Salt Lake Evening Democrat

DEATH BY STRYCHNINE.

Mary Wilson, 16 Years of Age, Takes Up Arms Against Domestic Troubles,
And by a Swallow of the Deadly Strychnine, Opposes and Effectually Ends Them,
For She Had Previously Told Her Brother "She Couldn't Stand It Any Longer."

A shocking suicide occurred this morning in the Eighteenth ward, by which the family of Henry Wilson is plunged into the most distracting grief. Mary Wilson, a young woman something over 16 years of age, was discovered in front of Mr. Harry Field's residence, on A street, about 8 o'clock this morning, and attracted the attention of Mr. Field by the peculiar manner in which she stumbled along on her way northward above the Eighteenth ward meeting house. Coming out at his front gate about half an hour later, he saw, some distance further up the road, what appeared to be THE PROSTRATE FORM OF A WOMAN.

Mr. Field, recalling the incident of the woman staggering past some few moments before, hastened to the spot, and found already there, bending over the unfortunate young woman, in an effort to arouse her from what seemed to be a stupor, Mr. Isaac Langton, who had stumbled upon the body while hurrying down to work. The two gentlemen tried in vain to relieve her sufferings, and in reply to the question, "What is the matter?" she said, "I am dying. I am dying."

Mr. Field hastened down town and summoned Dr. Benedict, who arrived too late to afford any aid. Meantime, Mr. Langton, assisted by J. E. Billing, carried the victim to the family residence near the corner of B and Fifth streets, which was little more than 200 yards from where she fell. On the way she pleaded to be laid down, her convulsions being something terrible, and in less than ten minutes after reaching her home she expired. She stated, in reply to several questions, before arriving home, that SHE HAD TAKEN STRYCHNINE,

And gave as the cause that her mother was cross with her. The coroner's inquest, which was held within two hours after the occurrence, revealed the fact that Mary had been absent from home since Tuesday morning about 8 o'clock, and that she had quarreled with her mother before leaving, in regard to taking a situation which had been secured for her, and which, it was expected she would enter yesterday morning. During the altercation Mrs. Wilson struck Mary on the side of the head, the girl having persistently insisted on going to some dancing party, to which the mother strongly objected. She was not seen afterwards by her parents until brought home in a dying state. Her brother Matthew, who is employed at the Twentieth Ward Co-op., on being told yesterday morning that Mary had gotten a bottle of strychnine from the store and had had it charged to her mother, proceeded immediately in search of his sister and succeeded in finding her near Bishop Sharp's residence. He prevailed upon her to deliver to him the bottle of strychnine, and advised her as to the nature of the crime she contemplated. She said she COULDN'T STAND IT ANY LONGER

(Probably referring to her trouble at home), but after some considerable talk with her brother she started off to take the situation according to appointment. She had been given a dollar by her brother for the purpose, he understood, of buying an apron, but it is more than likely she used it, or a portion of it, to purchase the deadly drug that destroyed her life. She did not call on the family with whom she was to enter service, and her brother hunted high and low for her last evening without success. There does not appear to have been anything remarkably violent in her quarrel with her mother, further than that already mentioned, and her parents do not seem to have had the slightest suspicion that she would resort to any extreme, well knowing that the fiery temper of the girl had often led her into doing and saying extravagant things, which were easily and soon forgotten afterwards.

The coroner's jury, after examining the evidence, rendered a verdict that the deceased had come to death by the use of strychnine poison, self-administered.

A bottle nearly half full of diluted strychnine was found near where the young woman fell, and Dr. Benedict expressed the opinion that she had very probably lain down by the creek and filled into the bottle containing the poison some water, as there was ample evidence that she had drank from the dilution.

THE FAMILY OF THE DECEASED

Came from Scotland in the spring of 1882 as Mormon emigrants, and are represented as being quiet, industrious people of rather exemplary habits.

The young woman herself was a decidedly attractive-looking person, with blue eyes and fair complexion, and is said to have been bright and vivacious, as well as very amiable when not "in her occasional moods." It is not probable that any new features will be developed in relation to the cause of the suicide.