OBIT: Sarah DONLEY KILLIAN, 1905, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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AGED WOMAN TAKES HER LIFE.
Mrs. Sarah Killian Plunged a Case Knife Into Her Throat and Bleeds to 
Death, Having Severed the Jugular Vein.

  Standing outside the kitchen door at her home, 2015 Fifteenth avenue, 
Mrs. Sarah Killian, aged 62 years, last evening at 6:30 o'clock plunged 
a dull and blunt case knife into her throat, severing the jugular vein, 
and as she leaned against the house bled to death, only falling in the 
snow with the last dying gasp.
  Attacked with stomach trouble three weeks ago, Mrs. Killian became a 
victim of mental aberration.  She worried over her son, Michael Donley, 
who is employed at night by the Pennsylvania railroad.  She feared he 
was to be arrested.  When he got ready for work last night, she begged 
him to remain in the house, as officers were waiting for him outside.  
He tried to pacify her by staying at home.  Mrs. Killian and her son 
Michael lived with the former's son Edward.  Michael, Mrs. Edward 
Donley and the latter's two children were at home when Mrs. Killian 
took her life.  After her family had partaken of the evening meal and 
cleared away the dishes, Mrs. Killian put on her overshoes and hood and 
stepped into the back yard.  Her continued absence alarmed Mrs. Donley 
and she went out in search of her.  As she opened the kitchen door, 
Mrs. Killian fell over in the snow dead.
  Deputy Coroner McCartney was notified and repaired to the house.  It 
was not known that she had taken her own life until he arrived.  The 
case knife was found in the snow.  It must have required great strength 
to force the knife into the flesh as it was dull.  No inquest will be 
held.
  Sarah Killian was born in County Galway, Ireland, and was aged 62 
years.  She was twice married, her first husband being Patrick Donley 
and the second Patrick Killian.  Both died in Ireland and in 1900 she 
came to Altoona to make her home with her son.  She was a member of St. 
John's Catholic church and is mourned by two sons, Edward and Michael 
Donley, two stepsons, Peter and Martin Donley, and one sister, Mrs. 
Margaret Tierney, the latter in Ireland.

Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., January 7, 1905, page 1