The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-21
TAKES own LIFE
Daisy Watkins Shoots Self
While in Dentists Office.
Trouble Over Love Affair Given
as Cause for the Act.
LEFT A LETTER FOR "BEN"
Santa Fe Man Was Given Back
His Letters to Her.
B. F. Cloud, Divorced, Said He
LOnged for His Family.

Miss Daisy Watkins, 33 years old,
shot and killed herself shortly after
8 o'clock this morning in the office of
DR.. J. A. Steinmeyer, dentist, 731
Kansas avenue, where she was en-
pIoyed. A combination of troubles,
including love affair and i'll health,
are believed to have been the causes
of her act
Miss Watkins lived with her
widowed mother, Mrs. Sallie Watkins,
218 West Sixth avenue, and had been
employed by DR.. Steinmeyer about
six and one-half years. She is survived
by her mother and son, Ray. who is
about 10 years old. The mother is
confirmed invalid and has been con-
fined to a wheel chair for about
twenty years, it was said. Miss Wat
kins was the sole support of her
to Bomgardner's undertaking parlors.
DR.. Steinmeyer said he believed the
young woman'S accumulated troubles
had slightly upset her mind. He stated
that last April she suffered an infec
ton in her feet, resulting from eczema,
and that because of this she was alb
ent from work for five weeks, part
of which time she was in a hospital.
He said he had not observed that she
was suffering from serious ill health
otherwise. Saturday. the dentist
stated, was the first time he had
noticed any signs of dependency
about the woman. He said she COM
planned that her feet were not healing
as rapidly as she thought they should.
Bullet Enters Her Brain.
This morning Miss Watkins ap-
peared at the office at the usual time,
entered the dressing room, removed
her street clothes and donned her
white apron, as was customary with
her. She then lay down on a couch
in the dressing room in the office and
with a newly purchased 80 caliber
revolver fired a bullet into her brain.
There was no one else at the office at
the time.
Mrs. Isabelle Tyler, negro janitress,
was sweeping in the hall outside the
office at the time and heard the shot.
She said she thought it was an auto
mobile backfiring 1.-the street below,
and paid no attention to it. Shortly
afterward Doctor Steinmeyer entered
the office, opened the door of the
dressing room and found the body.
Dr. H. L. Clark, county coroner, and
the police were notified. The gun
was found on the floor by the couch
and the leaden bullet, badly shattered,
was picked up on the couch after the
body had been removed The bullet
entered the right temple, passed thru
the head and came out on the left
side behind the ear.
Left Note to "Ben.''
When Miss Watkins left her home
IIllS dCCOTQ1H2 TO lI1IOTIIld-
ton obtained by Coroner Clark, she
kissed her boy several times, told him
to "be good boy and told him there
was a letter in her room for Ben"
The Ben referred to, it was said, is
Ben F. Cloud, 617 Lime street, an en-
ploye of the water service department
in the Santa Fe shops. The envelope
was addressed to him and contained
half dozen of his letters to her.
Among them was one written Octo-
H. Fx-- >
turn of his diamond ring which he
had given her, and which she was
wearing when she shot herself. Clouds
letters, while expressing affection, de-
clared they would have to break up"
Cloud was divorced from his wife last
July, it was said, charging her with
abandonment, but in the letters to
Miss Watkins he expressed affection
for his family and intimated that he
and Mrs. Cloud might resume marital
relations.
Price Tag on Revolver.
The revolver with which the woman
shot herself was medium priced
weapon, and was apparently pur-
chased Monday or early this morning.
rs the price tag was still attached
to it.
Doctor Clark stated that no autopsy |
will be held.
Mrs. Tyler the janitress, said Miss
Watkins spoke to her in a cheerful
manner when she entered the office |
his morning. The young woman kept |
one hand inside her coat, she said, and |
Mrs. Tyler believes she was carrying |
he revolver there. |
The janitress stated that Miss Wat |
kins once expressed a desire to know |
where there was good fortune teller, |
md Mrs. Tyler said she informed her |
Of two but asked her no questions |
about it. She said that two or three /
lines she had noticed the young wo-
nan lying on the couch in the dress |
r-Onn7 and that he onnnIainR1 of 1