Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-22
EYES FAILING,
WOMAN IN FEAR
TAKES OWN LIFE
REGISTERS AT HOTEL AND
SWALLOWS POISON
MAKES CERTAIN OF DEATH BY
USING cHLoRoFoRM
Miss Mae Callahan, Employed by the
Western Union at San Ber-
nardino, Prefers Death
to Blindness

After suffering intense agony for
several hours, Miss Mae Callahan,
manager of the Western Union Tele-
graph branch office in San Bernar-
dino, died in the matron's department
at central police headquarters last
night from the effects of poison taken
with suicidal intent in a room at Ho-
tel Nadeau.
Dependency because she believed
her eyesight was failing and she would
have to relinqush her position at San
Bernardino is the only reason ad-
vanced for the suicide.
Miss Callahan took the contents of a
box of rat poison, saturated a towel
with two ounces of chloroform, placed
the towel over her face, and, lying
on the bed, awaited DEATH
An employe of the hotel passing the
room noticed the pungent odor of
chloroform, and believing that some
thing was wrong, when his repeated
knocks on the door failed to bring any
response, notified the hotel manager.
The room was entered and Miss Cal
lahan was found unconscious.
At the receiving hospital heroic
treatment was given, and for a time it
was thought the woman had a fair
chance of recovery. She regained con-
sciousness and stated she was dis
couraged, as her eyesight was failing,
despite the fact she had consulted
many specialists in the past few
months.
When conscious she deplored her act
and piteously begged the police sur
geons to save her life. Shortly before
she died she dictated a telegram to
her cousin, Miss Clara Stoddard, of
San Bernardino, asking the latter to
come to Los Angeles and care for her
during the sickness. She lapsed into
unconsciousness and soon expired.
Registers at Hotel
Miss Callahan registered at the Ho-
tel Nadeau yesterday afternoon under
the name of M. Cameron, San Diego,
engaging room for one day. She car
ried no baggage except a hand bag,
and was not seen again until found in
her room.
That she had carefully planned sui
eide was evident. Yesterday morning
she sent a dispatch to F. H. Lamb,
superintendent of the Western Union
Telegraph company of Los Angeles,
asking if she could be relieved, as she
had received word relative had died
in Redlands, ard was anxious to at
tend the funeral. The request was
granted and a substitute was sent
from Los Angeles to take her place.
Superintendent Lamb last night was
surprised to learn Miss Callahan had
ended her life. "She sent dispatch
to me this morning." said Mr. Lamb,
stating a relative had died and ask
ing permission to take the day off and
attend the funeral in Redlands. AS
was anxious to learn when she would
return to dut~- a dispatch was for
warded to the local operator at Red
lands to see if Miss Callahan could be
located and to ascertain when she
would report for duty. The reply
from Redlands was that Miss Gala
han was not located. Inquiry at her
lodging house, San Bernardino, did not
give any information but what we
had, to the effect she had gone to Red
Glands to attend a funeral. OF course,
subsequent events prove that this was
but a pretext to get away quietly
without arousing suspicion. Miss Cal.
lahan was a trusted employe and her
work as manager of the office at San
Bernardino has been performed faith
fully and her accounts kept accu-
rately."
In her pocketbook were number of
dispatches and cards with the address
525 Union avenue, San Bernardino, but
no farewell message of any kind.
Miss Callahan was 32 years old. The
body was sent to Bresee Bros under
taking rooms, where an inquest will be
held this morning