TAKES OXALIC ACID

Mrs, Ernest Tucker Took Poison
Mistaking It For Dose Salts
FATAL MISTAKE COSTS HER LIFE

Hurried to Dr Miller's Office,
Where She Died.

Mistaking oxalic acid for -salts, Mrs. Ernest Tucker drank a quantity of the deadly poison at her home in the Aldine flats at about seven-thirty this, morning, then, becoming sick, hurried to tho office of Dr G. D. Miller and; died in a fewmoments after, arriving there. As soon as she had swallowed the potion, Mrs. Tucker .realized her secure medical attention. Arriving at the doctor's ollice, she found that -he had just departed for the garage to get his auto, but she explained her case to Mrs. Miller and asked that the doctor bo summoned at once. Mrs. Miller phoned thegarage and got into
communication .with the doctor and he rushed back, but only to got there too late

While waiting for him.to come, Mrs. Tucker complained of feeling deathly sick and requested to be shown to the toilet room. Little Dorothy Miller showed her the way there while Mrs. Miller was telephoning: The aleady dying woman remained there, but a short time and then emerged to be met by Mrs. Miller, who was assisting her to the front part of the.house, when, as they passed through the kitchen, Mrs. T.ucker fell to the floor in a heap. Just about that time Dr. M i l l e r a r r i v e d and they carried the
stricken woman to a-couch.The doctor immediately gave her the customary antidotes used in such cases, but the deadly poison had had ample time to do its work and medical assistance was of no avail. As she was dying her last words and thought were of her husband, who is at present traveling in the south, and she told, the doctor that he could be located by letters at the house.

Deceased was the wife of Ernest A.Tucker, employed for a number of years as salesman at the Klinsick shoe store on Broadway. Several months ago ho resigned that place to
accept il position on the road, with the Mishawaka Ball Band Rubber
company with territory in the south, where.he has been continuously since about January 1. Relatives get into communication with him by wire as soon as he could be located and the sad news was conveyed to him. He will return here as soon as possible.

As is usual in such cases, there was some rumors that tho death might have been with suicidal intent, but there is absolutely no.foundation, for that statement.,- Those who, know the couple don't hestitate to declare that their married life was of the most
pleasant character and that they were devoted to each other. It is asserted that they exchanged letters every day while he was away.

The fatal mistake is one that, could easily be. made. While oxalic acid is a deadly poison, it has, of recent years come to be almost a household-necessity because it is used to cleanso many things, such as straw hats, gloves, and. 'will -take spots out of.
dress goods without doing injury when properly, diluted. In appearance it greatly resembles salts and when this is known the mistake that cost Mrs. Tucker her life is easily explained. At drugstores both can be purchased in bulk form, they are usually wrapped inthe same kind of paper and it'is possible that quautities of both were at hand.

Coroner Palmer, viewed the body at Dr.Miller's office aud indicated that it could be nothing, else but that death was caused by accidental poisoning for Mrs. Tucker was conscious to the last and talked of her mistake calmly.The two doctors visited the home
and found part of the contents of the fatal dose, still in the glass from which she had drunk. Dr. Miller tasted it out of curiosity and complained that he still had a burning sensation in his mouth yet this afternoon. They stated that had they been able to reach her side immediately after she took the dose it is questionable whether they could have saved her. This poison has an effect very much like concentrated lye and it quickly destroys the mucus membrane of the stomach.

Mrs. Anna Tucker was 39 years of age and was the daughter of the late Samuel H. Snell, who resided on Eel River avenue but who died about nine years ago, being a retired farmer. Her mother is also dead but she is survived by five brothers, Amzi
Snell, city mail carrier. Estle Snall, employed in the Panhandle M. of W. department, Orvillc Snell, who now lies at his home near Onward with an attack of illness that is thought will terminate fatally, Wilfred W. Snell and Samuel R. Snell, both of whom reside on farms near Walton.


Source: http://pharostrib.newspaperarchive.com; Wednesday, April 03, 1912 Logansport, Indiana Logansport Pharos Tribune
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The funeral -of Mrs. Ernest Tucker, who died on Wednesday.morning from. accidental poisoning, will he held on Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence in the Aldine flats.

Friends who desire to view the body can do so by calling at the home any time previous to the services
Source: http://pharostrib.newspaperarchive.com; Saturday, April 06, 1912 Logansport, Indiana Logansport Pharos Tribune

Snell, Anna and Earnest Tucker . . . Marriage Announcement . . . . . . Logansport Press . . . October 2, 1921 . . . Page 4, Columns5-6