Clara Harris (1901-1921)

HARRIS

Posted By: Debra Scott Hierlmeier (email)
Date: 11/25/2008 at 14:37:51

Mrs. Ira Harris [Clara Schluter]
Ride of Two Weeks a Suicide
Pretty 20 year old Mrs. Ira Harris of Cass county mystifies family

Is Found by Husband
Mrs. Harris had disrobed, swallowed acid and reposing on the bed passes away---clutched not in her hand

Atlantic, Iowa, July 1----Mrs. Ira Harris, a bride of two weeks, killed herself yesterday morning at the home of her husband’s parents, Ed Harris and wife four miles north of Atlantic by drinking carbolic acid.

The young woman’s body was found lying on a bed in an upstairs room by her husband on his return from town.

A note in the hand of the young woman, addressed to her mother, intimated the young people had had a slight misunderstanding. Members of the Harris family said that it was nothing of consequence. The young husband, grief stricken, by the tragic death of his bride, cannot understand how she could bring herself to take her life. They had been perfectly happy since their marriage, he said.

Wed Two Weeks Ago Today

The young people were married at Avoca just two weeks ago today. The young people made their home with his parents. Unknown to members of the family the young woman went to her room, disrobed and went to bed. An empty water glass standing beside the bed was strong with the odor of the acid. The latter had badly burned the young woman’s mouth.
Found by Husband

The act of the young wife was not discovered until the return of young Harris from Atlantic. This was about 10 o’clock. Not finding his wife downstairs he went to their room. She was lying across the bed and had been dead for some minutes.

Coroner Roland was called. He visited the Harris home in company with Drs. J. F. Beeker and W.S. Greenleaf. The act of suicide was so apparent no inquest was held.

Mrs. Harris was about 20 years of age; her parents, Jacob Schluter and wife, are farmers living two miles south of Walnut. They have lived there for the last eighteen years.

Mrs. Harris was an exceptionally beautiful young woman.

From the Scrapbooks of Bessie Gross Gustafsen
Source: probably Council Bluffs Nonpareil
[Ira A. Harris and Clara Schluter were married in Avoca, Iowa on June 16, 1921]