Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-03
MRS. SOPHIA ZELLERs DRANK
cAR1oLlc ACID At SISTERS
HOME THIS MORNING
MELANCHOLIA CAUSE
Woman Has Been Despondent for
Some Months Past; Coroner Will
Hold NO Inquest, Having
Made Investigation

Mrs. Sophia Schwartz Zellers aged
| Sc years, committed suicide this morn
ing at the home of her sister, Mrs.
Frank Rowland, 1872 Ash street. by
drinking quantity of carbolic
acid. Melancholia, which had af-
| flicted the woman for some months
past, is thought to have been the
cause of her rash act. No arrange
ments for the funeral have been made.
| Mrs. Zellers came to the Rowland
home about 9 O'Clock. Removing her
wraps and placing her hand bag on
the table, she went through the house
to the rear door and thence to an out
building. Not the slightest suspicion
| was aroused. A few moments later her
little granddaughter, Beatrice Parker,
came running to the house and cried
that her grandma was locked in. When
relatives reached the building they
found the door locked from the inside.
When they forced it open, Mrs, Zellers
| was found almost unconscious. No
trace of any poison was found and it
| was not until physicians arrived that
| it was known what she had done.
Three physicians worked over the
dying woman, but in vain. When their
assistance was secured she could no
longer swallow and antidotes were i'm
| possible. At about 1890 o'clock she
passed away.
Had No Cause for Deed.
Investigation by Coroner Slaught
and information received from rela-
tives developed no cause for commit
ting the deed. She had been afflicted
for some time with dependency or
melancholia, seeming to worry at all
times and to have nothing Of any i'm
portance to worry over For the past
six months, states Coroner Slaught,
she had been taking care Of her SIS
ter, Mrs. Rowland, whose health had
been poorly. Last night she went to
her own home on Plum street to
straighten 1t up somewhat for her son
who was coming home from Chicago
to visit her. She remained at her own
home all night. 1t was learned by
Coroner Slaught that last evening she
came down town and purchased
dimes worth of carbolic acid, saying
she wanted it for disinfectant, She
also bought package of envelopes
She left no note and none Of her rela-
tives or friends have as yet received
any communication by mail from her
Her actions, when she reached the
Rowland home were not peculiar.
Will Hold No Inquest.
Coroner Slaught stated this morn
ing that he decided not to hold an in
quest as he deemed 1t unnecessary.
He arrived at the Rowland home be-
fore Mrs. Zel1ers passed away and
made his investigation. He was un-
able to find the acid bottle and is
therefor unaware of the quantity TAX
en- by the woman. From her purchase,
he believes that it must have been be-
tween one and two ounces.
Mrs. Zellers had lived in Ottumwa
for number of years. She leaves
three sons and one daughter, Harry
H. Schwartz, Walter H. Schwartz, Eos
ter Schwartz and Mrs. Nora Parker.
Foster and Walter reside in Chicago.
Three sisters and one brother also
survive, Mrs. Frank Rowland, Mrs.
George Heider of Cedar Rapids, Mrs
Will Jericho Of Mt. Pleasant and
James Beason of New London.