DUDDY

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 04:40:45 :

Marin Journal
Thursday, October 8, 1914
Page 3

Girl Take Poison To End Long Illness

Despondent from months of continued illness, Miss Florence Duddy, the 22-year-old daughter of John J. Duddy of San Francisco, committed suicide last Wednesday night while walking up a Mt. Tamalpais trail by taking carbolic acid.

Miss Duddy left her home in Filbert street and with her 13-year-old brother started to climb the mountain by the Pipe Line trail. When about halfway to the top she sat down and swallowed the contents of a small vial she had carried in her pocket. She then turned to her brother and said: “I have taken poison, and I hope that will end by troubles.”

The boy rushed to Mill Valley and returned as soon as possible with Dr. O. P. Stowe and Marshal James V. Chase, but the young woman had succumbed before their arrival. Deputy Coroner Ray Keaton was notified and given charge of the remains.

Information received from the girl’s father was to the effect that his daughter had been ill for many months, but had recently improved to such an extent that the physicians had advised her to take strenuous exercise and long walks. She was apparently happy in her home life and among her friends.