Los Angeles herald., 1905-04-02
VICTIM s MOTHER
DAzED BY GRIEF
MRS. BIRTWISTLE'S SORROW
UNRELlEvED BY TEARS
Shudders at the Sound Of a Passing
Automobile, and Views Dauah-
ter's Remains as Though
In Dream,

Since news of her only daughters
death was brought to her the widowed
mother of Margaret Birtwistle, the vic
tim of Barbee Hooks automobile, has
been in a dazed condition and friends
fear that unless she can be induced
to give way to her grief the conse-
quences may be dangerous.
Even the impressive funeral services
held over the remains of the young
woman yesterday afternoon at the Paul
undertaking parlors OH Downey avenue
failed to bring tears to the eyes of the
sorrowing mother.
The rooms were crowded with friends
of the young girl and at the close of
the service all were weeping. Friends
and neighbors of the humble girl were
there with loving tributes of flowers,
and arranged them with tender
thoughts for the bereaved mother.
Tender Funeral Services
The service was a simple one. Rev.
Arthur S. Phelps, pastor of the Gen.
tral Baptist church, preached the SER
mon, and DR.. Chester L. McGee sang
II Am a Child of King" Mr.. Phelps
made no mention of the unfortunate
accident which had caused her death,
saying only that all death is sudden
and the harbor is in God
The casket of delicate lavender plush
nj.
wistle sat all through the services as
one who heard and saw nothing. A
heavy veil covered her face, and even
when she looked for the last time into
the coffin she did not shed a tear. After
the interment at Evergreen cemetery
she returned to the little cottage at
122 North Avenue Twenty to carry her
burden of grief alone. She has no rel
atives living except some distant, con-
nections who are in the east, and her
daughter was her only support.
May Save Others
Her only consoling thought is the
hope that this accident may make
other chauffeurs more careful in their
driving of automobiles.
IF the lives of other children are
saved 1 will not feel that her death
has been in vain," she said yesterday.
"She was my only daughter and was
so much to me. She was out of work
for time before the accident occurred
and her one ambition was to be able
to help me. I cannot realize it. I feel
as if the automobile had struck me
and I cannot think
Mrs. George Turner, neghbor who
has spent much time with her, says
that whenever an automobile passes
the door Mrs. Birtwistle shudders and
she will not go near the corner where
the accident occurred.
Unable to Cry
The neighbors have done everything
in their power to make the stricken
woman cry. The story of the acci-
dent has been told and retold and ev-
cry detail of the girls suffering was
dwelt upon. The body was shown to
her but all these methods seemed to
only deepen the look of dazed misery
on her face.
Those who have watched her hoped
that when she looked for the last
time into the casket relief would come
in the form of tears, but she remained
in the same condition.
John Paul, the undertaken, took her
into a room where the coffin was rest
ing yesterday before the service be-
gan and tried to bring her out OF the
lethargy into which she has fallen
She gave few short sobs and relaxed
into the same condition as before. "If
she could only have a good cry she
would be all right, 1 think" said one
of the neighbors, but we do not know
any way to make the tears come"