Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-08-07
Newport

News came to Newport from
Waldport Sunday morning that
Esther Mitchell Berry. wife of
James X. Berry. was dead. The
investigation of the coroner's jury
showed the following facts: On
Saturday evening at the Berry
home, about $50 the family. con-
sisting of James Berry, Mrs. Berry,
Mrs. Cora Hartley and Kenneth
Berry the eight year old son of Mr..
Berry, were at the table. There
was nothing unusual occurred in the
family. Mrs. Berry was cheerful
and apparently happy. After sup
per Mr.. Berry went down to town,
and Mrs Berry helped with the
dishes and also helped to dress
couple of chickens for dinner the
next Gay. At $50 Mrs. Berry
went to her bedroom up stairs and
about II o'clock Mrs. Hartley
heard noise up stairs as though
someone was in distress. She went
up stairs and found Mrs. Berry
living on the bed under the covers
and in her night clothes. in
spasm. Mrs. Hartley asked what
she could do for her and Mrs.
Berry said, Nothing" Mrs.
Hartley then tried to turn her on
her side and Mrs. Berry said. "You
hurt me; let me CO." and immcdi-
ately expired. The corOner's jury
found the body rigid, the arms
drawn up on the breast and the
fingers clenched; lower limbs ex.
tended and rigid; ewes. pupils con-
tracted and glaring; BODY warm.
face and hands red On the stand
table two feet from the bed. with
a lamp burning on it, was found an
empty bottle that had contained
one dram go grains) uf strychnine
with the cork out. A glass with
some undissolyed crystals of strych-
nine in il ard it appeared as though
water had been used to dissolve
the strychnine 1t was evident
from the condition of the sbody and
the empty bottle Of strychnine on
the table that Mrs. Berry had
coolly and calmly planned to take
her own life. 1t could not be
ascertained where she got the pois-
on or how much was in the bottle.
Strychnine is very fatal poison, is
quickly absorbed and if taken in
sufficient quantity the respiratory
muscles are paralzyed and death
occurs in very short time. In
strychnine poisoning the muscles
twitch. tine limbs jerk. violent con-
vllsions set in. the limbs are rigid
and death soon occurs. Mrs. Hart
ley gave the alarm and soon Mrs.
O. V. Hurt came and other neigh
bors and friends, after Mrs. Berry
had passed away. Mrs. Berry was
parolled from the Steilacoom Asy-
lam several years ago and placed
in care of o. V. Hurt. who was ap-
uointed her guardian. While in
his care she was treated as one of
the family everything being done
done to make her feel at home and
happy. She was a woman VI
nervous sanguine temperament. of
refined, retiring disposition had
had very impressible tempera-
ment. She was 26 years old last
January. On recommendation of a
physician the parole was removed
and about two and a half months
ago Miss Mitchell was married in
Newport to James X. Berry and
they afterwards went to Waldport
to make their home. Within the
last few months Mrs. Berry COM
planned of feeling i'll and it was
noticed by her friends that she was
failing in health and losing flesh.
The funeral services were held at
the home Of the deceased, conduc-
ted by Rev. Cook. pastor of the
Presbyterian church at Waldorf,
and the interrment took place at
the Fern Ridge Cemetery. Many
beautiful floral offerings we're
placed upon her grave by friends
and many ttars were shed by those
who knew her best. She is eur
vived By two brothers, Perry Mitch
ell, who lives at Ocean View, a
brother In Portland. and a sister,
Mrs. Dana Starr, who also lives at
Ocean View, and her husband.
On last Saturday G. w. Pear
mine. with five or six other per-
sons, while crossing Schooner creek,
near the mouth Of Silctz river, in
n boat, fell dead. II seems he was
padding the boat with a hoard and
without warning fell down in the
boat and expired instantly. lie was
standing up when the atta.k took
him. The body was brought to
Newport Saturday night by friend
and neighbor w. w. Beardeley.
The body was cmbalmed and sent
out Sunday evening to be buried at
Salem. Mr.. Pearmine was a well