Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-23
life Is OFFERED
To SETTLE DEBTS
Last Hope Placed by Miss Es-
Their Crawford in Insur-
ance She Carried.
ATTORNEY IS SENT NOTE
Suicide Sought as Only Way Out for
Tired Women-Found UHcon-
scious on Prairie.

Chicago. Ill, Sept 23.-Miss Esther
Crawford who attempted suicide on
the prairie at Salem. Wis. planned to
die that her debts might be paid out OF
her life insurance.
This statement was made In letters
given out yesterday at Missouri Val
ley. Iowa. by her sister. Mrs. Perrine
Purcell. and ]. 8. Devell. attorney. to
whom Miss Crawford detailed her eN-
traordinary scheme.
Last night Miss Crawford was taken
from the custody of officials at Keno
sha- Wis. TO the Pennoyer sanitarium.
on the north shore. by Marcus II. Taft,
her cousin. and a Chicago real estate
dealer living at 5123 South Sawyer
avenue. Mr.. Taft learned of his cous-
ms plight yesterday through newspa-
per accounts and departed at once for
Kenosha- He said she would be kept
at the sanitarium until she had recov-
cred strength and poise.
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.. DevelI-
In these letters Miss Crawford an
nounced she intended killing herself
Sunday afternoon and planned TO go
TO Salem. believing that in such q
small town she would escape publicity.
She pointed out that she would remove
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 Deyell, in
structing him to see that all of her OBJ
legations were discharged.
Mentions Two Deaths.
This letter casually remarked that
she was undecided whether to die by
drowning or 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 deliv-
cred to him twenty-four hours earlier
than II would have been in the ordin-
airy course Of events. Devell FASTENED
to send the message which failed TO
prevent Miss Crawford's attempt az
death.
Mrs. Purcell has announced she will
take her sister home TO live with her
at Missouri Valley when she has suffi- /
GENTLY recovered.
Spent Summer in Evanston.
Miss Crawford spent the summer in |
Evanston She lived for a time at the |
home OF Miss Kate Haddon at 17I4 /
Chicago avenue, Evanston. Three |
weeks ago she removed TO Harmon /
Terrace, at 40 Clark street. Evanston. /
At that place she wrote her farewell !
letters. She left notes thanking sew
eral girls for kindnesses. She also !
sent various trinkets TO Miss Mary I
Chidester. public librarian. at sos
Church street. Evanston, a friend.
In Evanston II was said Miss Craw- !
ford had been respondent because she !
has been unable to find a position to !
her liking. To women friends she I
spoke OF unpleasantnesses that had
arisen in Offices where she worked I
with men.
Miss Crawford was an expert in IT, 4