The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-20
Mrs. Anna croak, Bride Of But Sew
eral Weeks Took Dose Of Poi
son Which Resulted in
Death.
INQUEST THIS MORNING
Death by an Overdose of Morphine
Was the Conclusion Of the
Jury After Hearing
Testimony.

bOStttUOuys
Yesterday afternoon about three
o'clock, Mrs. Anna Croak of No. Main
street took large dose of morphine
with suicidal intent and died soon af-
ter. Although physician was call
ed he could do nothing to revive the
woman who had taken an exceedingly
large quantity in order that there
would be no chance of her recovery.
The victim in the case was about 80
years of age. She is survived by her
father, Mike Bresnahan, and her moth
or whose name is now Mrs. @. j.
Steeenburg, she having married again.
Besides her parents brother William
is still living. Mrs. Croak's first hus-
bands name was Hoyt and she had
been married to Croak only for short
time and seemed grieved over the loss
of her husband who died recently.
The funeral will probably be held
tomorrow morning from Hawkes. I'M
dertaking parlors although her father
said he would try and have it from II e
church as she was Baptised into the
Catholic church at Pennington some
years ago according to him.
The inquest over the death of the
victim was held this morning at the
court house. After all the testimony
was heard the jury gave their verdict
as death from an over dose of NOR
phine which was clearly shown in the
doctors testimony and that of the wit
nesses. That the victim had coctcm-
plated suicide was shown by the fact
that several persons had heard her
say on the way home from her hus-
bands funeral words to the effect
that in few days they would be rid
ing to her funeral A letter which she
left read as follows:
My Dear Father and Mother: have
had SO much trouble, thought had
better die.
Mother lost my husband; / loved
him.
Mother, vii. you come to my flu
neral?
Your daughter,
MRS. ANNIE CROAK.
No. 6 Main street, Keokult.
The first to testify was Thomas
Stack WHO gave his address as 113
South First street and his occupation
as cigar maker. He said that he was
down at Mike McDonalds fruit store
where he met Mr.. Brumbaugh who was
going to the place where Mrs. Croak
lived but did net want to go alone, ask
ing Stack to accompany him. This
he did. When they arrived at the
house Mrs. Croak was sitting on a
chair acting like she was going to
sleep. Mrs. Strange who happened
to be there with the aid of Stack walk
ed the patiert around as long as she
could stand wlen size went over to a
couc.1 and LAID d own. In short time
she went into the middle room. When
asked if she did not want to see a
doctor she said no. The doctor came
about three o'clock. Witness had heard
her say at various times that she was
going to commit suicide
DR.. Fegers was ext called to the
stand he being the one who attended
Mrs. Croak He gave his address as
126 South Seventh street and his oc-
cupation, physician and surgeon. His
testimony ran as follows: II was call
ed to see Mrs. Croak at No. 6 Main
street between three and four o'clock.
asked where the patient was and told
them to bring her into the front room
Waen they brought her IN she was
laid on couch and | fonud that she
was thoroughly rarcotized by the eff
fects of the morphine She had been
in the habit of using the drug but must
have taken I'm extremely large dose
on this occasion as saown by the con-
tr cted pupils of the eyes, the feeble
Dedrt peat u III Tie SsduOScu SouuItloH
or blueness of the face coupled
with the very slow respiration |
gave antidotes hypodermically as she
was unable to swallow. Also used wet
towels and everything possible to try
and resuscitate her but 1t was unayail
ing. She died of the effects of NOR
phine poisoning" Wlen questioned
the doctor said that he had attended
her at different times before. He also
saw the letter which she had written
and read it. Following this testimony
Mrs. H. Strange vas called upon.
She lives at No s Main street and is
a rooming house keeper. Some time
in tle afternoon she was called over
to Mrs. Gro, ks l,y Mrs. Hazel Walton
who told her that she thought Mrs.
Croak had taken poison. Mrs. Walton
telephoned for Dr. Fegers, she having
to try twice before she could get him.
She and MIS-. Walton sat in the room
for a few minutes and then Mrs.
Strange went ou;. Waen she came in
again the doctor was there, he having