The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-04
To DEATH
Mrs. ID. E. Evans Passes Away
at st. Francis Hospital.
Will Answer Arson Charge Be-
fore a Higher Court.
SHE WOULD NOT EAT.
Unfortunate Woman Refused
Food, Died by Inches.
Would Not Take Medicine or
Talk to Officers.
SHE WOULD NOT EAT.

Heart broken at her degradation Mrs.
D. Evans, charged with arson in
connection with the charges against
G. V. Stamey, died this morning at the
ST. Francis hospital Of starvation and
bowel trouble. For the past Is days
she had refused to eat or take the
medicine left for her at the Jail. She
was removed to the hospital Sunday
morning. At that time it was stated
that she could not live 4S hours. No
funeral arrangements have as yet been
made.
Mrs. Evans refusal to eat began
when she entered the Jail several weeks
ago. At that time she lay three days
and nights without food and seemed ID
be unconscious most fthe time. Then
she broke her fast for day. This was
her habit from that time until Is days
ago. Then she began more sys-
tematic method of starving herself 10
death Once each day she would eat
sparingly of one portion of her food.
She complained that she could not eat
and thus hid her real intentions from
the Jail authorities.
Meanwhile her health grew worse.
Choice viands to tempt her appetite
were prepared by Mrs. Bayless, wife of
the jailer. Old fashioned remedies for
the ills she complained of were given
her but the woman refused to eat the
food or take the medicine. DR.. Nicoll,
the county physician, was called in
and left medicine for the woman which
she would not take.
This condition continued until Friday
when the condition of the woman be-
came such that she could no longer
bring herself to refuse aid. She took
the medicine left for her. Her mouth
had grown so sore that she could not
eat even the foods usually given
patient in such condition. 1t is believed
she realized. dimly, her condition, how
ever, and after brief effort to relieve
herself of the pain she must have suf-
fered, decided to carry out her attempt
to escape trial and prison sentence.
Lately her mouth and throat has
been so sore that she could not talk.
Even then her determination to die did
the physician who was called attempt
ed give her medicine he was compelled
to force her to swallow 1t.
Father F. NJ. Hayden, of the Church
of the Assumption, was called Saturday
night when the county physician was
raments of the Roman Catholic church
before the woman was taken to the
hospital. He stated at that time he
cid not think she would live until
morning.
Doctors Said She Was Shamming.
The beginning of the end came when
Mrs. Evans was locked up. Her death
was only a matter of time. Proud, al
though wayward. her shame at being
locked up was more than she could
bear. For several days she was in
semiconcioUs condition during which
she muttered that she was innocent,
that "Vtc' had made a tool of her,
that she was innocent of any wrong
doing in connection with the fire.
Then doctors said she was sham
ming Whether she was or not she
Gied and is not shamming now. On
doctors recommendations water was
thrown on her and every available
means known used in trying to force