South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-20
MRS. BESSIE MURRAY
ATTEMPTS TO END LIFE
Separation From Husband and
Dependency Said to Be
Cause Of Deed.

DespOndent because OF domestic
difficulty with her husband. Mrs.
Bessie Murray. wife Of William
MACE Murray. a laborer at the
Dodge Co, swallowed more than an
ounce of combination of creosote
and carbOlic acid about AIS o'clock
yesterday afternoon with suicide in
tent at the home OF Jesse Matchette,
112 +. Third St, where she room
ed. A physician was hastily sum-
moned and an antidote was admin
istrated, which may save the wOm-
ans life, but at a late hour last
night she was still in a serious con-
dition.
Mrs. Murray until two months
ago had been living with her hus-
band at 529 f. Fourth st. 1t is said
by people residing in the neighbOr-
hood Of the above address, that the
couple had disa greed for some time.
which finally resulted in Murray
leaving his wife and placing the
youngest child, a girl OF about two
years OF age, in the Orphans asy-
lum, and taking the other two chill
dren, a boy and girl, aged seven
and four years, respectively away
with him. Until recently, il is said,
he had been living at the home of a
family named Hammond on Seventh
St, but last Saturday moved near
Laurel ST Mrs. Murray had moved
frequently since she separated from
her husband two months ago. and
three weeks ago rented a room at
the Matchette home on Third st.
The poison Mrs. Murray intended
10 kill herself with, was purchased
at a local pharmacy, according to
the label on the empty bottle found
in the room of the woman, who was
discovered in an unconscious con-
dition by members OF the Matchette
family. who smelled a strong odor
Of carbolic acid throughout the
house and investigated finding Mrs.
Murray lying on the bed in her
room. A physician was hurriedly
called. and il was not until an hour
and a half later that the woman
was restored TO consciousness. Later
she suffered many commissions and
remained in a critical condition un-
til late in the night.
A note was written by the woman
TO her children before she commit
ted the deed, the missive being found
later in the woman's room and turn
ed over TO the doctor, who was
summoned. and who destroyed it,
il is said. However, the contents Of
the note was remembered by mem
| bers of the Matchette family. who
stated last night that the note was
as follows:
Little Ones:-
Goodbye cannot stand it
any longer 1 blame no one but my
self (Signed)
BESSIE"
Murray FASTENED to the Matchette
home when he was found and told
Of his wife's attempt on her life, re-
naming at her side until late in
the night.
That Mrs. Murray had contemplate
ed suicide for several days is the
| conclusion drawn from a remark
made by her last Thursday to a
member of the Matchette family.
The latter saw her lying across the
bed in her room and upon inquiring
if anything was wrong, Mrs. Murray
| replied that there was not, but that
would be the way they would find
her dead sometime. The party TO
| whom the remark was address d
| paved no attention TO what the WON
an said, thinking she was only jok-
/ ing.
Several weeks ago. Mrs. Murray
| was working at a north side restau-
rant, but a few weeks ago accepted
a position at the Wooden Co, which
she also left about a week ago.
Slight Improvement.
| Mrs. Murray's condition was said
to be slightly improved this morn
ing. but that she was not entirely
out of danger According to a
member Of the Matchette family,
the attending physician stated that
his patient might live two weeks
and then succumb 10 the effects Of
the poison.