Obituary of BERNICE NEWTON TAYLOR, LaSalle Parish, Louisiana

Copied and Submitted by: Doug McBroom, 902 Kilgore Court, Allen, TX, 75013

From The Jena Times - Olla Tullos Signal; Jena, LaSalle Parish, La.  
Microfilm at the LaSalle Parish Library located in Jena, LaSalle Parish, La.

Many Thanks to The Times - Signal and to the LaSalle Parish Library for 
allowing the following to be added to the Archives.





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Date:  February 27, 1958, Thursday

Headline:  Olla Man Victim of Accidental Poisoning 
Sub-Headline:  Final Rites Held Near Winnsboro for Bernice Taylor, 50

Bernice Newton Taylor, 50, of Olla, who died early Sunday shortly after 
swallowing about one-fourth of a bottle of insect poisoning he reported 
thought was cough syrup, was buried Monday afternoon.

The Rev. D. R. Dearmon conducted the final rites, which were held at Oak 
Grove Baptist Church near Winnsboro, with interment following in the Church 
Cemetery under the direction of Kinner and Stevens Home for Funerals, Jena.

A truck driver by occupation and a resident of Olla for some 10 years, Mr. 
Taylor reportedly had been ill with the flu.  His wife, Mrs. Lillian Taylor, 
told investigating officers he got out of bed about 4:30 o'clock Sunday 
morning to take some cough syrup but instead got hold of a bottle of insect 
poisoning.  She said he did not turn on the light in the bathroom and 
reported died about 30 minutes after drinking about one-fourth of the bottle 
of insect poisoning before medical help could arrive.

Dr. D. L. Trax, LaSalle Parish Coroner, who impaneled a coroners jury Monday 
morning, heard testimony from several sources, principally Mrs. Taylor, and 
returned a verdict of death by accidental poisoning.

Mrs. Taylor was quoted as stating that soon after her husband took the 
supposed medicine, he stared cramping and then went into convulsions.  He 
reported told her, "Go see what that was I took; I think I took the wrong 
thing."

Dr. Trax said Mr. Taylor reportedly returned home about 12 midnight Saturday 
and awakened about 4 or 4:30 a.m. Sunday with a coughing spell.  He said the 
evidence indicated, Mr. Taylor went into the bathroom and, without turning on 
the light, got out a bottle he thought was cough syrup, but which turned out 
be a bottle of Black Leaf 40, an insect poisoning used for spraying flowers.

The poison spray, taken on an empty stomach, induced severe stomach cramps 
and Mr. Taylor died about thirty minutes later before medical aid could be 
summoned.

Surviving Mr. Taylor, in addition to his wife, are a daughter, Mrs. Bobbie 
Lasyone of Alexandria; a brother, Roy of New Orleans; two sisters, Mrs. 
George Gould and Mrs. Alta Brown, both of Winnsboro, his parents, Mr. and 
Mrs. George Taylor of Winnsboro, and two grandchildren.