The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-06
NO KNOWN CAUSE FOR DEED
THE GIRL GIVEN PROMPT ATTEN-
TION WITHOUT AVAIL.
Parents Grief-Stricken When Taken
Into Her Presence-Deed APP
parentIy Well Planned.

Without apparent cause save such as may
be assigned by mere conjecture. Lily Hen
bricks, daughter of Joseph and Ollie Hen
bricks, of 1889 Blaine avenue, committed
suicide last night about half past o'clock
by drinking more than half the contents
of a two-ounce bottle of carbolic acid.
After suffering terrible agony for a very
few minutes she drifted into the uncon-
seriousness that Immediately preceded death.
Twenty-Five minutes after the burning fluid
had passed the girls lips she was a corpse.
AS has been said, there was no cause for
the girls terrible deed so far as known by
her family or friends Yesterday she mani
tested no unusual behavior except perhaps
a melancholia to which she was unfamiliar.
Her gloom was not sufficient TO cause in
quiries from her mother, who was not feel
ing very we'll herself The girl was around
the house during the greater part of the
day and evening. Some time before 8
o'clock, so far as can be learned from the
distracted father and mother, she must
have gone to a cupboard near the kitchen
where a number Of bottles of medicine were
kept. With an accuracy that precludes the
theory of accident she selected from the
bottles on the cupboard shelf the one Ia
beed 'carbolic acid, poison" and placed
it in her pocket. Without attracting at
tention she left the house and strolled down
the street.
Turning the corner of Blaine avenue and
Howard street the child-for she was bare
ly more than sixteen years of age-walked
down Howard street until she was almost
directly In front of Walter K. Gardeners
drug store at 1885 Howard street There
were few passers-by at the time. and her
manner, about which there was nothing to
attract attention, excited no comment.
Then very suddenly she was seen by one
of those who was passing the drug store
to draw the bottle from her pocket and put
1t to her lips.
A SCREAM OF AGONY.
AS the fiery liquid passed down her throat.
burning her life out, she gave a scream of
agony and sank TO the sidewalk. Mr.. Gard
ner, who was in the drug store at the time,
heard the girls cry and ran to the front of
the store. He saw her on the sidewalk,
and one glance told him what had hap
pened. He telephoned for DR.. Cortez NJ.
Leeth. of 1908 West Morris street, and then
with the assistance of several who had
rushed to the spot he carried the dying girl
into his store.
In a big chair near the prescription coun-
ter he laid her, while, with DR.. Leeth, who
came instantly, he sought for antidotal
remedies. At the same time the City Dis
called The physician and the druggist APP
piled the usual antidotes-alcohol, mucila sc
and heavy oils-but IL was quickly seen
that the unfortunate girl was beyond the
power of any remedies. DR.. Kennedy ar
rived while the antidotal treatment was
being administered, but he, too, pronounced
Miss Hendricks as beyond the power of a
physician. A few minutes after 10 . clock
she died in the chair, seemingly without
great suffering, the frightful shock of the
poison having benumbed her faculties dur
ing the first few minutes.
Before she died her mother was told as
gently as IL was possible to communicate
tidings grief-laden what had happened
and, supported by neighbors, she came tc
the drug store. Her agony was pitiful to
see, and there were many eyes that were
wet while the young girl passed from life
into death. The body was taken TO the
house of the parents, a short distance
| away. In the drug store and on the street
| near by was a great crowd of residents OF
| the neighborhood.
Lily Hendricks was a very good-lookin
girl, almost pretty: She was of medium
! height, rather dark in complexion, with
dark hair. She was developed somewhat
| beyond what her years would indicate. The
| acid, as she drank it. had run out of the
| bottle and burned her hands badly, anC
| her mouth and throat bore witness to the
| cause of her death.
The grief occasioned by the girls rash
| act such that her relatives were in
! capable Of talking about her disposition OIL
| her life. 1t was conjectured that she hat
! had love affair that had not turned ou
| happily. Several who were among those
| that came to the scene said that the cir
! had as many callers as other young girli
| of her age and that she seemed to be popu
| lar with young men.