Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-06
Left Family Gathering to Kill
Herself in Bathroom.
NO KNOWN CAUSE FOR DEED
Sixteen-Year-Old Alta Bransom Had
No Love Affair.
MOTHER FINDS HER; FAMTS
Parents and Relatives Were Enjoy
ing Music in Parlor, When Girl
Went Upstairs.

While the festivities Of family reunion
were at their height last night at the
home OF William 8. Bronson. 1909 c
street northeast, his sixteen-year-old
daughter. Alta z. Bransom, quietly slip
ped out of the dining room, went to the
bathroom and committed suicide by in
haling illuminating gas. She was dead
when found.
The funeral services will be held to-
morrow afternoon at her late home. Inter-
ment will be In Rock Greek cemetery.
Rev. George A. Miller pastor of the
Ninth Street Christian Church. Of which
Miss Bransom was a member. will con-
duct the services.
Left Family Gathering to Die.
sister and several relatives were en-
joying themselves in the parlor of the
home. early In the evening, singing songs
and listening to music by several men,
bers Of the party. Later they went to
the dining room.
About that time the young girl said she
was going upstairs. but would return IN
a few minutes. After time her father
noticed that she had not returned and
asked his wife where the daughter was
Mrs. Bransom, believing her daughter
had become Ill. went to the second floor
to look for her. As she reached the land
ing she detected the odor OF gas
but could not find her. Returning to the
hallway, she followed the odor of the es-
Gaping gas to the rear of the house.
When she reached the bathroom she
her husband and then fell into faint on
the floor.
Attempts to Revive Girl.
Mr. Bransom. accompanied by his SON
in-law. Henry II. Fry, a policeman OF the
fourth precinct, ran upstairs. Policeman
Fry forced open the bathroom door.
The girl was lying on the floor. Her
father picked her up and carried her into
an adjoining room. Artificial respiration
was attempted.
In the meantime a telephone message
had been sent TO Casualty Hospital The
ambulance, in charge of DR.. kilgore and
DR.. Boch, made quick run TO the house
The surgeons placed the young girl In
the ambulance. While the driver kept his
horse galloping to the hospital they ap-
piled artificial respiration.
At the hospital several other surgeons
assisted in the work After more than
| an hour II was declared she was dead.
DR.. G. 8. White. deputy coroner. was
notified and issued q certificate of death
by suicide.
Father Unable to Explain.
Mr.. Bransom. employed In the auditors
Office OF the Post once Department. stat
ed today he could give no reason why
| his daughter had taken her life.
She had everything she wanted, and
seemed just as happy as she could be-"
ne said. she was but a child. hardly
In her sixteenth year. and had studied for
two years at the Business Hin School. She
thought that she had acquired enough
education at the school and obtained a
position In q downtown ONCE with the
| to complete her studies. She was getting
along well at her place OF employment
and only recently told me she was to be
promoted soon"
Mr. Bransom said further that his
daughter had no love affairs and that she
had not left q note or anything else 10
indicate why she took her life