The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-11
Dismissed From Position as q
HOusekeeper.
SHE LEFT NO WORD.
Hay Have Been Affected by the
Heat.
Husband Who Is an Invalid Is
Frustrated.

Discouraged over the loss OF her
position, and probably affected by
the heat, Mrs. Lottie Harris. aged 40,
ended her life at 4 o'clock this morn
ing at 109 West Tenth street, by taxi
ing nearly two ounces of carboIfd
acid. Mrs. Harris had been employed
for the past four or five months az
a domestic in the rooming and board
ing house of Mrs. ieota Heatman, at
which place she ended her life. She
leaves husband, William Harris. who
is an invalid and a married daughter.
Mrs. Tillie Long, who lives on North
Topeka avenue.
Mrs. Harris had been employed in
her last position for about four
months. Yesterday her Iandlady in
formed her that for various reasons
she had decided to make a change
and had already employed another
woman to take her place. Remorsa
over the loss of her position was un-
doubtedly the cause of her Self-de-
Struction. Mr.. Harris had been efn-
plOyed at the same place for nearly
two months where he did light work,
such as starting the fires and run
ming errands.
Mrs. Harris when informed of the
loss of her job about o'clock last
night grew morose. Mrs. Heatman
offered to keep her until another DO
sitiOn could be obtained. Mrs. Harriai
replied: Il don't need a place, as ]
have plenty of friends. | think 1 will
go to Titles" (meaning her married
daughter.)
She then went to her room and
started to pack up her things. but
told her former employer that sha
would remain there until morning.
Mrs Heatman who realized that Mrs
Harris was somewhat melancholy
tried to console her. In the course OF
her conversation she said that sha
would pay Mrs. Harris in the morn
ing as long as she had decided to
a nj 10 NTrseH
demanded her wages. Mrs Hea tman
paid what was due, and Mrs. Harris
signed a receipt for the amount.
From this time on, Mrs. Harris did
not act in a natural manner. She
went to the bathroom and took "A
bath, afterwards going to her own
room where she laid out her best
clothes and packed her others, and
then sat down, merely dressing her
self in a dressing gown, and all the
time insisting that she was going to
leave the place, although her every
action indicated the contrary.
Mrs. Heatman who sleeps in a near
by room retired at twelve o'clock, and
Mrs. Harris had not yet retired
About four o'clock this morning, VIII
Harris, the husband, woke up as was
his usual custom and went to the
kitchen where he started the gas fire.
Hardly had he completed this task
when he returned to the room, Whith-
er he had been attracted by moans-
This aroused Mrs. Heatman, and upon
investigation it was found that Mrs
Harris had taken carbolic acid. L
saw her lips were raw, and could de-
tect the odor of the acid" said Mrs.
Heatman this morning. Il asked her
If she had taken the acid, but she
denied it. I couldn't find the bottle
Il Immediately called Dr. Keith, who
arrived in about ten minutes, ami .en
minutes later Mrs. Harris was dead
DR.. Keith searched the room and
found a four ounce bottle of the acid.
which was nearly half empty. Tho
acid had been purchased some time
previously from the Kohl drug store at
Tenth and Kansas avenues.
The remains were taken to the Pen-
well undertaking rooms. Or. Keith haa
decided that no inquest is necessary.
VIM. Harris, the husband of the dcad
woman. was formerly hack driver in
Topeka. The family has been here for
nearly twenty years. About five years
ago Harris contracted a case of sevUre
trouble which became chronic.
and caused him to retire from the hack
business. For the greater part Of the
time since then, he has been unem-
ployed, although at intervals he has
manage to work at light employment
He is nearly hear broken over his wlfe's
suicide, and friends of the family have
fears he will not survive the shock.