The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-12
AFFLICTED WOMAN
DRIVEN TO SUICIDE
Fearing That She Had Pellagra,
Mrs. Virsie Heath Drinks
Poison.
RECENTLY LEFT HOSPITAL
Unconscious in Cellar When
Found by Father After
Long Search.
RECENTLY LEFT HOSPITAL

Afflicted as she believed with pei
laGra. and having been respondent
over her condition ever since she left
the Memorial Hospital two months ago.
Mrs. Virgie Heath. thirty-three years
old. widow of w. J. Heath. committed
suicide at 10 o'clock yesterday morn
ing in the home of her father G.. b.
Baker 5i7 North Twenty second Street.
by swallowing large dose of carb Ollie
acid. Coroner Taylor, who was noti-
fed pronounced II n clear case of sui
eide.
Members of the family when inter
viewed. were prone to discuss the case
as little possible. and declared that
they did not know whether Mrs. Heath
committed suicide or whether she
swallowed the poison accidentally
Expected mt Hospital Again.
Mrs. Heath. 1t was stated had been
a patient in the Memorial Hospital
for four or five weeks. and had left
about TWO months ago But she was
to have returned within a few DAYS
10 unders" another operation, and this
is believed TO have proved on her mind.
According TO members of her family.
she had appeared more or less de-
mented ever since malignant erup-
lions had appeared on one Of her
hands and spread partly up her arm.
Three physicians were called in, and
DR.. William A. MCGOWAN. II was said
had made a thorough examination of
the skin eruption and had decided that
Mrs. Heath was not suffering from the
strange, fatal disease But her appa-
rent dementla had increased in the
past few days. and. though not CON
fined to her he'd. she was under con
slant watch by her father and other
members of the family
AT times she was said to be entirely
unconscious of what she was doing
and every precaution was taken to
prevent her from doing bodily harm TO
herself,
Found in Cellar.
When In the proper possession Of
her faculties Mrs. Heath was in the
habit of performing household duties
which fell to her lot, and yesterday
morning. when she was out of her
fathers sight for a while. she was
supposed to be performing some little
household work. Only G. b Baker.
her father. was in the house at the
time He missed her, and looked for
her in the back yard. Failing 10 fni
her there, he called over to the home
of Mrs. ]. f Eubank. 52l North Twen
ty-second street. where Mrs Heath
often called He was informed that
she was not there
After searching everywhere else. no
looked into the cellar, and there ter
rible sight met his eyes His daugh
ter was lying unconscious on the floor
and an empty bottle and the appear
| ance OF her lips told him the story
Could Render No Aid.
Calling neighbors to his help. he
raised the unconscious form OF his
daughter and carried her into the
house. His son arrived shortly after
wards. and calls were everywhere sent
for physicians. DR.. B. a Hord was
among the first to arrive. But the doc
tor was too late. II had been SO long
since the young woman had swallowed
the poison that medical attention could
afford 10 help. She died without re-
gaining consciousness
The suicide was apparently not con-
templated. for Mrs Heath left no let
ter. Her continued illness is believed
to have preyed ON her mind. and the
pronouncement OF several physicians
that she was afflicted with peSlagra
is supposed TO have increased her nerv-
Gus condition.
Mrs. Heath's husband died about four
years ago. leaving no issue She ia
survived by her father. one brother
and two sisters. The funeral arrange
ments have not yet been made.