Clark County WA Archives Obituaries.....Wirtz, Mabel April 1908
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Sheron Faynor nitwittwin@hotmail.com May 26, 2008, 2:32 pm

LaCamas Post April 4,1908
Mabel Wirtz Dies From Mercuric Poisoning
Her Lover Held On Manslaughter Charge

Mabel Wirtz of Portland,but who was born in LaCamas and lived here with her 
parents for a number of years,died in Portland,Monday,of poisoning,and he 
rlover,G.B.Whitney,a Forest Grove dentist,is held under a charge of 
manslughter,for procuring the poison. Whitney and the girl were engaged and 
their relations which finally resulted in tragedy are said to have been 
maintained for the last two months.
Whitney says the poison was given in suppositories,and that he did not know 
they contained mercury,but thought they were only a mild antiseptic.He claims 
that he obtained the suppositories of  a young jeweler in Forest Grove who 
sometimes worked in a drug store.The jeweler denies this.
When Miss Wirtz was taken sick she told the doctor it was caused by eating a 
hot tamale,and the doctor treated her for ptomaine poisoning until a short 
time before her death when Whitney confessed to the doctor.Dr.Gilbert then 
changed the treatment,but did not inform the parents of the true cause untl 
after her death.The body was to be cremated and ht efuneral was in progress 
when the certificate of death arrived,and the coroner at once took charge of 
the body.
At the inquest it was brought out that death resulted from corrosive 
poisoning,probably mercury,and Whitney is held on a charge of manslughter. He 
claims that the doctor promised to give the cause of death another name if he 
(Whitney) would settle for the medical services,but Whitney failed to raise 
the money and the true cause was given.
That Mis Wirtz's lfe might have been saved even after she became seriously ill 
was made plain at the inquest.While it was shown that Whitney confessed the 
truth as regards the cause of the girl's illness,it likewise appeared that the 
confession was belated an not given in due time.
Miss Wirtz was the daughter of Judge and Mrs. J.H.Wirtz of Forest Grove,and 
was aged 21 years. She was born at LaCamas,Wash.,but the most of her life was 
spent at Forest Grove with the exception of the last two years,during which 
period she was with her mother and brothers in this city.
A brother of Miss Wirt is a reporter for the Oregon Journal. 

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