The Grenada sentinel., 1907-03-30
"A Life of Shame Ends i'm
Suicide
CAUSE OF SELF-OESTRUCTION NOT KNOWN
Hrs. Bertha Keith, Z alias Georgia
Smith, of Obion County, Tenn.,E
Shoots Herself after Taking 80,
CarboliC Acid.

Mrs. Bertha Keith, who went un.
der the alias of Georgia Smith, COM
mitted suicide last Friday night at 10
O'Clock at house Of i'll fame in this
city by shooting herself through the
breast just above the heart. Just
what was the immediate cause of the
awful crime is not known, as she left
nOthing to indicate why she had taken
such step.
Shortly before the kieth woman
took her life DR.. Gage was called to
see Matte Stokes, SOiled dove of the
colored type, who lives near by and
who it was reported had taken some
drug for the purpose Of ending her
life. After examining the negro
woman the Doctor concluded that she
had not taken any poison, but was
5only feigning suicide for some pur-.
FpOSe not known to him
After leaving the negro the doctor
Started home, and after going a short
{diStance he saw an inmate of the house
where Mrs. Keith was stopping and
for whom he had prescribed and asked
'her how she was getting along. While
standing talking to the woman, Mrs
Keith came out on the gallery, told the,
'ther woman good bye and fell on the
ioor. The doctor hurredly went to
her and seeing brown substance at
he corners of her mouth said: You
ave taken carbOlic acid, haven't
|you?' He asked some one to help him
carry the woman in the house. Where
lpon Mrs. Keith got up, rushed into
|the room, locked the door and immedi-
|ately pistol shot was heard inside.
She unlocked the door, came out, stag
|gered across the hall and fell on the
floor in another room where she died
'in very short time. The whole ar
fir took place in SO short time that
lit fairly dazed those who were present
and witnessed it.
A coroner'S jury was summoned
shortly after the deed was committed
md returned verdict in accordance
With the above facts. The remains
we're inferred in the old east cemetery
'unday morning.
Mrs. Kieth was a native of Obion
county, Tenn. and was an orphan.
\ younger sister is said to be the only
survivor of the family. 1t is report
ed that the Keith woman, who was
,nly about Is years of age, had grown
weary of the life she was leading and
'ad written to her uncle in Obion
ounty telling him that she desired to
eform and wanted to return to his
IOme, to which, SO the story goes,
e objected. 1t may be that the re-
uSal of her uncle to let her retlrn to
IS home had prayed on her mind un-
It'll she sought relief from worry in
death. Another report is to the eff
feet that jealousy drove her to the
crime. Mrs. Keith and the negro
Matte Stokes were neighborS and,
recording to one rHmor, were in love
with the same man. who belongs tOa
prominent Grenada family. He, it is
said had been paying attentions to
both and each woman was jealous OF
|the ether So intense did their
ljeaiouSly become that they had been
|Grying to shoot each other all day
Friday.
Matte Stokes, who had feigned sui
:ide. was waited on late Friday night
10y number of citizens who told her
not to let another sun find her in Gren-
ida. She left and it is not likely that
,he will show I'D here again SOOn