Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1931-05-28
ALBERTA SMITH GILLESPIE
DIES FROM TAKING POISON

IGtdllfe, III malta. MIS-. ITl1lcSpls
and her son Bert had been residing
for a few weeks at the home oil
Choral Hutchins, near Reinersville
| where Mrs. Gillespie was keeping
house for Mr.. Hutchins, his wife
having died some months ago. Sat
urday afternoon she came here by
bus and later went to the Mrs
Hannah Gillespie residence where
she had been in the habit of stop
ping. During the evening she was
about on the streets, was apparently
in good spirits, and gave no indica-
ton to anyone of having contem-
plated the acl she later committed
Mrs. Hannah Gillespies grand
daughter Mrs. Louise Agenbroad
daughter of Alden Gillespie, was
also at the Gillespie home. Before
retiring for the night Mrs. Alberta
Gillespie did some writing, which
later proved to have been two notes
One was addressed to her son Bert
in which she stated that life meant
nothing to her; that she was dis
couraged. She gave him instruc-
tions as to the distribution of he1
personal effects One letter was ad
dressed to the Miller Undertaking
Company. On the outside of the
envelope she had written "Call
Miller Undertaking Co, and have
them take my body there till it Is
all over Don't let anyone say
that | am not in my right mind
because | am. 1t is just because
life has proven too much for me
and only makes it harder for my
friends by me staying on" she wrote
on sheet of paper, which was
sealed in the envelope referred to.
Between / 2 and one o'clock, Mr.
I. Fl. Head of the Head and Neff
filling station. went home; his home
is near the Gillespie residence, and
he saw through the window Mrs
Gillespie moving about in a pink
kimono. Then the light was turned
out. Then it was no doubt, when
she took the poison. Mrs. Hannah
Gillespie was up about o'clock
Sunday morning, and was at the
bedroom of Alberta Gillespie, but
thinking she was sleeping did not
speak to her. 1t was after eight
O'Clock when Louise arose, and she
too went to the room, and noting
that she was in bed, and apparently
a = n fo
when she did not arise, Mrs. Gill
lespie and granddaughter became
concerned, and going to Alberta S
bed found thateshe was cold in
DEATH GotbAer Carl Miller was
summoned. Upon investigation he
discovered a glass about half filled
with what at first glance he believed
to be water but closer examina :
ton showed that it contained a SUBJ
stance. On a stand near the bed
was a sack. and taking hold of it
Mr.. Miller discovered that it was
heavy, and looking at the contents
he saw a quart can of potassium
cyanide. On the sack she had writ
ten, to destroy the contents. The
victim had, by the use of an ice
pick, put several holes in the can be-
fore prying up the lid, and had
poured about half pint of the
deadly poison into the water Coro-
ner Miller gave as his verdict that
death was due to cyanide poisoning,
and that she had been dead nine or
ten hours, when discovered, and
that she had apparently died with
out struggle. She was clothed in
the pink kimono referred to above
On the foot of the bed she had laid
out white dress, which she re-
quested in the letter to the under
takers, that she be buried in. A
chocolate bar had dropped from her
hand, and it is presumed that she
was going to eat it to take the
taste Of the poison out of her mouth.
However the bar was still in its
wrapper
The deceased was a daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Albert Smith of Mar
ietta. who have been residing with
Mr.. Smiths brother Hon. Harvey E.
Smith, having come there from
Pittsburgh. Her husband, Herbert
H. Gillespie, died over two years
ago. They We're the parents Of
three children-John, who is an
artist, and resides in New York
City; Mrs. Edith Reed of Alliance;
and Bert Gillespie, mentioned. Be
sides her parents and the children
named, she is survived by two
grandchildren and two sisters-Mrs.
Ada Hutchinson of New York City
and Mrs. Elizabeth Dunleavey of
Funeral services were held Tues
day afternoon at 3 o'clock, at the
Miller parlors, conducted by Elder
S. P. Moody. Interment was made
in McConnelsville cemetery.
Among those from a distance who
the funeral were Mr.. and
Mrs. Bert Smith, Marietta; Mrs
George Dunleavey and little daugh-
ter and w. O. Barnhart, Pittsburgh;
Edith shoop Glass, Beverly; Har-
old Grew, Cleveland; John Gil
lespie, New York City; Mr.. and Mrs.
Bryan Reed, Alliance; Mr.. and Mrs.
Frank Holcomb. Columbus; Mr.. and
Mrs. Alden Gillespie, Mr.. and Mrs.
V. Agenbroad, GAINESVILLE.
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