Myrtle Needham

Salt Lake Tribune, 12/19/1912

OGDEN, Dec. 8 -- Miss Myrtle Needham, aged seventeen years and a ward of the Utah Industrial school committed suicide at the home of Mrs. Nettie Eccles, 1018 Twenty-sixth street, at noon today by swallowing carbolic acid. Her mother, Emmaline Harper, lives in Salt Lake. Members of the Eccles family believe she drank the poison about 11:45 o'clock, death resulting twenty-five minutes later. Dr. C.F. Osgood was arrived before the girl died, but the large amount of acid which had reached the stomach made his efforts fruitless. The girl was not considered strong mentally, and no other reason can be discovered.

The girl appeared to be happy during the forenoon. Just before twelve o'clock the members of the Eccles family were attracted by her crying. They found that the girl had made her way through a small basement window into the narrow space between the ground and floor under the front portion of the house. Had her cries not attracted attention it might have been some days before her body was discovered.

She was still conscious when removed from under the house and admitted to having taken the acid, but gave no reason for doing so. The empty bottle, a three-ounce vial, was found beneath the floor. Members of the family stated that they had not known of the presence of carbolic acid about the house and it is possible that the girl purchased it herself.

About four years ago the state authorities took Miss Needham and another sister into custody, the parents having separated. After the girl had remained at the school about two years, she was placed in the care of Mrs. Eccles, who accorded her the kindest treatment. The girl's sister is making her home with a Brigham City family.

Judge W.H. Reeder, ex-officio coroner, was summoned and decided that no inquest was necessary. The body was removed to Larkin & Sons undertaking rooms, where it will be prepared for burial. Parole Office Ed. Rowe, of the Utah Industrial school is in charge of arrangements.

• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via sister Elizabeth 'Bessie' King (born Needham) by SmartCopy: Nov 27 2014, 17:36:27 UTC