Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-23
MISS CRAWFORD, IOWA SCHOOL
TEACHER, SOUGHT DEATH
TO Paw DEBTS.
PLANNED LIFE INSURANCE
WOULD PAY CREDITORS.
Woman Found on Prairie at Salem,
Wis, Dependent Because Suitable
Position Had Not Been Obtained
Sister at Missouri Valley clsar Up
Mystery.

Chicago, Sept. 2S.-MlSS EStuer
Crawford, the Iowa school teacher and
former instructor in Ames College,
who attempted suicide on the prairie
at Salem, Wis, planned to die that her
debts might be paid out of her life in
surance.
This statement was made in letters
given out Yesterday at Missouri Valley,
Iowa, by her sister. Mrs. Perrine Pur-
cell. and j. S. Devell, attorney. to
whom Miss Crawford detailed her ex-
traordinary scheme.
Last night Miss Crawford was taken
from the custody Of officials at Ken
osha, Wis, to the Pennoyer sanatorium.
on the north shore, by Marcus III. Taft,
her cousin and Chicago real estate
dealer living at 5123 South Sawyer
avenue.
Sister Comes to Aid.
Mrs Purcell left Missouri Valley last
night to come to Chicago to the aid
of her sister. Mrs. Purcell told of the
letters Miss Crawford wrote to her and
to Mr.. Devell
In these letters Miss Crawford an
nounced she intended killing herself
Sunday afternoon and planned to go
to Salem, believing that in such a
small town she would escape publicity.
She pointed out that she would re-
move everything by which she might
be identified by strangers and described
the garb in which she expected to die
so that there would be no difficulty
in collecting the insurance.
Miss Crawford sent her insurance
policy and an inventory of her debts
and obligations to Attorney Devell, in
structing him to see that all of her
obligations were discharged.
Mentions Two Deaths.
This letter casually remarked that
she was undecided whether to die by
drowning OF by opening her veins-the
latter course she decided upon.
The letter to the lawyer was regis
tered. BY rare chance he was in the
postoffice on Sunday when the mail
was received and the letter was de-
lIvered TO him twenty hours earl
fer than Il would have been in the
ordinary course Of events Devell hast
ened to send the message which failed
to prevent Miss Crawford$ attempt at
death.
Mrs Purcell has announced she will
take her sister home to live with her
at Missouri Valley when she has suf-
ficiently recovered.
Spsnt Summer in Evanston.
Miss Crawford spent the summer in
Evanston. She lived for a time at the
home OF Miss Kate Haddon at .1714
Chicago avenue, Evanston. Three
weeks ago she removed to Harmon
Terrace. at ITO Clark street. Evanston.
Al that place she wrote her farewell
letters. She left notes thanking sew
eral girls for kindnesses. She also
sent various trinkets to Miss Mary
Chichester. public librarian. at sos
Church street. Evanston. q friend
In Evanston It was said Miss Craw-
FORD had been Respondent because she
has been unable to find position to
her liking To women friends she spoke
Of unpleasantnesses that had arisen IN
offices where she worked with men.
Export Library CataIoguer.
Miss Crawford was an expert in IL
brary catalog work. For several years
she worked for the department Of agri-
culture at washington. Subsequently
she came to Chicago, where she held
various positions. among them place
ut the Chicago offices Of the 1nterna-
tional Harvester Company.
MISS Crawford did not know the Sc
cret Of her identity was out until when,
announcing the arrival Of Mr.. Taft,
her cousin, clerk stepped into the
parlor of the Jail at Kenosha and called
her by name.
80 you have found out" she said.
WHY did you not let me 90 my way,
and not let the world know anything
about it. It was Just the way Of q tired
out woman-l don't see why any one
else should be interested at all"