The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1912-03-04
DEATH BY CYANIDE or poTAS-
SUM OF MOTHER AND
CHILDREN.
IS SONS ACTION
Because Her Seventeen Year Old Boy
Started TO Go Wrong, Woman Who
Supported Family on Small Wages
Gives Up tho Fight for Life and
happincss-lettcr to Friends.

Salem, ore. March 3.-The tragedy
(which resulted I'm the death Of Mrs.
Il T. Jelllson ana her four little ones.
throug III tho instruirentality af cyanide
of potassium Administered by the
mother because she could not earn
enough money to keep the children
from want, hns been the talk of this
community today aud those who knew
Mrs. Jclison intimately were Obliged
to tell over and over again the story
Of the brave struggle She iad made
In the face of want and deprivation
which characterized the life of tho
4 family In recent months
Working In a cafeteria for $40
week. and assisted by her 17-year-old
! son by a former husband, the family
managed Ia get along somehow but
when the son. unable longer to stand
the struggle broke away from tho
/ home life the last straw was added 10
| the calamitcs of Mrs. Jellison and ier
/ little onpg, That the act of the boy,
/ Russell X. strong. yyas more than Mrs.
| Iclllson could bear. IL shown In the
letter which she sent to a friend Just
before She killed her little ones and
I herself The letter follows
/ inc Letter.
Remember all the time yon still
have "a work to do ] want you To do
me one more favor. Find the had
tRugselD and try To soften his heart
toward ,ne enough 80 that he VIII
heed my last wishes for his benefit.
want him 10 70 to school II always
was n grief To me. that | had TO keep
him out lie will need good friend.
I could wish he would go to tho
Oregon Agricultural college.
II pray YOU do not grieve for MS.
You must live to watch over your own.
I've done what little ! could To help
YOU over the rnts. | wish I need not
have given you this blow | cannot
help t. When i've been cross with
you lately II was To- keep from break
Ing down. Forgive me and be good
and don't worry. II is only another
pebble crushed beneath the iron heel.
MY lad has gone quite away down.
pray something may happen to stop
him ana send him up Then. indccd.
my life and death viii not have been
In vain. Remember | told you would
remind you of your promise 10 help
me If asked. | ask YOU To be kind
to Russell and not fret over any OF
us. | have appreciated your friend
ship even II did scold ] wish YOU
the best of success ana thank you for
an YOU have done for me"
This was written In Ink. Tho next
addition To the letter ~ In pencil.
BE strong and forgive me tho
shock Had | been able Ia think of
any way To get out of this without
shocking anyone I would have dono
So could not raise tho money to
get any place. ! am not able to work
ard | cannot SIT here and go through
what we did once and know all the
time of TINT gnaWlng misery for Rus
sell Poor boy. II only | might have
bIdden him gedspeed. You would not
make II easy for me- but of course.
you are right. I fear ! cannot hold
out, but | must Try. ! cannot leave
them 10 face alone what | have tried
so bard 10 do and ! have failed
falod And | was stronger than any
nf them. No, ] cannot leave them here,
but woe is me, 10 have TO send them
home At least they are innocent.
"'rime Is passing and | must 80 to
work, i',m. a, God, have mercy.
have prayed for some other way but
A.