The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-01
TRIES TO END LIFE
Double Attempt Made by Mrs.
Kelly at Park.
Stabbed Herself. Then Jumped
Into Lake at Gage.

Despondent because of i'll health,
and with a complete burial robe in
her possession, Mrs. Anna May Kelly,
% years OLD and pretty, who says her
home is at Sharon, Pa, made a double
effort to end her life at Gage park
Friday night. While both attempts
were unsuccessful the woman is suf-
ferins today from severe exposure and
nervous prostration. having spent the
entire night at the park in wet
clothing,
Mrs. Kelly first stabbed herself in
the breast with a small stiletto and
later jumped into the west lake at the
park in an attempt to drown herself.
She was discovered on the bank or
the lake this morning about o'clock
by park attendants whose attention
was drawn to her by the barking OF
a small dog.
Chilled to the bone and in a hysterical
condition. her hair down and badly
tangled, and her clothing muddy from
wallowing around on the ground after
crawling out of the water, the woman
presented a sordid spectacle as she
was hurriedly removed to the Van
Fossen home in the park, where she
was placed by a fire pending the ar
rival of Sheriff Robert Miller and I'm
dersheriff Oscar Carlson, who were
Immediately notified
On the way to the county Jail, the
woman said her name was Mrs. Ruth
Holland and that her address was 426
East Sixth street, Denver, Colo, but
later gave her correct name and her
address as Sharon, Pa, where she said
her husband was staying. she also
said her father, Josiah oaks, was Nv
ing at ConneIlsville, Pa, and REQUEST
ed that he be- notified of her Where-
abouts and condition.
Not until the woman had been
placed in charge of Mrs. McGrath,
matron at the jail, was 1t known tnat
she had attempted to END her me
with means other than drowning ou{
while the matron was preparing TO PUT
her to bed she discovered that ths
woman's under garments were soakea
with blood. Summoning DR.. e. Z:
Lull. county physician, a deep wound
was found directly over her heart.
Being questioned further the
woman then admitted that she nae
first stabbed herself, using a snlaiI
embroidery stilleto, Of the KIND use an. IN
making fancy work, and believing tnaI
the deed was done, threw the lnstru-
1nent away. Realizing later that sne
was not going to die from the e1Iecls
of the stab and being unable on &C
count of the darkness to again 1lna
the stilIeto she jumped into the water
lust whv she did not succeed in her
second attempt she has not explained
but it is believed that the plunge INTO
the cold water was instrumental III
revfvine her mental condition to the
extent that she decided to save herr
self, but not sufficiently to cause heE
TO seek a place of shelter, and she re-
NAMED near the lake the remainder
of the night
arrived Here Thursday.
According to her own statements
Mrs. Kelly arrived in Topeka 4nprs-
dav evening and spent that night az
the Thorne hotel. She says she
walked out to Gage park early trlday
evening and it is believed thaL snS
made the double attempt to emo neg
life sometime before midnight. While
the blue suit she was wearing ing We, Wss
soaked from top to bottom, the CUT
side was dry enough to show that she
had not been in the water Tor sew
eral hours. n
of her clothing is of good quahty
and. from her general appearance
and actions is a person of refinement:
Her hat, lying on the ground some
distance from where she was FOUND;
was not discovered until today
In the womans pocketbook was
found change of less than dollar
and a check for a grip she had left
at the Santa Fe depot. When the
grip was searched it was found to
contain a white silk dress, with
Jacket, stockings and shoes to match,
which, it is believed, were purchased
By Mrs Kelly to be used for her
burial robe The only other possess
sion was small note book contain
ing various scribbling of little mean
ing. The name of Ruth Holland ap-
pears frequently in the book and it
is thought that the woman intended
to use it in hiding her identity.
According to Doctor Lull, the wom-
an in stabbing herself pierced the
plural cavity and lacking less than
half an inch of striking her heart.
Had the stilleto bsen equipped with
a longer blade the thrust would have
been fatal, Doctor Lull says, as it was
made exactly in the correct spot
The woman denies having had any
trouble at home and the only conclu-
sion is that she left home on account
of dependency and stopped here only
because her means mad become ex-
hausted. Doctor Lull examined her a
second time at noon today and says
she will undoubtedly recover. but II
she does it will be remarkable consid-
ering what she went thru during the
night She is suffering more from ex-
posture than anything else. Doctor
IIull says it is his opinion that the
woman is not insane, but is a victim
OF dependency as the result of ner-
zousneSs and other sickness.