Obituary for Grace Callaway (dates unknown)
Uncited clipping.
From the collection of Mary O. Walker Hutt.


A Sad Death at Moscow Mills

Our neighboring town of Moscow Mills was shocked Sunday evening by the suicide of Miss Grace CALLAWAY, daughter of Sim CALLAWAY, who since the death of her mother a few years ago had been making her home with her aunt. Declining that evening to eat supper, saying that she had eaten some apples and was not hungry, she passed out of the room singing a hymn. A few moments later she seemed to be sick, going to the ktchen door to vomit. She then laid down on the bed and called Mrs. J. F. BORGELT and told her that she had taken strychnine. Mrs. BORGELT called Mrs. CALLAWAY, who gave salt and water to cause vomiting, but unsuccessfully. They were inclined to doubt that the girl had taken poison, and so was Dr. STRICKLAND when summoned, but unmistakable symptoms soon appeared. The physician then attempted to apply the stomach pump, but her jaws were locked and it could not be used. Antidotes of several kinds were administered hypodermically, but to no avail. The girl repented her rash act and begged those present to do something for her - not to let her die. It was found that she had secured a bottle of strychnine which was kept in the clock and swallowed a teaspoon - enough to kill forty people.
Miss CALLAWAY was in her sixteenth year and had many friends to whom her death is a sad shock, as well as to her family. The generally accepted theory is that her suicide was promted by the objections her relatives interposed to her associations with Will WILLIAMS. Her father is said to have found her in WILLIAMS' company Sunday afternoon and compelled her to return home with him. Coroner SMITH investigated the case and decided that an inquest was not necessary.


File submitted to HERITAGE PAGES of LINCOLN COUNTY, MISSOURI by June Groshong, 15 November, 2002.

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