Towanda Masonic Butler County Kansas

Mrs. Paul Girod Takes Poison

Laudanum and Carbolic Acid

She Wanted To Die

Mrs. Paul Girod committed suicide at her home in the southwest part of the city last night by taking a dose of laudanum and a few minutes later a dose of carbolic acid. Mrs. Girod is a daughter of Mrs. J. M. Parrick, wife of the veterinary surgeon, by her first husband, J. E. Buckner. She was twenty-one years of age.

The story which lead to the terrible deed of last evening is a sad one indeed; Something over two years ago Paul Girod, an honest and a hard working young fellow, and his wife came to the city from Fairview township. Girod worked at the Delmonico, learning the baker’s trade under instructions of L. A. Bush. Later Bush acquired possession of the restaurant and some time later sold out. Mrs. Girod was working for him at that time, and Mr. Girod was employed in the bakery. Mr. Bush sent his wife back east after he sold the place, ostensibly intending to join her within a few months. While she was gone he roomed at the Girod home which was then in the first house west of Allebach’s shoe shop on Central Avenue. A growing intimacy sprang up between Bush and his apprentice’s wife, and Girod, becoming suspicious of her infidelity and finally becoming convinced that there were improper relations between the two, made the accusation to her and threatened to abandon her. She filed suit for divorce on the ground of extreme cruelty and the case is pending at this term of the district court. The court granted her temporary alimony and made an order on Girod who immediately went to Iowa presumably to escape the order.

It is said that Bush’s wife became cognizant of the state of affairs here and had returned to investigate. At first her fears were ahay and nearly dispelled but someone told her of rumors that had been around and she again became suspicious. Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Bush met Mrs. Girod and her mother on Main street and accosted them, asking an explanation of the relations between her husband the other woman. They went to Bush’s home, north of the G. A. R. Hall on railroad street to talk it over. Bush appeared while the two women were there. Mrs. Girod confessed the whole matter and Mrs. Bush offered her husband the alternative of choosing either his wife and child or Mrs. Girod. He decided to stay with his wife. The three talked and wrangled for several minutes and ended up by the two women attacking Bush, fighting, scratching and choking him. They were separated by Mrs. Parrick who took her daughter home.

As soon as they arrived home, about 7:45, Mrs. Girod went into her bedroom, the southwest room in the house and took about two teaspoonsful of laudanum which Dr. Parrick had kept to use in his practice. Her mother discovered that she had taken poison and informed her husband, who went to a neighbor’s after an emetie. While he was gone Mrs. Girod eluded her mother and snatching from its place of concealment a four ounce vial half full of carbolic acid, drank the contents at a single gulp and fell on the bed writing in horrible agony. She soon became unconscious. Drs. Miller and Koogler were called, but it was nearly half an hour after the act was committed and it was impossible to do anything to save her life. She died at 11:50.

The funeral will occur tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 o’clock.

Bush left town after midnight. (Walnut Valley Times, June 20, 1902, Volume XXXIII, #22)