The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-03-13
AWFUL USE OF MORPHINE
Caused the Downfall of a
Wealthy Society Young
Lady.

Inc Mitchell, VINO committed suicide,
and the attendance of numbers of
bootblacks and newsboys, who pre-
sented them, and who were the chief
mourners, made a strange funeral
to-day.
The boys pronounced hearty
''amens' to the prayers offered for
the repose OF her soul and wept all
through the ceremony. The little
fellows said that she was their best
friend that she bought clothes and
shoes for them; fed them when hun
gryand helped them selitheir papers
when they we're left on their hands.
Miss Mitchell died two days ago,
but only to-day did all the facts con.
nected with her death become known,
For II year she had been a confirmed
morphine tiend, so cunningly conceal
ing her failing that it was known
only to II devoted lover. No girl in
Toledo should have been happier
than she, Beautiful, young, with
wealth at her command, accomplish
ed in music and art, with n good
store Of learning in other branches of
knowledge, sought for and made
a leader in society, she was the envy
OF her youngassociates, The wealthy
loved her for her beauty and accom-
plishments, the poor adored her for
her kindly bearing and charitable
acts, Oi admirers among the young
men she had Il score. hut while all
We're treated graciously, only one,
Arthur Blankmcier, was favored,
Her father is l., l., Mitchell. but she
made her home with her grandpar-
ents.- Mr. and Mrs Geor4e " Free
man, 0i 2322 Chase street.
About II year ago, when at the
height Of her reign as socicty'sleader
she was seized with inilammatory
rheumatism, Her sister gave her
some morphine to relieve the pain,
and she was soon as well as ever.
The effects Of the drug seemed pleas
ant to her and she secured and took
some Of il in Il few days. Then be-
gan her downfall, From that time
on she was II confirmed morphine
fiend. In tablets, as Il powder, 10y
hypodermic inicctions-anyway she
could get it She used it, a little con
stantly aud n greater quantity at
intervals when she went ON NOR
phine sprees. These at first only
lasted for a day or two once every
three or four weeks. Then they came
oftener and were more prolonged,
until within the last few weeks she
had been almost constantly under
the inhuence uf the drug.
During all this time her grandpa
rents, her father and her associates
knew naught Of her failing. Only
sweetheart WAS aware OF it, and his
aim was by gentle words and helpful
means to break her OF the habit Her
secret was kept by him, and he aided
her in cOncealing it from Others. Her
custom was To go to Gland reg
lister under an assumed name, then
remain in her room until her spree"
was over. after which she returned
home and told her grandparents she
had been spending the time at the
home Of some friends. Between these
periods she attended TO her social
duties, visited the poor and sick and
relieved their wants, took her usual
place in the choir of st. James VI. f.
church and did more than her share
of the work in the Epworth league,
never suspicion of her awful habit
being cast before any of those with
whom she came in contact.
For some time she had been in the
habit of registering at the Lincoln
hotel. She became troublesome dur
ing a violent spree and was requested
afterward to leave. She went at
once to the Niagara hotel and began
the ordeal which ended in death. On
reaching her room there she hid tab
let's and bottles OF morphine in every
conceivable place, even in her hair
and the mattress on the bed. Not
wanting to go home she pawned her
rings and other iewelry, purchasing
the drug with the proceeds. When a
physician was finally called she told
him she wanted to die and that she
had swallowed handful OF tablets
and some amonia on top of them.
He succeeded in relieving her stom
ach OF the poison and She Immediate
" pulled more tablets from her hair