Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Sansone, Carmela June 28, 1908
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Robert Woolfitt http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008401 January 23, 2024, 4:10 pm

Ledger-Star June 29, 1908
Mrs. Carmela Sansone Saturated Her Clothing with Gasoline Yesterday Afternoon 
and Then Applied a Match to It.
ILL-HEALTH CAUSE OF DESPERATE DEED
Mrs. Sansone Had Been Sick for a Number of Years and Her Suicide Had Been 
Threatened Before – She Had Been Watched for Some Time to Prevent Her from 
Taking Her Own Life.
Saturating her clothing with gasoline, then setting fire to them with a match, 
Mrs. Carmela Sansone, of No. 35 Virginia street, ended her life in a horrible 
manner yesterday afternoon. She was burned almost to a crisp. Ill-health was the 
cause of the terrible deed.
It was about 5:30 o’clock when Mrs. Sansone rushed out of her front door, a 
living torch, jumping frantically about the street. Neighbors saw her and gave 
the alarm. When near the corner of Riley and Virginia streets, she was overtaken 
by Gus Sansone, her little nephew, who tried to tear the burning garments from 
his aunt. Patrolman W. T. Allen, who lives within a few doors of the Sansones, 
was the next person to reach the woman and did all that was possible to give her 
relief. By this time the entire neighborhood was on the scene, but Mrs. Sansone 
had fallen to the pavement and was dead. Dr. R. S. Kight, the city coroner, was 
notified and responded in a few minutes. He viewed the body and summoned a jury, 
which will hold an inquest this afternoon at four o’clock.
The body of Mrs. Sansone was buried this morning at 11 o’clock. It was taken 
from the funeral apartments of H. C. Smith, on Bank street, and the funeral 
service was held at the graveside in St. Mary’s cemetery and was conducted by 
Rev. Father John A. Kelliher.
The following were the pallbearers: P. Contrada, Tony Grego, J. Lewis, George 
Joyce, E. G. Shellato and Frank L. A. Groos.
Had Threatened Suicide
Mrs. Sansone was the wife of N. Sansone, a vendor. She had been in ill-health 
for about eight years. Shortly after her husband left home yesterday afternoon, 
she sent her 4-year-old son, Tony, for a quart of gasoline. When the little 
fellow returned, she took the can and began sprinkling her dress with the 
contents. One of her children asked her what she was doing and she replied that 
she was putting perfume on her clothes. They looked at her for a few seconds and 
were then horrified to see their mother strike a match and apply it to her 
garments.
By those who saw the woman when she rushed into the street, it is said that the 
flames began from the bottom of her dress and soon enveloped her from head to 
foot. By the time assistance reached her almost every thread of her clothing had 
been burned off.
Sent for Gasoline
While there was nobody at the home of N. Sansone this morning, it was said by 
his brother, Angelo Sansone, of No. 26 Waverly street, that Mrs. Sansone had 
been in bad health for eight years. She had suffered so that she could scarcely 
speak above a whisper and was unable to eat solid food. It was also said by Mr. 
Sansone that his sister-in-law had threatened to end her life several times 
before and that a strict watch had been kept over her to prevent her doing so.
Besides her husband, the dead woman leaves five children – three boys and two 
girls, Philip, Frank and Tony and Anna and Janie. The eldest is 13 years and the 
youngest 2 years.
Angelo Sansone is not A. Sansone, of the Sansone Fruit Company, of 290 Main 
street.


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