Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-10-23
MRS. RoMADKA TURNED ON GAS
JETS IN HER ROOM IN sANi-
TARIUM.
NEARLY SUCCEEDS IN KILLING
HERSELF TOGETHER WITH
WOMAN ATTENDANT.
BAIL WITHDRAWN AND SHE IS
TAKEN BACK TO CELL IN
CHICAGO.

Milwaukee, Oct. l7.-Eyelyn Game
Romadka attempted to kill herself by
lasphyxiation at the Nugent sanitar-
ium, Wells street and the Hawley
road, last Friday evening, while in
Milwaukee after her Chicago esca.
pades. Her nurse as a consequence
had a narrow escape from death Mrs.
Romadka was patient at he sani-
tarium.
Her attempt at suicide followed
days of bysteria, nervous collapse and
fainting fits. The attempt is told by
the woman attendant at the SAINT
tarium who was with Mrs. Romadka
constantly while there.
Il had received orders from John F.
Donovan not to leave my patient for a
moment, said the attendant. Il de-
voted my entire time to her. | had
feared an attempt at suicide, and had
removed everything from the room
that might have been used by des-
perate woman, caught her cycling
the cracked globe of a chandelier fix.
ture enc day. and | even removed
that to prevent the patients injuring
herself with ii. She had always
begged me not to leave her. When ]
attempted to leave the room, II only
for an instant, she would plead:
Don't leave me! Don't leave met
Nurse Leaves the Room.
But Thursday she didn't object
when | left the room to answer tel.
ephone, and when / returned she lay
so still ! was afraid she had done her
self some harm. / took her tempera-
lture and pulled back the bedclothes
20 see If she had concealed anything,
but found that she had not.
Friday afternoon she told me that
she felt sleepy and thought she would
try to sleep for a while. / said Then
TN try to do the same. Ill lie down
Ou lh1 bEu ItAk w f9AAos s~AS NA<
from for moment TO get book
from the next room. When | returned.
/ lay down and shut my eyes. ! was
utterly worn out with the strain OF
watching and nursing, ] must have
been doing for some time when sud,
denly | felt myself choking Sitting.
awoke with a gasp, sat up, and looked
about me, The room was filed with
the odor of escaping gas, and both
gas jets above my head were open and
the gas fumes pouring from them.
Mrs Romadka was cuddled up in
heap at the foot OF her bed, utterly
IstilL ! said nothing but jumped up,
turned of the gas, and called Or. NJ
gent TO me He frightened the jets so
that they could not be opened again,
and we used the electric lights after
that | said to Mrs. Romadka, How
could YOU do such a thing? I have
been nursing you day and night, and
now YOU would have killed me If your
plan had succeeded. She only said,
%, I'm sorry, but / don't know what
TO do, don't know what to do
After that q trained nurse from
the city was obtained for her and we
both watched her every movement"
Mrs. Romadka was taken to the MI
gent sanitarium Wednesday night.
She was taken to the city limits in 8
carriage, and then transferred to an
automobile. From the time she ar
rived until she left Milwaukee for Chi
cago she did not once see her nus
band or baby. She pleaded for them
repeatedly, and especially for the
baby, but they did not come to see
her. Attorney Donovan and Detective
Porter Of Chicago took her to the san.
itarium.
lHap4ftU