TWO MORE WOMEN
IN SUICIDE LIST.
MORE CASES OF SELF-DESTRUCTION
MOLLIE LAWSON
TAKES ACID.
ALICE BUERSKENS FIRES BUL-
LET INTO HER BRAIN.
Mrs. Lawson Was Angered Because
Husband Stayed Out All Night.
Mrs. Buerskens Did Not Want
to Be a Burden to Hers.
"To a person suffering from melancholia or to one who is extremely jealous, the reading of so many suicides, especially by the same method, acts as a suggestion and they act --"
Dr. J. Park Neal of the emergency hospital had just given expression to the foregoing opinion last evening when the telephone rang. "Another carbolic acid case," he cried, as he leaped for his satchel. "A woman at 526 Independence avenue."
When the ambulance reached the home of John Davis, 526 Independence avenue, Dr. Neal found Mrs. Mollie Lawson, 27 years old, lying unconscious on a bed. She had drunk probably an ounce and a half of carbolic acid from a bottle only a few minutes before and was in a dying condition. After administering strong antidote at the house the woman was taken to the emergency hospital, where she died at 11 o'clock.
SHE BOUGHT THE ACID.
Mrs. Lawson and her husband, Jake Lawson, a bartender, lived at the home of Mrs. Oscar Downing, 601 Independence avenue. When Mrs. Lawson left her rooms about 6:30 o'clock she seemed cheerful. She went straight to the drug store of Morgan and Burton, northwest corner of Independence and Cherry, where she asked C. B. Burton for some carbolic acid, saying she wanted it for a bedbug mixture.
"When she told me that she was going to mix it with a pint of gasoline," said Mr. Burton, "I gave her three ounces, for which she paid 25 cents. I have seen the woman often, knew she was a neighbor, and, from her pleasant demeanor, thought nothing wrong. There have been so many suicides lately that had she been gloomy or appeared nervous, I would have been on my guard. She laughed as we talked, however."
When she left the drug store Mrs. Lawson saw Mrs. Davis in an upper window over the store. Waving her hand to her, Mrs. Lawson said, "I'm coming up, Minnie." When she entered the room Mrs. Davis was lying on a pallet by the bed. Seating herself, she said, "Go out and get me some chile, will you, John?"
DRANK UNTIL SHE CHOKED.
As Davis left the room Mrs. Lawson arose and walked to the center of the room. Turning up the three ounce bottle, she drank until she choked. Just at that juncture Mrs. Davis entered the room.
"When I asked her what she was doing," said Mrs. Davis, "she made no reply. then I saw the acid on her lips and smelled it. I grabbed for the bottle and she cast it from her and fell back on the bed.
Lawson, who was at the saloon of Joseph Woods, 700 Independence avenue, was quickly summoned. First they tried to get a doctor in the neighborhood, but one could not be found and the ambulance was summoned. They tried to administer whisky to her, but having no stomach tube failed to get it beyond her mouth.
When asked for a reason for his wife's act, Lawson said: "Well, I guess sit was because I stayed away from home all night last night. I was with some friends, and told her so this morning. She upbraided me for it this morning, but by evening I thought she was all right.
Lawson said that his wife was of a jealous disposition, and on Wednesday a week ago after a little quarrel, bought an ounce of carbolic acid. She returned to the house and attempted to drink it in his presence, but the bottle was knocked from her hands. Both of them were burned on the hands and arms at that time. He said his wife read of all the recent suicides and discussed them, especially the death of Anna May Williams on Tuesday.
Late last night oxygen was still being administered to Mrs. Lawson and artificial respiration used to keep her alive. There seems little hope of her pulling through.
