The San Francisco call., 1907-02-26
YOUNG WOMAN
TAKES POISON IN
CROWDED CAFE
Chooses Restaurant at En-
porium as the Place
to End Life
DRINKS DEADLY ACID
Orders Ice Cream and I'm
mediately Swallows
Fatal Draught
NAME IS CONCEALED
Dies on Way to Hospital
and No Mark of Iden-
tity Is Found

After having removed carefully
from her person all articles by which
her identity could be established, a
oomely young woman p years of age
entered the cafe in the Emporium, in
Van Ness avenue. yesterday afternoon
and In the presence of scores of women
pat 7ns Of the place drank from a vial
OF carbolic. acid. While many of the
women screamed with fright. others
rushed TO the assistance of the young
woman. bet. intent upon self-destuc-
ton. she fought them with all the
strength that she could command. and
passed away fifteen minutes later on
the way to the Central Emergency
Hospital
The case is shrouded in deep mys-
tery, as the young victim evidently In
tended that il should be. Her purpose.
her station in life. her address and even
her name are secrets which she has
taken with her into death. That she
was OF refined features, that she in
tended that her identity be concealed
and that she purposely chose to pass
dramatically from life's stage-that
much is certain. The rest must wait
until reiativefb or friends call at the
14orgue. where the body now rests. 10
reveal the secrets which. her lips. for
ever stilled, cannot tell.
On the register at the Morgue If is
simply -Suicide-identity unknown.
but in the life of the girl it was an
overwhelming woe. and TO end it she
sacrificed her existence.
The young woman called at the drug
store OF c. NJ. Fuller at 1900 Fillmore
street at . o'clock yesterday afternoon
and purchased from DR.. Wilt a small
bottle Of carbolic acid. She said that
she was nurse and desired the drug
for medicinal purposes. She seemed
gay enough. quietly paid for her pur-
chase and left the store II was more
than three hours later that she en-
tered the Emporium. She was neatly
clad in q black street suit with a tan
coat and did not attract especial at
tention among the great number of
shoppers.
She made her way to the cafe and
seated herself at a table. IT was after
o'clock time when the cafe was
crowded with women patrons who drop
IN for a cup Of tea. The young woman
ordered q plate of icecream. After she
had eaten a few spoonfuls she slipped
the bottle OF carbolic acid from her
pocket. and. pressing it quickly TO her
lips. began to drain its contents.
The girls strange action and the
odor Of the drug attracted the atten-
ton Of several women seated near her.
As they gazed. the bottle fell from the
Girls hand and she fell with a groan
10 the table.
The entire cafe was in an uproar
INSTANTLY. Several women screamed in
tbeir excitement and hurried from the
room. The calmer among the women
fastened TO the side Of the girl and
sought to render aid, but she fought
them desperately.
Frank 9. Andrews. manager OF the
csfe. sent Immediately for medical aid
and procuring bottle of sweet oil. at
tempted to have the young woman. now
prifhing in pain. swallow some of its
contents Again she fought fiercely.
physician had arrived meanwhile
with stomach pump and despite her
sfruezies determined attempt was
made TO save the girls life. but il was
IN vain. She was placed in an ambu-
lance but breathed her last while en-
route to the Central Emergency Hos
pital.
A few hours after the body had
reached the hospital a woman called
over the telephone and asked If a body
had been brought from the Emporium
After the appearance OF the young
woman had been described, she cried in
= ..Lf iG sha I