The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-30
GIRL TAKES LIFE S;
THIRD SUICIDE
IN FAMILY
brooding Over Deaths of Mother and
Brother, Both of Whom Killed
Selves, Alice Cronk Drinks Acid
In Palmer Park.
Police Puzzled Over Phone Message
From Man, Telling of Suicide Hours
Before Body Is Found.

brooding over the suicide OF her
mother and brother. Alice Cronk, q
years old, clerk in B. Siegel's store
ana boarding at No. 80 Burllngame-
ave-, ended her life by swallowing a
large quantity OF carbolic acid In the
northeast corner OF Palmer park some
time on Monday. She evidently
planned that she would not be inter
rupted In her attempt to kill herself,
Tor she crawled beneath some under
brush before taking the fatal dose. Her
body was found early In the evening
by two colored boys picking up wood.
They made the discovery while care
lessly prying into the underbrush. A
casual glance would not have revealed
the corpse and 1t might have lain there
many days. perhaps weeks. had not
the boys came across II accidentally.
There was nothing about the wo-
man to disclose her identity, and the
body was removed TO the county
morgue TO await claimant. The
body was neatly dressed and on the
underclothing was the laundry mark
Gro" This mark, Coroner Burgess
clerk, William Delaurier, was figuring,
Tuesday morning. might help TO re-
veal her Identity. when two women
stepped into the coroner's Office. They
were from Siegers store and said
they thought they could identify the
body OF the woman. When they
viewed the body II was evident from
their expression that they knew who
the victim was. However, they de-
clined to tell Mr.. Delaurier or any
body else who she was until her father
arrived. He was on his way to the
inorgue and would tell all about the
case, they said.
An hour or so later the father, SAM
uel d. Cronk, tobacco salesman, So
years old. boarding at No. 40 Mont
Calm-st. east, arrived at the county
building. For some reason or other
he wouldn't go inside. The women
who made the Identification talked
with him for some time, hut ne per.
sisted In remainin goutside, saying he
wished to wait for the arrival OF other
relatives. Finally, however. Mr.. De-
laurier insisted on knowing the name
Of the suicide and other particulars.
He so informed the women and adj
yiseG them that the father had better
come into his Office and give up the
facts. This stand had the desired
effect
To Mr.. Delaurier the father related
that he was not surprised that his
daughter had committed suicide.
"Alice has been suffering from a
nervous breakdown for some time"
ne said. "She has been brooding
tha ~ yhn
committed suicide Is years ago In
also worried over her brothers death.
lie committed suicide. Also year ago
in Chicago She often said she could
not live under the strain and without
her mother, and expected her to CON-
NIT suicide. A week ago she jumped
into the lake at Mt. Clemens and
nearly ended her life. She was pulled
out just in time to be saved. Alice and
her mother were always together
while mother lived and the death Of
the mother was terrible blow to the
daughter
The father said he would make ar
rangements to take care of the body.
lie told Mr.. Delaurier that Alice never
| had any love affair that he knew OF,
and that he was sure there was moth
! ing of the sort connected with her
suicide.
Alice was a pretty brunette and
was a prime favorite among her ac-
ouaintances, particularly those with
whom she worked In Siegeps One of
| the women who identified the body
said she was a good girl, conscien-
tious In her work and courteous to
her patrons.
In. connection with the suicide there
| is a feature which is making the au-
liberties do somes thinking. The care
taker of Palmer park says that man
called up on the phone Monday morn
| ing and said that woman had killed
herself In the north woods. He said
he was talking from place at Wood
kward.ave. and the Six-Mile-rd.. but re-
fused to give his name. The care
taker went over to the address given,
failed to find that anybody had
telephoned from there.
The man in charge Of the park ca
sipo says Miss Cronk borrowed the
class with which she quaffed the acid
4 from him about 10 o'clock Monday
morning. He thought she wanted 1t
| for the purpose OF getting drink and
Inc didn't hesitate to give 1t to her.
Tbe glass was found beside her, as
vas also the bottle from which the
kacid was taken.