The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-09-19
MOBILE WOMAN
TRIED SUICIDE
Saturated Bed With Kero-
sine, Jumped IN and APP
piled Match.
Mrs. Bradford Had Been in
Ill Health and Mental Con-
dition Was Responsible
For Rash Actin Precar-
iotfs Condition.
Special TO Tho Journal.


Mobile, Ala, Sept. 1S.-'1 know
I'm going to die and l wanted to
hasten and finish the job my5e'-
Such was the reason given by Mrs.
Margaret Bradford, forty-ive years OF
age, to the police this morning, fol
lowing an attempt to burn hersen 10
death in a most sensational manner
Satuating the bed clothing with kero-
sene, during a fit of mental alteration,
Mrs. Bradford calmly applied a match
to the fluid, leaped in bed and await
ed death.
When the flames reached her night
garments and began to eat into the
fiesh. the woman jumped from her
seIf-desigBed crematory, her garmeEs
ablaze and screaming at the top OF
her voice ran into the street. Neigh
bors hurried to her assistance, extin-
gushing the flames that were deVour-
ing her body, returned her TO the
house and summoned the ambulance.
Mrs. Bradford was removed to the city
hospital in a precarious condition Lit
tie hope for her recovery is enter
tanned.
Mrs. Bradford Is the widow of the
late Thomas Bradford and resides at
the southeast corner of Palmetto and
St Emanuel streets. According TO
the police and persons w1o knew her,
Mrs. Bradford has been mentally az
Ifectedsfor some time. 1t was not OF
a violent type, but sufficient to cause
her friends alarm. At the suggestion
of the attending physician, arrange
ments had been made to convey Mrs.
Bradford to the insane asylum to-
day, the belief being expressed that
there she would probably yield to
| treatment
Whether Mrs. Bradford was aware
of ler removal to an insane asylum
and during rational movements plan
ned and attempted to execute the hOr-
rible death from which she was res
eued rather than go there. her friends
are unable 10 say. On the other hand,
| while suffering intense agony from
her frightful burns Mrs. Bradford
claimed in one breath that she knew
her death was but a matter of time
and t1at she wanted to finish the JOB
| herself. On the other hand sne begged
piteously to be hurried to the hospital
/ that relief to her sufferings may be
obtained and her life saved. She ap
| parentIy regretted her frightful act.
1t is probably the most sensational
| attempt to suicide brought to the at
tention of the police in many years
Planning her death in q self-devisec
| crematory was calmly carried out, 81
far "a concerns tne method of Secur
ing the flames necessary to accom-
plish the desired end. But the hor
rfble pains of the fiery tongues were
too much even for a diseased minC
to withstand, and her efforts were
robbed of their purpoEe-so far as ere
lmation is concerned.
Mrs. Bradford has been in il
health besides her mental trouble, ant
J 1.Nr, hpn
| ed by the ambulance department. Dun
, ing a raging brair-storm some month
ago. she was removed to local pr
waite institution, where after confine
ment and treatment, she emerged i
! apparent good health and mind Late
", however. SYMPTOMS of he old troJ
| BILE were noticed by her friends and
hysician was called in. Her case be
came such that the attending phys
clan advised that arrangements b
made for her removal TO the inSan
asylum