Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-06
BEAUTIFUL GIRL, IN
TERROR At ARREST,
SWALLOWS POISON
Miss Donna Harding Dies in Re-
ceiving Hospital Despite
Efforts of Surgeons
ACCUSED OF INCoRRIGIBILITY
Tragedy Sequel Of Relatives Et-
fort to Save Her from
Maynard Life

KvIRTD Of q life OF aimless WANDER
ing, and made desperate by her
Il arrest as an incorrigible, MISS
Donna Juanita Harding. II years DID,
beautiful girl, by a clever ruse yester-
dav afternoon eluded the vigilance OF
Detectives Hosick and Zeigler, and un-
der a pretense of getting extra elo.n- n,.s
ing before accompanying the oIncers'
entered the closet of her room IN tne
Poinsettla lodging house, 612 South
Spring street, drank the contents Oh
two-ounce phlal OF carboic acld anu
died an hour later In the receiving
hospital. -.
Miss Harding came to California sew
eral years ago from chicago. Her Ia
ther died when she was child, ana
later her mother remarked. she be
came dissatisfied with home life, and
her mother sent her to Long Beach TO
live with relatives.
Later she came to Los Angeles and
made her home with ]. c. Lamasters'
3542 South Flower street. Mrs. Lamas-
ters is her cousin, and looked arter
the young woman's welfare.
WANTED TO BE A NURSE
Miss Harding was spirited young
girl, and was not satisfied TO remain
idle She had an ambition 10 becoiie
ployed in taking care of young child
Her beauty attracted admirers, and she
was compelled to give up her posltlon
because of being annoyed by the atten-
tions of young men In the neighpor-
hood.
1t was not until Miss Harding began
TO arrive at the homo of her cousin at
early morning hours that the Iat,er
began TO have misgivings as TO tne
conduct of her cousin. She PLEADED
with the young girl to change her man
ner of living, but to no avail. t1nally
Miss Harding left her home ana TOOK
apartments downtown.
Mrs. Lamasters. feeling her RESPONSE
bility as to the conduct OF the young
woman implored her husbanu 10 EN-.
ploy means TO keep Miss Harding from
evil associates. Yesterday morning
T.amasters, who is an old man, went To
Judge, Wilbur and explained the situa-
tion Judge Wilbur advised him TO
swear to a complaint charging the
Young woman with being incorrigible'
Iamasters did as he was advised,
ana the warrant for the arrest of Miss
Harding was placed In the hands or
Detectives Hosick and Zeigler. The de-
tectives also were told that MISS HARD
inc had been seen in the company or
and was supposed to be living with
Miss Mildred McNulty, telephone op-
orator, who lived with her 1ather'
James McNulty, at 1444 West Twenty
second street. 80,
THE detectives, having a description
of the two girls, traced them around
town for several hours. and finally saw
them enter room 20 In the Poinsettla.
The officers followed them Into the
room and found the two young women
alone.
detective Zeigled read the warrant to
having
10 take into custody Miss McNulty, told
the latter that she also was under ar
rest.
TAKES POISON IN CLOSET
Miss McNulty burst into tears and
went bitterly for few moments. She
then recovered her composure ana
asked Zeigler to get her suit case ana
assist her in packing her clothing.
Miss Harding, on the other hand, ap-
peared cool and collected. She told
Hosiclk to get her suit case and open 1t,
while she went into the closet 10 get
her kimono.
ing took her handbag. which was lying
on the bed, and entered the closet, sew
eral feet away from the officers, VINO
had their backs turned toward her. She
stepped out of the closet with the kl-
mono in her hand, laid the garment IN
front OF the Objects anu aoAou sAAS4.s -
place it in the suit case. The girl then
began to stagger, and pressed a hand
kerchief to her lips.
Miss McNulty saw that something
was wrong, and detecting the odor OF
carbolic acid. told the officers that Miss
Harding probably had taken poison.
Miss Harding fell unconscious on the
bed. one Of the ofncers theh SUM
moned a taxicab, and the two young
women were hurried to the receiving
hospital
do hut despite their efforts the girl
died a short time after she was placed
in the womens ward.
Miss McNulty became hystertcaI
when informed of the death of her
friend and wept bitterly Later she
repained her composure and told her
story of the affair.
"I met Miss Harding about five years
ago at Long Beach," said Miss McNul-
ty. "She told me that she was unable
to get along with her stepfather. ana
came west to live with relatives She
always seemed to be a good girl, and
when we came to Los Angeles she
earned money by nursing.
''IJp to Saturday night I was en-
nloyed as an operator by the Pacific
Telephone company. Our home was
about to be broken up by reason of my
aunt going east, and my father, VINO
is a salesman for the Orange Belt EN-
porium at Pomona, wanted me to go
70 that place to live. We quarreled
about the matter, and Miss Harding,
who had passed the previous night with
me and | left the house and registered
at the Poinsettia rooming house in
South Spring street"
when I,amasters was notified of the
natter he hurried to the receiving hos
nitaI and reached there just after Miss
Harding had died.
The body Of the young woman was
removed to the undertaking establish
ment of Pierce Brothers, and the coro-
ner probably VII ho,Sg sign ,ndnsst OF
Miss McNulty was detained, and her
case probably will be taken up in the
Juvenile court, she being but II years
of age.