidal intent
: Mrs. Baer had been a suffered for many
years from an injury to her back, re-
ceived when girl by fall, and at times
the pain was intolerable. She was g
years old. with a very attractive face. and
figure and highly accomplished. Before
her marriage to Mr.. Baer, five years ago
she was one Of the acknowledged bellies
of San Jose. The funeral will be held in
. San Jose on Saturday.