The San Francisco call., 1899-06-11
TRIED TO END
A LIFE Of WORRY
AND SUFFERING
Miss Kathryne Griffin
Swallows Poison.
WAS A TELEPHONE GIRL
PROMPT TREATMENT SAVED
HER YOUNG LIFE.
Her Pathetic Story of a Broken
Home, Loss of Employment
and Many Disappoint-
ments-WilI Recover.
PROMPT TREATMENT SAVED
HER YOUNG LIFE.

Having lost her position in the telephone
company through a trivial error and be-
ing without funds kathryne Griffin, pre-
possessing young woman, attempted to
end her cares and disappointments by
swallowing the contents of bottle Of car
bolic acid last night, and is now lying at
the Receiving Hospital in a precarious
condition.
The unfortunate girl was found on the
sidewalk on Golden Gate avenue, near
Steiner street, by passing pedestrians She
was lying on her face, with her hands
gripped together A bottle containing i
small quantity of the deadly fluid by her
side showed what she had done. Officer
Prendergast was notified, and after seeing
the girls plight rushed to the patrol box
and rang for the ambulance, but In the
meantime Frank ]. Eagan, who was out
driving with his wife, volunteered to take
the lady to the hospital. His wife left
the buggy, and with the assistance of AL
fred Beecher, Eagan hurriedly drove her
to the hospital. On her arrival at the
latter place she was in Semi-conSclouS
condition. DR.. Tormey administered the
usual remedies and had her put to bed.
In her purse We're found two letters.
One was addressed TO a Miss Helen Doyle,
% Vincennes avenue, Chicago, Ill The
contents of the epiStle disclosed the rea-
son of her attempt to end her life She
informed Miss Doyle, who is evidently d
relative, that she had been discharged
from the telephone company for giving a
Stockton operator a free switch. She also
said that her mother was drinking heavily
and had short time ago been imprisoned
for her libations. In concluding the poor
girl told of her visit to the president of
the telephone company and of appealing
to him to be reinstated, as there were u
number of sisters dependent on her for
support. She also stated that her appeal
was unsuccessful, and her room rent was
due in few days. She gave no indica-
ton OF her purpose to end II all, but dp-
parently intended conveying to her rela-
tive her sore straits.
Miss Griffin is only 10 years old and is
refined in her manner. She stated that
she had only been in the city seven
months, and during that time was paying
street and also contributed to the welfare
of brother and sister, who were in a
private institution on Seventh street, they
having been taken away from her mother
on account of the latter's habits.
Miss Griffin said she had received her
education in St Mary's Academy, Monroe
Mich. On graduating she went to her
grandmothers home in Chicago. and after
a. short stay came to this city to join her
mother. She was aStOniShed to find her
parent in maudlin state. She did every
thing in her power to cure her mother Of
the craving for liquor, but without sue
cess. The latter has been arrested twice
for drunkenness, and the daughter was
compelled to leave their home at 625 Lo-
Gust avenue. Last night. while partiCu-
larly respondent, she left her lodgings
and walked far out in the Western Addi-
ton. She decided then to die and walked
of McAllister and Fillmore streets, and
purchased bottle of the poison.
AT a late hour DR.. Tormey pronounced
Miss Griffin out of danger. She promised
make every effort to reach her grand
mother.