The evening world., 1911-12-04
Unsuccessful in Art Work,
Lonely Young Widow
Takes Poison.
PHONES DOCTOR NEWS.
"l've Taken Poison" She
Says Over Wire-ln Hos
pital, May Recover.

In q small. coz apartment at No. ia
West Thirteenth street . pathetic little
tragedy was enacted. when it, solitary
and lonely occupant. Mrs. Maud Knapp.
a young widow. attempted to kill her
self by swallowing strychnine. For q
year the little art student. full OF In
billion and hope. struggled pitifully to
make a name for herself with her little
water colors and pom sketches. The
walls Of the little nat we're silent wit
nesses to her many and untaring ef-
forts. But she made no Roadway. so
she had to seek employment, that she
might live. She obtained q position in
the book department at John Wanna
makers.
That Mrs. Knapp 10 we'll connected
Is apparent to-day by the number Of
relatives who have visited st. Vincent's
Hospital. where she 10 battling with
death. Three elderly women. .G~orgeous1y
gowned. remained all morning al the
hospital. waiting to see her. One of
these women admitted she was a sister
OF Mrs. Knapp and tho others that they
were relatives. but all were indignant
when asked their names n why Mrs.
Knapp had attempted to Kill herself.
Beside the three women. who refused
to divulge their names even to the hos
pital authorities, two men, n who said
he was a brother and gave his name as
Woodman. and q brother-in-law. DR..
+. r. Bailey. OF No. 1165 East Jersey
street, Elizabeth. N. J., called at the
hospital to-day. II Mrs. Knapp re.
covers. her relatives are planning to
send her to . sanitarium.
Mrs. Knapp's husband committed sui
eide, about . yea ago. in this city. I'm
mediately afterward she took q three
room apartment In the Grstchsll apart
mentb on Thirteenth street. It was neal
| Wanamaksr's md she could walk &c
work every morning and savs carfare.
The little nat. In which she loved ant
painted alone. show wed the utmost re-
finement and artistic taste. Everywhere
was the delicate. dainty touch Of thu
artist. The walls were covered with
etchings and little water colors Mrs
Knapp had painted herself.
But ak months her health begai
to break. Tho long hours On her fee
In the book department began 10 tell
She knew her health was failing n
that she was losing the battle. II wa,
then she went to DR.. J. w. Travell Of
No. 27 East Eleventh street. lie pre-
scribed a tonic that contained strych'
nine for a stimulant. II was this che
took in her effort to kill herself.
She never complained to anybody. AZ
late as Saturday night. Mr.. Henry v.
Verchereau. who lives In the same
apartment house. met her and she gave
him her usual CHEEKY greeting. The
next time he saw her she was on 'ht
foor of her sitting room. writhing IN
agony from h poison she had swal-
lowed.
At the department store to-day the
girls who were associated with her
could tell little about her life. but they
said she had intimated many time,
within the past few weeks that she Ia
tired of living" When she left the
store last Saturday night she seemed In
better spirits than usual.
DR.. Ravell was Just leaving his ONCE
last night at 6 o'clock when the tele-
phone rang.
Doctor" said a gasping voice ovel
tho phone. this 10 Mrs. Knapp. I-I-hav'
taken poison"
Her voice died away in Q whisper ant
ne heard no more.
When he reached her apartment. Mr.
V~erchereau and a hallboy who had beer
summoned by Mrs. Knapp were work
Ing over her, trying to bring her bacl
to consciousness.
The doctor found a small box which
had contained tablets. There were still
some left. Mrs. Knapp had taken wha,
she thought was enough to kill her
This morning Mrs. Knapp refused 70
ak to any n at the hospital. and
when asked why she tried to Kill her
self. only smiles and shakes her head.