The San Francisco call., 1905-08-13
Rosie Lewis, AgedI7,
Swallows Strych-
nine.
Fear of Obnoxious
Marriage Said to
Be Cause.

OAKLAND, Aug. R.-Rendered desper-
ate, it is alleged. by the declaration Of
her father that she must marry the man
he had chosen for her. whether she loved
him or not, Rosie Lewis, the I7-year- old
daughter Of Antoine I. Lewis, a prominent
fruit grower residing on q large ranch
near Irvington. committed suicide this
morning by taking e dose Of strychnine.
She had Joined the other members Of the
family al breakfast, but before the meal
was finished she left the table, and with
out giving q hint by word OF look Of her
terrible purpose she went out OF the
house 10 the barn in the rear, where she
swallowed the poison. which she had
kept concealed in the barn.
Only few moments after leaving the
table the girl reappeared at the door of
the room in which the members Of the
family were assembled, and telling them
what she had done bade her father and
mother good-by. Them almost uncon-
scious, she staggered through the house
70 the front door and fell on the front
porch, writing In agony.
CHUM GIVES EXPLANATION.
When the girl told her parents what
she had done her father rushed 70 the
barn and there found the vial which had
contained the poison. The size Of the
bottle indicates that Miss Lewis took
about thirty grains Of strychnine AS
soon as he realized that his daughter had
TOLD the truth when she said that she
had taken the poison Lewis hurried to
summon rnedica! assistance, but hardly
nVe minutes after the girl had told her
parents what she had done she breathed
her last and by the time the physician n
who had been sent for reached the ranch
the victim Of her own rash act had been
dead for some time.
Both parents of the girl denied positive
ly that they had any idea Of the cause
OF their daughters suicide. They refused
TO acknowledge that any love affair was
At the bottom Of the tragedy, but from a
chum OF the girl II was learned that for
some time she had lived in fear Of being
forced to marry 2 man whom she did not
love. but whom her father had chosen
for her husband. It has also been learned
that Miss Lewis had for several months
been keeping company with a Young
rancher named Joseph Tells. who lives
near Livermore, and it was whispered
among her friends that she had secretly
become engaged to him.
Miss Lewis and Tells were together at
the Fourth OF July celebration held at
Irvington and he afterward took dinner
at her home. At that time, however, the
girls parents had no inkling of any at
AdCLllSAl bSNNScA Nue young people.
GIRL SEEMED DISCOURAGED.
For some time It had been remarked by
friends Of Miss Lewis that she seemed 20
be greatly discouraged over some un-
known trouble, and from being smiling
and happy she became at times moody
and seemed 10 be brooding over some
secret trouble almost too great to bear.
She was considered one Of the prettiest
girls IN the vicinity OF Irvington and had
q large circle Of friends. Her reputation
throughout the neighborhood IN which
she lived was OF the best. and her death
comes as a great shock to the residents
Of IrvingtOn and the neighboring district
Her father and mother are prostrated
over the terrible death Of their daughter
and are unable TO discuss the case or to
remember If she had ever said anything
that would lead to the belief that she
vas unhappy.
The remains were taken in charge by
Acting Deputy Coroner Kent Of Center
vile, and an inquest will be held TO dis
cover il possible the cause Of the suicide.