SAD DEATH

A sad death occurred on Sabbath evening last, that of Miss Mary Littlejohn, daughter of Mr. John Littlejohn, on the west hill from drinking ammonia on the Thursday morning previous.  For a year or more past she had suffered from intense religious melancholia, and a close watch was successfully kept on her that she did herself no harm, until last Thursday morning, when she waned just after her mother had left her to prepare breakfast, found a bottle of ammonia, which had been procured but a day or two before, and with a most determined effort swallowed it.  Most intense agony was the immediate result, and her screams soon brought her family to her and shortly after Dr. Bishop, who was immediately summoned, who relieved her terrible suffering as much as possible, but the quantity she had taken was too great to be wholly neutralized, and on Sunday evening she died.  Her funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon and was largely attended.  She was a general favorite with her acquaintances, who highly respected and esteemed her.

[Submitter’s notes: copy of tombstone at Oakwood Cemetery reads  Mary C. Littlejohn born May 8, 1847  died Aug. 27, 1882]

Sharon Herald, Mercer Co., PA, USA

Friday 01 Sep 1882 page 3