OBIT: Mayme PRICE, 1909, Myerstown, Lebanon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Nancy Lorz

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YOUNG WOMAN TAKES HER LIFE

Miss Mayme Price Swallows Poison and Expires in the Cigar Factory Building 
of A. S. Valentine & Sons, Where She was Employed.  Happy and Jovial up to 
the Time of Her Taking the Deadly Drug.  Parents Grieved at the Sudden and 
Unexpected Death of Their Daughter

  Sorrow entered the family circle of Mr. and Mrs. George E. Price, of East 
Richland St., on Monday afternoon, and the circumstances connected 
therewith, has brought a shadow of sadness that not alone stunned the 
members of the family into an almost unconsolable state, but to their 
friends and citizens of this town generally, great sorrow was expressed.
  Miss Mayme Price, a daughter, seemingly preferred death to life, and to 
end her earthly existence, she swallowed a dose of strychnine poison, which 
accomplished its intended purpose.
  Since the establishment of the cigar factory of A. S. Valentine & Sons at 
this place, Miss Price was one of the trusted employees.  Her adroitness in 
assorting right and left hand cigars, together with labeling of box cigars, 
classed her as an expert and her readiness to do her work was a trait highly 
admired by the manufacturers and management of the factory.
  Due to the taking account of stock, the cigarmakers were laid off from 
work over the christmas holidays, and only the packers, handy men and Miss 
Price were ordered to work Monday morning. 
  Miss Price, as was her custom in the past started in with her work jovial 
and happy on Monday morning, not failing to speak or joke with those who 
passed her in performing their respective duties about the factory building, 
and in this frame of mind she continued until the noon hour.  After 
partaking of the dinner meal at the family home, she resumed her work still 
jovially inclined and displaying no sign of worriment or sickness.
  Shortly after 1 o'clock Miss Price complained to Mr. Kapp, foreman of the 
factory, as feeling unwell and she was requested to lie down until relieved.  
Proceeding to the stock room of the factory Miss Price laid upon a large box 
used for the storing and seasoning of cigars.  Half an hour thereafter as 
Mr. Adam Schaeffer a stock man, was passing thru an adjoining room, he was 
attracted by groans indicating distress, and upon investigating, found the 
young lady lying face downward upon the box and seemingly in great agony.  
He raised and spoke to her but received no reply.  Other workmen in the 
building at the time were called for who at once recognized the serious 
condition of the young lady.  Spasms had overtaken her and the employees 
tried to revive her by placing water on her forehead and using other means 
to stay what then appeared be agonies of death.
  In the meantime Dr. A. Gernert was summoned and upon the first glance at 
the young woman's face, readily recognized the nature of her illness and the 
seriousness of her condition.  Hypodermics and other methods were used to 
stay the ravages of the deadly drug, but it proved of no avail and death 
followed while the doctor and Mr. Kapp were using all in their power to 
revive her.
  When the young lady was found she was in the stages of convulsions and in 
that condition she continued until life left her body.
  Deputy Coroner Thomas Kohr, of Lebanon, arrived at this place in the 
evening of same day, and after a consultation with Dr. Gernet, he was 
confident that the death of Miss Price was by herself, and that the deceased 
purchased the deadly poison from one of the local drug stores a short time 
prior to draining it down her throat.
  Since the departure of Miss Price, instances occurred prior to her first 
stage of sickness that shows how well she had planned a secret ending of her 
life.  The lady was noticed at a water spigot in the building, and after 
securing water in a receptacle, she proceeded around the east side of the 
building rarely used by the employees and to an outer building she mixed the 
powdered poison with the water and drank it.
  It is said by various employees of the factory that the young lady 
repeatedly threatened to commit suicide.  Her life seemingly had been made 
miserable by a love affair.
  Last Saturday Miss Price became 21 years of age.  Surviving are her 
parents Mr. and Mrs. George E. Price, three sisters, Mrs. Walter Wagner, and 
Misses Elsie and Leah, and three brothers Wm. of Reading; Harry and Charles 
at home.
  The funeral will take place this (Friday) afternoon from the family home.  
Services will be conducted at the house by Rev. A. E. Youse, and interment 
will be made on Union cemetery.  Services and interment strictly private.
  Miss Price was a member of the local Lutheran church and Sunday school.

Myerstown Enterprise, January 1, 1909