The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1948-12-23
BOLYARD GIRL DIES
OF SERIOUS BURNS
In SUICIDE ACT
Note Found in Damaged Room
Indicates Action as Third
Attempt

Miss Evelyn Bolyard, 10, sue
cumbed Tuesday morning in Memori-
al hospital to burns received from d
fire of unknown origin in her room
Saturday night. Evidence uncovered
by States Attorney w. Dwight
Slower indicates the action was sui
eide
Miss Bolyard, who roomed on the
third floor of the Rasche house on
Water street, was found lying in the
back yard with her clothes afame by
Robert Alexander who is also resi-
dent of the house. Alexander said he
heard a scream, ran to her room to
find the door locked, and then upon
returning downstairs saw the girl
through a back window. He found
her fully conscious but unable TO
move. She requested that a doctor be
called
She was carried to the Kildog
house by firemen and attended by DR..
f. |. Baumgartner and A. E. Name
before being sent to Cumberland by
ambulance.
Note Uncovered
After the firemen withdrew, Ward
Hinebaugh, employer of the girl, and
Russell Brown, Cumberland and Allie
ghany Gas company, went to the
room to see if the fire had been
caused by gas stove explosion. In
the process of investigating, Hina-
baugh spotted note on the dresser.
1t was addressed to a friend of Miss
Bolyard and reads in part:
''Darling-This will be short
try to forgive me. only hope it
works. They say the third time is
charm and this is it
The note was signed "Hopelessly
yours, Evelyn"
Cleaning Fluid Found
States Attorney Slower said that
bottle of cleaning fluid was also
found in the room. 1t had been partly
used, but the cap was in place. The
room and furniture were damaged
only to the extent of blistering paint,
but hole was burned through a
portion of the linoleum rug and
floor indicating that the cleaning
fluid might have been used as the
suicide instrument.
Both Slower and Baumgartner,
deputy medical examiner, said they
had not definitely determined the
circumstances surrounding Miss Boil
yards death. An autopsy by DIR.
Baumgartner showed that death re-
suited from toxic poisoning attributed
to extensive second and third degree
burns She also had broken spine,
sustained when she dived through
the window to escape the flames. Miss
Bolyard apparently hit the porch
roof before landing on the spot where
Alexander found her, Slower said
Prior to being taken to the hospital,
Miss Bolyard explained she had left
the room to see if any mail had az
rived for her and upon returning, lit
a cigaret and the room exploded.
Her chenille robe caught fire. She
tried to open the locked door, but
her hands were too badly burned
Jack Wilson who accompanied her III
the ambulance said she confessed that
the action was planned, but that she
would like to live.
She was employed as a cook in
Wards Restaurant.
Miss Bolyard was born September
p, at Corinth, w. Va. She is survived
by her parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Alonzo
Bolyard, and a brother Charles, all
of Tunnelton, w. Va; three sisters
Mrs. Gertrude King, Morgantown.
Mrs. Martha H. Motherfill, Calf
and Marilyn Bolyard, at home There
are also one half-brothcr, Clarence
Bolyard, Tunnelton; and three half
sisters, Mrs. Clara Glaze, Oakland;
Mrs. Ruth Travis, Los Angeles, and
Mrs. May Fontaine, San Pedro, Calf.
Mrs. Nelson Nethkin and Mrs. Au-
drey Tasker, both Oakland, are aunts
of the deceased.
Funeral services will be conducted
at her home today with interment in
the Mt. Israel cemetery near Tunnel
ton.