Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-13
GIRL CHOOSES DEATH
BY GAS RATHER THAN
FAIL IN SCHOOL TEST
GLENDALE STUDENTS MIND
COULD NOT STAND WORRY :
Leaving Tropico Home to Attend Ses-
slons, She Came to City Instead
and Rented Furnished
Room
Transacts a General Bank
ing and Trust Business

Fearing she would not be able to pass
her examinations and respondent be-
cause she believed she was afflicted
with tuberculosis, Myrtle Brown, 21
years of age, student at the Glendale
Union high school, and a daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. s. E. Brown of Walnut
street, Tropico, committed suicide yes
terday morning by inhaling gas in her
room at 511 San Julian street.
The disappearance of the young wom-
an from her home had been reported to
the Los Angeles police and while Po-
lice Stenographer Hills was making out
a report to be given to the officers the
ltfeless body Of the girl was being tax
en- into the receiving hospital.
Miss Brown was treated for tuber-
eulosis two years ago and after being
under the care of physician for sew
eral months was pronounced cured.
She usually boarded car shortly be-
fore o'clock and appeared at the
school at that hour. Tuesday morning
she boarded the car as usual but in
stead of getting off at the school re-
manned aboard and came to Los Ang-
eles. The motorman noticed that she
did not have her lunch basket and that
her books were not carried.
Shortly before o'clock that evening
she appeared at the rooming house con-
Quoted by Mrs. Jessie Mcintosh at 511
San Julian street and rented a ROOM
Miss Brown paid for a months room
rent and told the landlady that her
trunk would arrive shortly and that
chum would visit her Wednesday morn
ing. The girl also stated to the land
lady that she contemplated entering a
local business college to take a course
in stenography.
Detects Gas odor
Yesterday morning while the land
lady was engaged about the house she
detected an odor of gas and traced it to
the room occupied by Miss Brown. Eff
forts to gain an entrance to the apart
ment were futile, because Of the door
being locked and Mrs. Mcintosh climbed
to the transom and looked in. She
saw that the bed, although disturbed
had not been slept in and could see
nothing of the roomer.
Satisfied that something was wrong
Mrs. Mcintosh forced the door and en-
tered the room. She found the girl ly-
ing on the floor on folded underskirt
and the gas pouring into her face from
the disconnected tube of a gas stove
The -landlady Immediately turned off
the gas and tried to resuscitate the girl
by artificial respiration and by placing
ammonia to her nostrils. Finding that
her efforts were futile she notified the
police to send the ambulance.
The unconscious young woman was
hurried to the receiving hospital. She
was breathing family when placed on
the stretcher and when she had reached
the hospital it was found that life was
extinct.
The father of the dead girl declared
that his daughter had no love affairs
that he knew Of and the only reason
he could give for her act was that her
mind was unbalanced because of study
and a fear that she was about to have
tubercular trouble.
The first intimation he had of her
Disappearance he said was when one
of the teachers telephoned to the house
Monday afternoon and asked for the
girl
Although all indications show that
the girl deliberately committed suicide
an inquest will be held unless her rela-
tives waive it.
AS yet no funeral arrangements have
been made, but it is thought services
will be held at the chapel of Bresee
Brothers Friday, afternoon.