Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-15
DEATH BY POISON
BROUGHT GRIEF TO
THIS COMMUNITY
MRS. CHARLES COWLES TOOK
OWN LIFE BY DRINKING
JESSAMINE

The sudden death Of Mrs. Charles
Cowles from taking poison admins
tered by her own hand Sunday fore
noon at her home on East State street,
was a distinct shock TO her many
friends in this city and also in the
Brink district and neighborhood where
she resided as child and attended
school.
Mrs. Cowles was the daughter of
Mrs. Lena Golf, who resides at the
home Of Scott Howe in Orleans, to-
gether with her mother, Mrs. Patter-
son. On Sunday Mrs. Patterson who
had been visiting her granddaughter
here in the city for a week or more,
left the house and started to walk
home. She had only gone a short dis
tance before Clara Rivenburgh, who
was also there called to her to hurry
back as Mrs. Cowles had taken poison.
Miss Rivenburgh says that Mrs.
Cowles wanted her grandmother to let
Mr.. Cowles take her home in an auto
noble, which he said he would do and
left the house to go over to his faith
er's garage for the machine. For
some reason Mrs. Patterson did not
wait for him and shortly after she
left the house Mrs. Cowles went to the
cupboard and took bottle containing
poison and quickly put it to her mouth
and swallowed some of its contents.
She also attempted to turn some of it
into a cup, but Miss Rivenburgh
knocked it out of her hands and then
ran out of doors to overtake Mrs. Pat
terson, calling her to come back as
Hazel had taken poison. She also hur-
ried quickly to the garage and in
formed Mr.. Cowles. The effects of the
poison which was found to be fluid ex-
tract of yellow jessamine, was fast do
ing its deadly work, although every
thing possible was done for her by
those who quickly came to her assist
ance. Doctor Stanton was called and
when he arrived her stomach was to
paralyzed from the effects of the
draught that it would not respond to
his treatment. DR.. Dutt was also cal
led and their combined efforts to over
come the poison was fruitless. The
last words she spoke was in a parox-
ism of convulsions, IL can't BREATHE
She died about two o'clock p. M, four
hours after taking the fatal dose.
The grief of her husband was pitt
able, he declaring he would end his life
dlSO anu IL 10 DelltNtu OHly pItCduIlOfl-
airy measures kept him from doing so.
Mr. and Mrs. Cowles were married
less than a year ago. He has been
working at threshing with his father,
Spencer Cowles, recently Mrs. Cowles,
who was ambitious, wanted to assist in
securing a home and worked for
time in the city hospital.
The ounce bottle containing the Ii
quid which put an end to her young
life, was purchased several months
ago at Connell"s drug store. A drop
or two being used occasionally for re-
lieving headaches.
1t is believed by DR.. Stanton that in
a moment of temper and severe men
tai strain, as a result of some misun-
with her grandmother
over family affairs, that without
thought of the tragic ending she took
the potion, although she declared she
wanted to die.
Mrs. Cowles, formerly Hazel Golf,
was much loved by all who knew her,
and especially in the community where
she lived and attended school. The
funeral at the home Tuesday after
noon was very largely attended, Rev.
w. f. Doty officiating, and Mr.. Clay
ton Knapp and his sister Mrs. Luther
Berry sang. Amid a profusion of flow
ers the casket was borne to the Smyr-
ma cemetery for burial.