Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1902 — BESSIE FOSTER SUICIDES. [ARTICLE]

BESSIE FOSTER SUICIDES.

SHE SHOT HERSELF LT ELWOOD WEDNESDAY NIGHT. The news was received here this l hursday afternoon, by telephone from 'Remington, that Mrs. Bessie Foster Ford had committed suicide, at El wood, at 9 o’clock, Wednesday night, by shooting through the head. Word received direct from Elwood, by telephone, states that her husband went to a club meeting of some kind, and that she wanted to go with him, and was refused. And that, in his ab3once, she shot herself dead No other cause has been learned, for her act. Bessie was the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Foster, residents of our town and vicinity for quite a number of years, until they moved to Elwood, last year. She married a Mr. Ford, a worker in the Elwood tin plate factory, in July. And in September visited here for some time. Her father, when here a few months ago, in- j timated to friends that the marriage was an unfortunate one, Bessie was a bright and attractive girl in; many respects, and yet had some j very remarkable peculiarities, which suggest the idea that she was not wholly of sound mind. For one thing, she had a persistent belief, undoubtedly wholly a delusion, that some man was constantly pursuing her, and she always carried a revolver, and has been beard to declare she would kill herself if tbe supposed enemy did not cease his persecutions. One act of her’s, while occupying roomß in a residence on Van Bensselaer street, that illustrates her mental abberation, was firing several shots, in the night, at imaginary persons whom she thought were trying to break into her room. Her age was only about 18 years. The funeral will be held at Gilboa church, Benton oounty, Friday. ,