Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Fox, Lillybell July 9, 1923
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Patricia Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net November 24, 2021, 6:14 pm

Lake Odessa Wave-Times-Fri. July 13, 1923

CHILD OF THIRTEEN KILLS SELF WITH GUN
Lillybell Fox, daughter of Clyde Fox, tired of Life. Lived With grandparents. 
found in yard by Chicken house.

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Crosby and sons Robert and Walter came to Lake Odessa Monday 
leaving their daughter Mary, and granddaughter, Lllybell Fox at home. When they 
returned they found, Lillybell gone and a search was made for her. While the 
grandfather was searching he grandmother went to the neighbors to telephone to 
County agent Haight as she was a state charge. As the girl had run away before 
the thought was that she had run away again.

It is stated that while Mrs. Crosby was gone the girl was found by Mr. Crosby in 
an unconscious condition and taken to the house, where her clothes were loosened 
and an injury noticed. At first it was thought she had been kicked by a horse. 
the child died soon after being placed on the bed.

Dr. C.H. Peabody was called and after examination of the wound told the family 
to look around and see what could be found. This was done and a shot gun was 
found near the chicken coop where other indications pointed to the impression 
that the child had shot herself placing the muzzle against her breast and 
reaching forward and pulling the trigger.

Mary Crosby, who was the only one left at home when the family went to town, 
stated that the girl had only been gone about 15 minutes when she missed here. 
She went o a neighbors to look for her. Miss Eldridge came home with Miss Crosby 
and helped to undress the child.

When County Agent Height arrived with Sheriff Cook, deputy O.H. Cook and Coroner 
Boynton, a jury was called consisting of George Robinson, Robert Ainsworth, R.D. 
Culmer, and James Buche. The jury was impaneled at midnight and adjourned after 
going over the case, to meet the last of the week.

It was said dents or marks were found on the chicken coop where the gun had 
rested for the shot to be fired. That the gun was rusty and it must have taken 
some effort to shoot it, as it was tried afterward. The charge passed just below 
the heart, passing through the lung and shattering the muscles of the back.

What the objet of the child could be to end her life is somewhat of a 
conjecture. Some one recalled the fact that she had planned to go and live with 
her father, Clyde Fox, who works at Mt. Clemens, and this had been objected to 
by relatives, thing it better for her to remain with her grandparents. Of course 
nothing definite seems to be known.

Her teacher, Miss Peacock stated that her marks at school were good, although 
sometimes her statements were peculiar. Apparently she was of a nervous 
temperament as she had run away before and gone to an aunt and a search made for 
her. This caused the last disappearance to be thought of as a runaway.

The child has had a varied experience in homes, her mother dying when the little 
girl was 8 years old. There were four children left, Louis 9, Lillybell 8, 
Carrie 6 and George 5. the children were taken in charge by the county agent, 
the boys sent to Cold Water and homes were found for the girls, Lillybell stay 
with her grand parents Mr and Mrs. Wm. Cosby. Later she went to live at the home 
of Mr and Mrs George Coon, then she went back to her grandparents, then to Cold 
Water, but was brought back to the Crosby home.

The funeral was held at the home Wednesday afternoon and burial was in Lake Side 
cemetery.

The tragedy is a topic of conversation in nearly every home and many phases of 
the event have been discussed. The paper has tried to get the situation as 
accurately as possible. The direct cause of the condition of the child's mind on 
that fatal afternoon will probably never be known.

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