Florence Booher d. 1893

BOOHER, BELIAL

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/19/2006 at 10:49:34

Davenport Weekly Leader; Davenport, Scott, Iowa; Wednesday, June 14, 1893

IT WAS SUICIDE.
So Says the Coroner's Jury in the Case of Florence Booher.
The Mysterious Death of the Young Girl Investigated and the Conclusion Reached as Above Stated -
No Cause Can Be Discovered for the Deed of Self Destruction - The Details.

On Friday evening THE LEADER told its readers of the mysterious death of the 16 year old girl named Florence Booher, residing with relatives at 812 Switz street, and of the apparent lack of knowledge of the definite causes of death. Coroner McCortney decided to investigate the matter, and yesterday impanelled a jury composed of C.L. Lindholm, Fred Vollmer and William M. Dalzell, who proceeded to inquire into the case. The evidence revealed the fact that a young man by the name of John Christiansen, a carpenter by trade called on Florence last Monday morning. He had been paying attention to the girl and she asked him to call again to see her that evening. When in reply thereto he stated that it was uncertain whether or not he could call owing to a lack of time, she earnestly besought him to do so, adding that it might be the last time he could see her alive. Her manner mystified him, and in response to these pleas he promised to call, and he did so. When he came to see her that evening according to his promise, she was sick in bed, and unable to arise. He at once urged that a physician be summoned, and after repeated entreaties on his part, Florence finally consented and Dr. Bowman was called. The doctor upon his arrival, prescribed for her, and ere leaving she seemed to be easy and comfortable.

The next evening Christiansen called again, and as the girl's illness preyed upon his mind to a certain extent, and appeared to him very mysterious, he asked her if she had taken anything which would be the cause of her sickness, and he stated that Florence finally admitted having tasted a little poison. But as she was continually improving, and seemed to be recovering her spirits, he had hoped nothing serious would occur.

The testimony of Louise and Annie Belial, the deceased girl's aunts, was to the effect that on Thursday morning when they left to go to their work at the Woolen mills, she seemed cheerful and in good spirits, but upon their return that evening she desired a doctor, and Drs. Bowman were summoned and promptly responded. While the doctors were at the bedside, the girl died, as was stated in Friday evenings LEADER.

It was also learned Mrs. Wm. S. Cogan, who resides at No. 810, that on Monday last, she had been informed by Florence that she had taken "rough on rats," but this is doubted as far as the nature of the poison is concerned. A peculiar feature of the matter is that not a trace of any poison could be found in her room, nor could any place be located that she purchased or secured any, but it nevertheless seems caused her death. The following stanza might be regarded as direct evidence on that point, containing the sentiment it does. This was found in her bed, and she requested that it be given to Mr. Christiansen. It reads:

"'Tis a harsh world in which affection knows

No place to treasure loved and lost

But the grave.

But time betrays that soon enough."

The above was signed "Florence Knight," which was stated to have been the name by which she was known to Christiansen. It contains a vague hint that the world was dark and rough to her, but this decidedly lacks confirmation. Her home life was said to have been pleasant and agreeable, and nothing had occurred in any way to mar her enjoyment of ????. She had been keeping company with Christiansen for about four weeks, and it had been stated that the family objected to Christiansen's attentions to her, but that is denied, by that gentleman who states that his treatment at the house was always very pleasant, and if there had been any objections made to his calling, he had never been aware of it.

Florence was described as quite a pretty girl, of a lighthearted and cheerful disposition, and her reasons for desiring to end her life remain a mystery. Whether it was caused by strained sentimentality, or other mental aberration cannot be told, or even intelligently surmised. It was however clearly evident that her death was caused by poison which was self-administered, and the jury returned a verdict that her death was due to suicide.

The father of the girl died some years ago, but the mother resides in Wyoming. The unfortunate girl came here only a short time ago with her relatives, who formerly resided in Muscatine.