Smith, Frances Claudine

Frances Claudine Smith
1883-1909

Niles Daily Sun, Thursday, April 8, 1909, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library


    Miss Claudine Frances Smith of Niles, who attempted to commit suicide at South Bend by taking morphine but who was thought to be recovering, died yesterday at her apartments in that city.
    The remains were brought to Niles last evening by Undertake Price and taken to the home of a half-sister of the deceased, Miss Mary Smith, 723 Grant street.
    The funeral will be held tomorrow at 2 o'clock, Rev. F.H. Clapp, officiating.  Interment will occur at Silver Brook cemetery.
    The unfortunate young woman was 26 years of age and had spent almost her entire life in Niles until she went to South Bend a few years ago.
    Besides her mother who is Mrs. Ed. Shepherd of West Niles, three sisters and three brothers besides two half-sisters survive her.
    Despondency over an unrequited love affair is said to have prompted the girl to take her life.  That the rash deed was premeditated is shown . . .[illegible]. . . procured the poison on a physician's prescription which she claimed she wanted for her sick mother.  After having the prescription filled the second time, she took the two fatal doses at once.
Niles Daily Sun, Monday April 12, 1909, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library


    South Bend, April 12--The recent death of Miss Frances Smith of Niles in an east side rooming house under rather suspicious circumstances, has attracted much interest and many wondered why a more thorough investigation was not made.  The woman died of morphine poisoning according ot the death certificate of Dr. Burget, but the question as to how the morphine was administered whether by her own hand with suicidal intent or not, was never investigated.
    Coroner Stanley Clark says he was not notified and the body having now been taken out of Indiana he has no jurisdiction.