The Menard Messenger
Vol. 8 No. 21
Thursday, March 11, 1915

(page 1)

Commits Suicide Early Sunday Morning-----Mrs. J. D. Matthews Takes Carbolic Acid. No Cause For Act Known
Mrs. J. D. Matthews, the wife of a well known farmer near this city, committed suicide at their home three miles east of town by taking a half teacup of carbolic acid. The cause for her act is unknown. The evening before everybody was in high spirits and Mrs. Matthews was as cheerful and joyous as usual. The next morning about seven o'clock she and her husband got up and she started breakfast. Shortly after she had gone into the kitchen, he heard a noise and followed her; he found her sitting in a chair with the cup by her side. Doctors were summoned but she died before they could reach her.
Her death comes as a sad blow not only to her husband and the three children, but to her aged parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Barnett and sister Mrs. Antoinette Moore, as well. Neither the husband not the parents can imagine any reason why the unfortunate woman would desire to commit such and act. The poison she took had been in the house for some time, the husband having purchased it to doctor a horse which had charbon.
Mrs. Mary Rowina Matthews was born in Decatur, Tennessee, in October 1874 and came here to this country with her parents ten years ago and has been associated with her father in the country store which he conducts three miles east of Menard, while her husband runs an adjoining farm. Mrs. Matthews was a member of the Presbyterian church and had the respect of all who knew her. Naturally a happy woman, her death comes as a great shock to her countless friends, and the sympathy of all goes out to the bereaved family.
The sister of the deceased, Mrs. Moore, of Poteau, Okla., was notified of her death and left immediately for Menard.