The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-02-27
DRANK CARBOLIC ACID
Fifteen Year Old Girl Tries to Kill
Herself, but by Prompt Meas
ures Her Life is Saved.

Herself, but by Prompt Meas
ures Her Life is Saved.
The pleasant farm home of J. G. Up
field, who lives about eight miles north
west of Leon. came near being The scene
of suicide last Friday evening, when
their fifteen year old daughter, Bess sic,
tried to swallow the contents of "a bot
tie of carboiic acid with the intention
of taking her life, but thanks to prompt
measures she is alive and after she re-
covers from the burns on her face and
Throat will be none the worse for the
attempt, which she now greatly reS
bgfets.
4 Bessie had not been feeling we'll for
dseveral days, being compelled to re-
nain out of school part of the time. 1t
seems that her mother had promised
to allow her to come to Leon with her
school teacher, Miss Blanche Woodard,
to spend Sunday, and the girl set her
heart on the trip. Friday afternoon she
told her mother she was going to Leon
that evening and Mrs. Upheld tried to
talk her out of it, telling her she was
not we'll enough to make the trip in
such weather and for her to put it off
for a week and then she could go and
have good time. But it seems the girl
was determined to make the trip and so
informed her mother. Seeing she could
do nothing with her Mrs. Upheld called
her husband to the house and told him
Bessie had gone to her room to get
ready to come to Leon, and that she did
not think she should go. Mr.. Upheld
Went to the girls room and told her
she could not go, but she closed the
door and said she would go or kill her.
self. MIR. Upheld then felt that he
ishould exert his authority in the mat
ter and told her she could not go and
for her to come out of the room. The
girl came out and as she passed through
an adjoining room she grabbed small
| bottle con tanning carbolic acid and ran
cut of the house, Mr.. Upheld followed
in an aeffort to catch her and just after
getting outside, the. girl while still run
ming tried to 6rink the acid, but only
swallowed small quantity, spilling the
greater part over her face and burning
it quite badly. Mr.. Upheld carried her
to the house and she told her mother
she had swallowed the acid but was
very sorry for her act. Mr.. Upheld i'm
mediately telephoned to Van Vert for
a physician and on hearing his call the
young lady in charge of the Van Vert
telephone office had presence of mind
to tell him to give her alcohol or whis-
key. Fortunately they had some whis-
key in the house and a quantity was ad-
ministered to her, and this no doubt
4saYeds her lie ter DR.. skindse arriv-
ed and gave her the necessary medical
attention, and she is now out of all dan
ger and will soon be we'll again. The
burns on her face will leave no scars
and the little miss is heartily sorry for
her rash act. She had always been a
very dutiful daughter and the fact that
she had been sick no doubt is the rea-
son she attempted to take her life.
Rev. D. G. Gurley, of New Sharon,
Iowa. a former pastor of the Leon
Presbyterian church, visited with
friends in this city between trains
Monday, while returning from Leroy
where he held services Sunday.
Leslie Forgraves returned Thursday
to his home in ST. Joe after visiting for
a few days at the home of his uncle,
Cass Sales, south of town. He accom-
panied the remains of his mothers aunt,
Mrs. Colver, to this city for burial.
| Ds Ls AAhdPP Wll03 VI odTaCu
Grove, came down Saturday and visited
over Sunday with relatives in this city,
Mr.. Knapp coming to attend the meet
ing of the Decatur County Rural Mail
Carriers Association which was held
here Saturday.
John Ledgerwood came down from
Osceola the first Of last week and spent
a few days in this city. He left Thurs
/ dow m hrc fni, tD Mo;n
and will then return to his farm near
Osceola. He says he is once more a
real tiller of the soil
was visiting in this city at the home OF
his brother, G. G. Bidiison, left Mon
day for visit with relatives at Sidney
Iowa, before returning home. He was
accompanied to Sidney, by his cousin
Mrs. S. j. Lemmax, of this city.
| Rev. VIM. Biggs and wife went to
Trenton, Mo-, Monday for short visit
with relatives, meeting Mr.. and Mrs
W. P. Davidson, of Macon, ILL.,, there on
their return from six months trip tt
California. They visited at the Biggs
home in this city as they went to Cali
fornia.
, Albert Biddison and daughter Miss
Hattie, of GAINESVILLE, were in Leon las
Thursday, going from here to ST. Louis
and from there they expect to take
trip down in Panama. Mr.. Biddisol
has been in poor health recently ant
it is necessary for him to take Z. vaca
tion from his business cares for few
weeks.
Mrs. S.U. Rush returned Tuesday to he
home at Burlington after visiting few
days at the home of her mother, Mrs
Sarah Eaton, south of town, who re
turned with her to Burlington to max,
. her future home, having broken VI
housekeeping as her son, On Eaton, ex
poets to soon leave for new home il
the west.
Arthur Leslie, son of Mr.. and Mrs. J
+. Hines, of Grand River, died Tuesda,
morning at Lao o'clock, his death being
, from Bright's disease. The little fei
low was born August 20, 1897, being II
wears. e months and 4 davc ola IL