Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-22
DEsPoNDENT BECAUSE OF COOL.
NESS OF MAN SHE LOVED, GIRL
ATTEMPTS SUICIDE
TRIES CARBoLIC ACID
Miss Bertha Mcfarland Wishes to De-
stroy Herself Because, It is Said,
George McNuIty Would Not Marry
Her--ls Unsuccessful.

Despondent, her friends says,
because McNulty, the man she
she loved, refused to marry her,
Miss Bertha Mcfarland, aged 18
years, an employee of McElroy's
restaurant, attempted to commit
suicide about $50 o'clock last
evening by taking an ounce of
carbolic acid. The prompt assist
ance of physicians, called instant
~ by McNulty, who was
with the unfortunate girl imme-
diately before she took the drug,
saved her life. She is today rest
ing easily a. her home, 504 Myr-
tie street. Miss Mcfarland was
visiting at the home of her friend,
Miss Bertha Widger, Ill east Sec
and street, when she committed
the rash act.
Miss Mcfarland was alone in the
room at the time. Immediately after
taking the drug she rushed out in the
hallway and called to McNulty, who
had just left the room, and told him
what she had done. Mrs. Mary Min
tonye, who lives in the adjoining
rooms heard the girls cries and went
to her assistance She found Miss
Mcfarland lying on the bed, with the
left side Of her face buried in the pill
low A quantity of the acid had run
out of her mouth and had burned her
left cheek and shoulder considerably.
Miss Widger, who occupies the
room. was summoned from the Bee
Hive hotel, where she is employed and
came at once, accompanied by Charles
Langford. McNulty rushed to a
nearby telephone and summoned Il
physician. DR.. A. O. Williams came IT,
the assistance of the girl mad admin
lstered an antidote to the poison.
Sister Is Summoned.
| When the first spasms had passed,
Langford ran to the Crescent drug
store and summoned the girls sister.
Miss Anna Mcfarland, 504 Myrtle
street, who arrived soon afterwards.
Later in the evening DR.. F. W. Newell
was called and gave additional rene
dies to Miss Mcfarland At 10 o'clock
she was declared to be out of danger,
although still very i'll from the effects
of the poison.
Was Tired of Life.
When seen last evening Miss Wild
ger said:
Bertha was here all afternoon with
me. left here at half past four to go
to work. AS far as I know she was in
good spirits when left her. We had
been laughing and talking all after
noon, and Bertha had mentioned sever.
al of her plans for the coming week.
She has been rather discouraged
and tired of life lately, although / do
not know why she took the acid
/ Miss Anna Mcfarland, sister of the
girl, said: Bertha works at NOEL
roy's restaurant at night. She came
home this morning about o'clock and
slept until L O'clock She left the
house shortly after and said she was
coming over to spend the afternoon
with Miss Wiiger. She was in good
spirits as far as know, and have nc
idea why she took it,
/ McNuIty's Story.
i George McNulty, who is employed or
the Ottumwa fire department, and who
was with Miss Mcfarland shortly he
fore the attempt at suicide was made
says: 81 spent an hour or SO with
Miss Mcfarland this evening, but as
have to go to report for work at
o'clock l started to leave the room
about $50 o'clock. Bertha didn'
want me to go, and when got to the
door, she ran after me and caugh
hold of my overcoat, Jerking two but
; tons off the garment trying to holt
me.
81 couldn't stay any longer though
and came on down the hall. She wen
back into the room and almost imme
diately came out in the hall and callet
to me that she had taken carboli,
acid. / have gone with her for som,
: time, but don't know why she shoult
? do such thing as she has"
Had Threatened Before.
Mrs Mintoyne stated that sh
knows the girl had threatened befor
to take carbolic acid as she was q
times respondent over the attitud
of the man she loved. The youn
. woman was not moved to her HON
= until this morning. Late this Afternoon
: she is reported to be resting easily
n as the worst effects of the drug hay
l. worn off.
t for living for the uplifting of thos
g with whom she came in contact.
Those who acted as pallbearer
It were: Messrs. H. S. Furtney, ]. !.
q Ritz. E. T.. Hilles, D. McHaffey, w. Z