MRS. RICKER DIES AFTER DRINKING CARBOLIC ACID

Drinking carbolic acid seems to have been a common way to suicide around the turn of the previous century. Newspapers of that time talk very openly about the causes of people's deaths, and death by suicide seem to be a topic that they gave much attention to. I think this story and the following one are good examples of the reporting at the time.

Urbana Courier-Herald August 6, 1910
WIFE OF UNIVERSITY DEAN SUICIDES

Discovered By Nurse at Champaign Sanitarium While to Act of Taking Potion, But Efforts to Save are Unavailing — Nervous Affliction Responsible — Had Threatened to Commit Suicide.

Mrs. N. C. Ricker, wife of Dean Ricker, head of the college of architecture of the University of Illinois, and one of the oldest educators in Illinois, 612 West Green street, this city, committed suicide at S o'clock this morning by drinking carbolic acid at tho Battle Creek sanitarium in Champaign, where she had been receiving treatment for a nervous affection for the past two months.

Mrs. Ricker had often threatened suicide and had begged for something with which to end her life, but this was the first time she had made an attempt to kill herself. She swallowed at least an ounce of the acid before being discovered in the act of draining a vial by Miss Anna Balding, her nurse, and despite heroic efforts of a physician, died within ten minutes. A stomach pump was used, but the unfortunate woman had taken too great a quantity of the fluid to be relieved. She died in horrible agony.

Nurse Discovers Act
During her two-months course of treatment at the sanitarium Mrs. Ricker had shown marked improvement and only at times did she manifest symptoms of returning mental trouble.

She arose early this morning and after an invigorating walk with her nurse, returned to her room. She seemed unusually cheerful, and Miss Balding did not hesitate to leave her alone for a few minutes, while she returned the breakfast tray. Upon reentering the room the nurse was horrified at seeing Mrs Ricker with a vial to her lips. She caught the odor of carbolic acid and springing forward, snatched the bottle from the patient.

Interfered Too Late
Interference, however, came too late, as Mrs. Ricker had swallowed a large quantity of the fiery preparation. A physician was called as quickly as possible, and by the time he arrived Mrs. Ricker was writhing in agony, and was rapidly losing consciousness. The stomach pump was used, and a quantity of the acid was removed, but not before it had done its work and the sufferer died in exactly ten minutes after taking the poison. The coroner and her husband were notified and the body was removed to the family home.

Act Occasions Surprise
The suicide of Mrs. Ricker occasioned great surprise among her friends and acquaintances in the Twin Cities. Although she had suffered from a nervous disease for several years she always seemed to he in a most cheerful frame of mind with no signs of melancholia. Several years ago it was necessary, to administer a course of treatment, her trouble having affected her mind.

TWO MEN END DOMESTIC WOES

Urbana Courier-Herald April 30, 1912

ROBERT M'DANIELS AND H. O. STEPHENSON TAKE LIVES. FRANK HAYS' ATTEMPT FAILS

Stephenson Follows McDaniels' Example Immediately After Hearing of Act - Carbolic Acid Used — Ogden Man Takes Laudanum.

Domestic troubles caused Robert McDaniels and Harry Stephenson of Champaign to commit suicide by drinking carbolic acid, and ill health prompted Frank Hays of Ogden to make an attempt on his life by swallowing laudanum, Monday night. The first two died within a few minutes. Hays will live.

Physicians were working over McDaniels when Stephenson, whose wife had obtained a divorce decree and $20 a mouth alimony in the circuit court, that morning, heard that the man had taken carbolic acid. "Guess, I'll follow suit," he remarked, as he left a crowd of friends. They thought he was joking, but in a few minutes they heard that he had carried out his threat. He, too, died a horrible and agonizing death by the acid route. McDauiels was a carpenter, Stephenson an Illinois Central fireman, and Hays is retired, being an invalid.

McDaniels Ends His Life.
McDaniels, the first to take his life, swallowed a quantity of carbolic acid while near the White Line laundry Market and Second South streets, Champaign, following a quarrel with his wife in which he is alleged to have attacked and tried to choke her. It is reported that on Monday she she consulted an attorney in regard to bringing suit for divorce, During the winter, when there was little carpenter work to be found, Mrs. McDaniels worked at the laundry. Hearing that she was about to begin divorce proceedings, McDaniels on Monday afternoon begged her to drop the suit and return to live with him.

She refused, and her husband immediately set about to secure the acid with which to end his life.

Buys Acid at Drug Store.
Entering the Faulkner drug store, he asked if a diluted solution of carbolic acid was good for tired feet. The clerk responded that several other things were equally as good and he discussed a couple of them but stating that a friend had been cured by the acid, asked if the clerk would wrap up some acid. He did.

Then McDaniels started to his home and met his wife near the laundry. After a few words he turned and drank the acid, dying shortly afterward. An ambulance was called at 5:06 Monday night and the body was removed to the Swearingen & Stewart morgue.

Came From Indiana
McDaniels was about 35 years of age. He was born in Indiana and came here about six years ngo. He is said to be a temperate man and saved his money, buying a home at 106 Avondale avenue. Champaign. There he and his wife lived for several years, separating last fall. This place they still own.

At the first instance of trouble with his wife, McDaniels went to Springfield, where he followed his trade for a few weeks and later returned to take a job at the University, as carpenter. It seems that the wife is not entirely exonerated from all blame in the eyes of the people at least.

Union in Charge of Funeral
The Twin City carpenters union met Monday evening and appointed a committee to attend to funeral arrangements. This lodge will view the remains at the Swearingen & Stewart morgue this afternoon. The body will likely be shipped to Indiana for interment tomorrow,

Stephenson Takes His Life
Despondent because his twenty-year-old wife, whom he married when she was sixteen, had secured a divorce from him that morning, Harry O. Stephenson, a fireman on the Illinois Central railroad, committed suicide by drinking carbolic acid shortly after 5 o'clock, Monday evening, at his rooming house, 306 North Second street Champaign.

Stephenson had been despondent since separating from his wife, more than two months ago. A child was born to her a few weeks after the separation. The charge against him in the divorce suit was cruelty. Last week Stephenson got a job with Elroy Hackett on farm near Tuscola, but only worked a few days returning to his work on the railroad out of Champaign. He did not work Monday, but came to Urbana, and while at Amsbary's clothing store, bought a new outfit.

J. Frank Walker, clerk, who waited upon Stephenson, says he is satisfied that the latter had no thought of suicide while in the store. Walker was personally acquainted with the young man, and Stephenson laughed and joked with him, springing one joke which he said he had heard at the Illinois theater a few nights before.

Stephenson bought a suit of tailored clothes he had previously ordered, three pairs of socks and two neckties, he objected to paying more than twenty-live cents each for the ties, claiming that, he was a little short and had to economize.

Walker noticed that, at times during their conversation, Stephenson seemed to be laboring under a mental strain .

"What do you think," he told the clerk. "I shook hands with Y____ a while ago and he had one of Bessie's (his wife's) rings on his finger."

He was gloomy all day, and as soon as hearing news of McDaniels' committing suicide, went to his room and did likewise, using the same means.

The alarm was given and he was taken to the Burnham hospital where he died at 8:45.

The decedent was born on a farm 12 miles northwest of Tuscola and at the age of seventeen, married his wife, a year younger than he, at Tuscola. He worked for a while at Villa Grove, as fireman on the C.& E.I. and while there had an attack of brain fever, from which he is thought never to have fully recovered. He is survived by his wife, daughter, parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles K. Stephenson, and two brothers, Earnest, a school teacher living near Tuscola, and Ray, living iu Michigan, The decedent was twenty-one years old.

Ogden Man Tries Suicide.
Special to Courier-Herald. Ogden ILL., April 30,—Frank Hays of this village took a large dose of laudanum with suicidal intent, Monday night and for a time it appeared that his efforts toward self destruction would be successful . This afternoon, however, he was gradually improving and the attending physician states that he will recover. Ill-health was the motive for the deed, Mr. Hays having been ill for the past three years. He is a middle-aged man with a wife but no children.