Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-19
PLAYS TRUANT
TO END Her LIFE
WORRIES OVER FAILURE IN
ALGEBRA
GIRL RUNS AWAY FROM SCHOOL
TO COMMIT SUICIDE
Young Woman Who Was Missing from
Home Found Unconscious in
Fulton Canyon, North
of Burbank

IF Mrs. Kaiser knew L had been
playing truant from school she would
hate me. If that happened would kill
myself
That is the reason Gladys o. Ellery
gave for running away from the home
of E. S. Butterworth, 713 West Thirty
second street. Failure in her studies at
the Polytechnic high school and the
lack of a home with her parents We're
the indirect causes which almost Gull
minated in tragedy.
According to Mrs. S. M. Kaiser, who
has been responsible for her going to
school and who has done everything
within her power to make the girls life
pleasant, Gladys has always been a
model child. Diligent in her studies,
she graduated from grammar school
with an admirable record. Failing to
master algebra in high school and fall
ing further and further behind in this
subject, she began playing truant. This
was known both at the Butterworths
and to Mrs. Kaiser, but nothing was
said to her. At school she became in
innate with none of the pupils and at
times appeared lonesome.
Friday last she took her books as If
going to school as usual, but instead
passed the day alone, sitting on bench
in South park Although practically
penniless at the time she obtained
money and a vial of carbolic acid, and
took the train for Burbank.
Found Unconscious
Arriving at her destination she made
her way to Tuna canyon, intending
there to end her life. Instead, she met
there two boys, Hans Zimmerman and
Max Schwartz of Los Angeles, and
passed the day with them. She told
+I,o,,o che 1po VIRGINIA GbaIdOn and was
on her way to visit relatives in Burbank.
When asked to have dinner with them
she refused, thinking If they found out
she was hungry her real identity would
be discovered. While she was at the
boys camp they took her picture, by
which she was later identified.
Saturday evening she left them ard
wandered off through the fields, intend
ing to take the carbolic acid. AT the
crucical moment, however, her nerve
failed her and she wandered on, search
ing for water.
Monday afternoon Mrs. Kaiser, ac-
companied by Ellery, went to Burbank
in the hope of finding her. She sue
ceeded in rousing the town, and at $3.50
o'clock Tuesday morning Frank Ogicr
and Al Hedaker found the girl uncon-
scious in Fulton canyon, half mile
north of Burbank.
water" was all she said when they
revived her and took her to the local
hospital. Her beautiful hair, which had
previously been her especial pride. she
had partially cut off with penknife,
and her clothes were in rags.
Early Monday afternoon her condi-
ton had so improved that 1t was
deemed advisable to bring her to Los
Angeles. Although slightly hysterical,
she is now resting quietly with Mrs.
Kaiser.
Wants to Teach
The boys, into whose camp she
strayed. say she appeared perfectly
sane and rational at the time and that
they ha no thought of there being any
thing a. SIS. They also noticed a vial
in her hand but gave it no especial at
tention.
How Gladys Ellery obtained the car
bolic acid and the money with which
to pay her fare to Burbank she will not
say. In her room at the Butterworth
residence was found a beautiful Easter
card, given her by Mrs. Kaiser last
Easter, tore to bits. When asked for
the cause of this action she said she
could not bear to look at it after think
ing how she failed at school.
The girls ambition has always been
to teach, and with this end in view she
put her spare time on her studies. The
worry caused by her failure in algebra
caused her to take long walks, always
by herself, sometimes being seen as far
away as Elysian park.
Gladys will remain with Mrs. Kaiser
at her apartments in the Chateau
Frontenac until she has entirely re-
covered 1t is then Mrs. Kaiser's in
tention to send her away to school,
probably to Hollywood. No serious re-
suits are expected from her wanderinss
and the doctors pronounce her to be
normal mentally.