The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-04
16-YEAR-OLD GIRL DIES OF POISONING Miss Thelma Schwend Drinks CarbOlic Acid LIVED IN WEST END Forgive Me for Doing This" Were Her Last Words-The Funeral
 Services Will Be Held
 Today
LIVED IN WEST END

Forgive me for doing this" were the last words of Miss Thelma Schwend. aged 16 years, as she fell unconscious by her sisters side about :45 o'clock Saturday night at the family residence IS Walnut street, West End pr. H. A. Mckinnon of 1412 Tuscaloosa avenue was immediately summoned and later Dr. M c. Schoolar of 1207 Tuscalosa avenue was called. Both physicians de- cided following the death of the young girl at 2.25 o'clock yesterday morn ing that death was due to carbolic acid poisoning"
 The suicide of Miss Schwend was kept quiet, the attending physician be- ing asked not to allow the tragedy to become public Coroner Charles L. Spain was not notified of the death and the police were not called It was generally given out that the girl had died from 'heart trouble" and at the undertaking rooms of Lige Loy's the cause of the death was given as appendicitis"
 When queried by an Age-Herald re- porter about the rumors that Miss Thelma Schwend had committed suicide, pr. H. A. McKinnon said:
 T was called to the Schwend home about 12 o'clock Saturday night to at tend Thelma Schwend, who was lying on the bed unconscious. In treating the girl the cause of her condition was told to me by members of the family. I was told that about 15 minutes pre- vious Immediately after her friend had left Miss Schwend had come to her sisters room and muttered something about feeling very faint. Her sister hastened to get sponge full of cold water and bathed the younger girls face. Her last words before she be- came unconscious were forgive me for doing this, and these words were coupled with the fact that an empty carbolic acid bottle was found and that the diagnosis of pr. Schooar and myself was that the girl died of car bolic poisoning. points to suicide.
 "Following the death of the girl at 2:25 o'clock in the morning l endeav- ored to notify Coroner Spain, but was not able to reach him by telephone. The Schwend family asked me not to make the matter public and as I could not see any good reason for refusing their request, I said nothing"
 Dr. M. c. Scholars statement was to the effect that he was called in con sultation with Dr. McKinnon about 1 o'cock yesterday morning and that in his opinion the girl had died of carbolic acid poisoning.
 "Yes, she died of carbolic acid poison ing, said pr. Scholar, that was the diagnosis of pr. McKinnon and myself. As to whether it was a case of suicide, do not know; I refer you to pr. McKin- non"
 At the residence of Mrs Estelle Schwend, IS Walnut street. West End. | 1t was denied that Thelma Schwend had died from carbolic acid poisoning. It was stated that the girl had died from heart trouble.
 Miss Schwend was one of the prettiest girls of the younger set in West End, and her tragic death caused a distinct shock to her large number of friends. Funeral services will be conducted from the family residence this afternoon at I2 o'clock. Interment will follow in
 Elmwood cemetery The Rev. D. c. McNutt will officiate at the services. The deceased is survived by her parents and three sisters. Neither the police nor detective departments or Coroner Charles l.. Spain are yet cognizant of the death of Miss Schwend.