Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-11-25
Wagging Tongues Cause Lit
tie IL Year Old Ruth Fish
er to Shoot Herself.
BURDEN TOO HEAVY
Parentless Child Is Unable
to Stand Jeers of School
mates Any Longer.

Chicago, Nov, 25.-Ruth Camilla
Fisher knew country wherein her
beauty was specie of the realm. 1t was
bounded by the ninth and twelfth
birthdays. Its inhabitants consisted Of
Fritz, an adoring dachschund. papa"
who was a member Of the school board
and great man, and innumerabIe
gruff little boys, who, ostensibly ig-
norant of her observation, spat
through vacant front teeth and turned
gorgeous somersaults for her admira-
ton. She was happy and the jealous
green complexion Of the feminine part
OF her world bothered her not at all.
And unexpectedly Ruth came sing
ing across the borders of her ain coun-
tree to the alien land of knowledge
and establishment. Though she knew
she came from God, it was gradually
borne upon her that her girl-mother
wandered little way on the path OF
the Magdalenes.
SOclal tresnasseEs
She was an interloper who had no
gospel sanction in the world, no visible
parents other than foster father and
a foster mother. Perfectly respectable
little girls began to inform her so with
self-righteous airs and with the ex-
pertness of surgeons to dissect her
from the social scheme that governs
ss-wants-a-corner with the same
iron rule that in later life determines
who shall be asked to play bridge and
who shall be outlawed.
Your parents aren't your own
was the taunt that Ruth heard from
playmates. Some of the little girls
added the poison of sympathy TO the
information. And Ruth Camilla Fish
er at IL found herself stranger In
a strange land.
She Shoots Herself.
She extradited herself Tuesday night
with a revolver shot in the temple. In
the yard back of her foster parents
home at 1919 West Twenty-fifth street,
Cicero. with one arm around the loyal
Fritz, she had put the revolver 10 her
head and had pressed the trigger.
You needn't bring my lunch to
school tomorrow. she told Ethel
Greenfield on Tuesday afternoon, when
they were on the way home from
school I'm going TO shoot myself to-
night"
Ethel told her mother, but Mrs.
Greenfield said that she thought it
childish nonsense and paid no atten-
ton TO ii.
Ethel had talked herself of suicide,
and 1 put it down to romantieism, =
Mrs. Greenfield said,
Il knew Ruth was going TO do it.
She was determined, said little Ethel
with the triumphant air OF prophet
indicated
Method in Her Plans.
Ruth went home after school. She
played double solitaire with Mrs. Emil
Fisher. her foster mother, while Mr..
Fisher, member Of the school board,
was attending a meeting.
AT 8 O'clock Ruth yawned and said:
Fudge am going to bed She went
to Mr.. Fishers room, procured his re-
volver. and went quietly downstairs.
II am going to give Fritz some exer-
else, she called to Mrs Fisher. A few
minutes later Mrs. Fisher heard two
shots, ten or fifteen seconds apart She
ran into the yard and. directed by the
whining of the daehschund. found her
little foster daughter Neighbors who
had heard the shots also ran In. and
Ruth was carried to the house She
died few minutes later without re-
gaining consciousness.
forked Tongues Barred.
None of the school children who
made Ruth's life too great a burden
will be permitted to attend the funeral
today. And Emil Fisher. the chslds
foster father, said he would never
again be a candidate for the office of
! school trustee.
Because OF the act OF little Ruth
could never face the children again
and regard them in the same light" he
said. Il want no hand in shaping
isehool work after this.
------
King Joins American Relief.