The Sauk Centre herald., 1907-05-30
BY HIS own HAND
BertOn Rice Puts An End To
His Earthly Career
.HE COMMITS SUICIDE
Takes Big Dose of CarbOIiC Acid
and RashIy BlOts Out
His Existence

Berton Rice, aged %, committed
suicide sometime Monday night by
taking carbolic acid.
The body was found at 6:15 Tues
day morning by his brother Geo. M.
Rice, salesman for the grocer Geo.
Fish, in his buggy shed on Pine street.
1t was thought at first that the
young man had died suddenly of heart
failure, but an examination of the body
and Of the premises pointed uner-
ringly to suicide. ri
Deputy Coroner Kuhlman of Mel
rose was telephoned for and arrived in
Sauk Centre shortly after 9 o'clock.
He looked over the premises and ex-
amined the body and found that the
young man had taken his own life,
and then ordered the body removed
and prepared for burial. No inquest
was deemed necessary y
When found, the body was partly
sitting and partly lying on a small
trunk The head lay back against
the side of the building and the arms
were outstretched. The face was
somewhat discolored and the lips and
mouth burned by the deadly acid.
/ That the young man had deliber-
ately planned to take his own life was
evidenced by the fact that he had re-
moved his shoes and hat and laid
them in another part of the shed. On
the opposite side of the shed from
where the body was found was a two
ounce bottle with carbolic acid
label on it. Young Rice had evidently
removed his hat and shoes and drank
the poison. 1t burned him so, he
started across the shed, splitting the
stuff from his mouth, and fell down
on the trunk where he died.
The label On the bottle bore the
name of j. P. Perkins, druggist. The
coroner visited Mr.. Perkins and
found that on Feb. 26 last C. S. Rice,
brother of the deceased, had
purchased the acid for legitimate pur-
poses. C.. S. Rice was away from
home as was his family.
Bert had been accustomed to sleep
at the house of both his brothers.
Monday evening he called at
Fish's store where he talked
with his brother and with
Mr.. Fish. He was about town all
evening and was in his usual spirits,
talking and laughing with his friends.
The suicide evidently went to his
brother C. s. Rice's house for the
night, so George thought nothing of
lit. Later he went to Georges buggy
shed on the latter's premises on Pine
street-six or eight blocks distant
and drank the poison.
It developed Tuesday night that
young Rice had attempted suicide
some weeks ago when he took a
small dose of carbolic acid. Mrs. C.
s. Rice at that time made the discov-
cry.
No cause is known for the act.
Young Rice was single man of good
habits and had worked at odd jobs
about town. He had not been steadily
employed for some little time but had
not been respondent. He had been
complaining of cold for few days
but was about as usual.
George Rice telegraphed his father
and mother Mr.. and Mrs. ]. NJ. Rice
whose home is in this city but who
were visiting at Albert Lea. to come
home. They arrived on the Winnipeg
Express Tuesday evening and were .
met at the train by their two remain
ing sons. They were greatly affected
by the sad news.
| The funeral will be held from the
residence Of Geo. Rice att2 p. m, FRI,
day. Rev.rI; 8, Kingan oficiating.
Another brother. James Rice. left ct I
o'clock Tuesday evening from his
home In Montana an dwiil e''Btessnti
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