Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-18
CARBOLIC ACID
Taken With Suicidal Intent by
Miss Blanche Bickford.
Death Ended Her Sufferings About
2.45 Yesterday Afternoon.
overwork and Dependency Had Evil
IDENTITY Unbalanced Mind.

There was tragedy on Northern
avenue, yesterday noon. which cast
shade of sorrow over the whole north
ern section of the city. Blanche Eliza
beth Bickford, the only daughter of
Charles w. Bickford, living at 76
Northern avenue, while suffering from
temporary insanity, swallowed the con-
tents of Il two-ounce bottle OF carbol-
ic acid and though medical aid was
promptly summoned, nothing could be
done, and after lingering until 2.45 IN
the afternoon, death ended her suffer-
ing.
1t is a case of unusual sadness Miss
Rickford lived with her father and two
brothers, James and Charles, the lat
tor little fellow of II or IA summers.
Since the death of her mother, which
occurred in july, 1902, she had looked
after the family affairs in a way
which kept her for the greater part of
the time at home, and for the past six
weeks she has worked very hard, hav
ing, in addition to her regular house
hold duties, the almost constant care
of her father. who lies very i'll with
ulcerous trouble in the stomach. 1t was
thought that perhaps her mind may
have become unbalanced from over
work ard dependency, which culmi
mated in the rash act.
AS nearly as can be judged, Miss
Bickford swallowed the acid at about
1850. Elmer Smith. who lives next
door to the Bickfords on the north,
happened to go into their yard at about
mat = oh, t% a;
room window and held up a bottle ana
on his going into the house she showed
him the bottle and told him she had
drank what acid there was in it. and
wanted to die.
Mr.. Smith at once ran home for his
wife and then sent for medical aid.
When Mrs. Smith reached the Bick-
ford house the unfortunate girl had
left the dining room and had gone to
another room, and thrown herself upon
u sofa, where she was found, fast be-
coming unconscious. She was heard
to murmur: Il want to die, | want to
die but never spoke afterWard
DIR. WaShburn was first upon the
scene and was soon followed by Drs
Davies and Tuell and all was done that
avail. After death, the physicians in
attendance held a consultation over
the remains and as the cause of death
vas so apparent, it WAS not deemed
necessary to hold an autopsy. The
body was then prepared for burial by
l'ndertaker Plummer.G Ii'H tid- .tt
The bottle which contained the car
bolic acid WAS the ordinary two ounce
fhial. properly labelled and probably
contained about an ounce and a half
Miss Bedford had used it, it still con-
tanned a little of the acid. The bottle
was obtained from the chamber up
stairs, where her father was ILL., and
some of the acid had been used by him
as a medicine vi. w., ...,. .,..... =. 'f-
1t is not known for a certainty that
she drank the acid from the bottle, as
lumber was found on the parlor floor
which smelled strongly of the acid
and no one could account for it's being
there. But whichever receptacle was
used she must have exercised great
care, for her lips showed but slight
burns from the acid
Miss lfickford was young girl well
known and respected in the neighbor-
Rood in which she lived and though a
nome body. had may friends Her inti-.
mates speak in the highest praise of
her and feel a deep sorrow at her IN
timely death.