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SLIFER, Katie 1882-1903

SLIFER, RODD

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/27/2017 at 08:38:11

Suicide Near Ivester

Mrs. Will Slifer Emptied 2 Oz. Bottle Chloroform and Died in Her Bed

Was Married But a Year Ago

Mrs. Will Slifer, living two miles east of Ivester emptied the contents of a 2 oz. bottle of chloroform Saturday night and died from the effects of the dose a short time later.

Mrs. Slifer and her husband had driven to Marshalltown Saturday to do some Christmas shopping. They returned in the evening and being tired, retired early going to their room about 9 o'clock.

Mr. Slifer went to bed first and fell asleep at once. He awoke about midnight and laying his hand on that of his wife, discovered it cold. He tried to awaken her and was soon horrified to find her cold in death.

A two oz. bottle emptied of chloroform lying on the dresser and a brief note explained the cause of her death. The note was in her handwriting and in it she bade all goodby and stated that she would soon be free from all her troubles.

The empty bottle had on it the label of a Marshalltown drug store and it was likely bought by Mrs. Slifer there last Saturday.

The supposition is that Mrs. Slifer took the deadly poison before first retiring and that her husband must have felt the effects of the dose or he would have been awakened by her death struggles.

The county coroner was notified and went to the place of the suicide Sunday. A jury was empanelled and an inquest held. The jury's verdict was to the effect that Mrs. Slifer came to her death by taking chloroform administered by her own hands.

Mrs. Slifer was about twenty years old. Her maiden name was Katie Rodd, a daughter of Thomas Rodd, an old settler of Western Grundy. She was married last December on Christmas day and she and her husband had been making their home with Mr. Slifer's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Slifer. The latter will move to Grundy Center in March and it was intended that the --unreadable-- couple remain to farm the place.

None of her friends or relatives know what troubles prompted her to take her life. She was of a jovial disposition and was believed to have been living a happy life. Funeral services were held at 10 o'clock Tuesday after which the remains were laid in the Benson cemetery.

Later--Since the above was placed in type, Will Slifer, the husband of the dead woman, has been arrested on suspicion of being his wife's murderer. Full account in another column.

--Grundy County Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 24 December 1903, pg 1


 

Grundy Obituaries maintained by Tammy D. Mount.
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