Harriett Bushey McFarland 1850-1902

MCFARLAND

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 11/5/2010 at 22:28:18

Suicide at Estherville
The Estherville Vindicator-Republican gives the details of a sad affair which occurred there last week; Mrs. E. J. McFarland committed suicide Wednesday morning at the family home by cutting her throat with a razor. The act was committed while she was suffering from temporary aberration of the mind. It seems the unfortunate woman has been suffering lately from such spells and has several times threatened to take her own life. As a consequence she has been closely watched by her husband and family and every precaution taken to prevent her from carrying out her threats. She finally evaded their vigilance and yesterday found her husband’s razor, which had been secreted, and going to the water closet, fastened the door on the inside and slashed her throat with the razor. She had a firm hand, for with one stroke she severed the jugular vein and the carotid artery, causing almost instant death. (Algona Advance, Algona, IA, January 8, 1903)