The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1909-01-06
Suicide of Mrs. Frank Law.

Many friends of Mr.. and Mrs. Frank
w. Law in Tionests and vicinity were
shocked at the news that Mrs. Law had
committed suicide by shooting herself at
her home in Pittsburg on Saturday, Dec.
20, 1908. In this community, where the
family had formerly resided and were
universally respected, many heartfelt re-
grets were expressed at the tragic affair.
For ten years Mrs. Law had been the VIC
tim OF a homicidal mania, and on two oc-
casions had TO be sent to hospitals after
causing the death of two babes. On each
occasion she recovered her reason and
was again united with her family, ap-
parently entirely restored to health. The
following account of the distressing affair
is culled from the Pittsburg Dispatch of
December 9th:
"Ten years of pitiful, shuddering dread
in the pretty home of Frank w. Law, a
stove manufacturer, of 1900 Kelly street,
East End, terminated at noon Saturday
when Mr.. Law went to Lis wife's room
aud discovered her dead body upon the
floor, bullet hole in her temple and his
own revolver just within the grasp of the
| limp fingers. For more than a decade
Ida Louise Law had been an invalid
specialists had treated her In vain. The
shadow of the homicidal malady that had
ainted her mind hung always over the
home. Twice the specter bad gained for
the husband and his suffering wife un-
pleasant notoriety, when two babies had
died at the hand of the insane mother
For several days husband and relatives
had lived in terror of the end that came
Saturday, and sister of Mrs. Law had
lived constantly with the afflicted woman.
A little more than 10 years ago, on July
"A, 1898, Mrs. Law, in sudden fit of de-
mentia, killed her son. little Arthur, who
was but IS months old. The family at
that time lived on Summer street, North
side. The babe was found dead, his
throat cut. Mrs. Law was placed in St.
Johns hospital, where she remained for
few weeks, being finally discharged as
well. On March II, 1900, little Florence
Law, aged months and II days, was
found at the Kelly street home of the
couple dead from strangulation. For this
Mrs. Law was sent TO Dixmont Asylum,
where, after year she was discharged as
cured. For some time past her mind had
been failing again, but she begged not to
be sent to an asylum. The shot that end
ed the patients sutlerings was not heard
by the husband and other inmates of the
house Saturday morning and the CHASTITY
discovery when Law mounted the stairs
to bid his wife goodby preparatory to GO
ing downtown was the first lntimation he
had of his bereavement"
Ida Louise Law was aged "A years and
was born and reared in Oil City, her
maiden name being Trax. She is sur
vived by her husband, one daughter,
Eva, and two sons, CLARENCE and Ray
mond. Also by several sisters and broth
ers. During the past summer she and
her husband visited Tionesta friends
when she seemed in perfect health and
fine spirits. Sincere sympathy for the
stricken husband and family is expressed
by their large circle of acquaintances
here.
The body was brought to Oil City on
the 2Sth ult., and the interment was made
in Grove Hill cemetery, where short SER
vices were conducted by Rev. Mr.. Broad
hurst of the First Presbyterian church.