“Belle Roberts, a domestic, employed at the Palace Hotel, committed suicide at that hostelry by taking a dose of carbolic acid. Despondency, caused by disappointment in love, is the reason given. The case was a remarkable one, inasmuch as the victim wrote letters in which she jokingly referred to what she was about to do a few moments before she emptied the poisonous fluid into her mouth.”
“The girl had been working at the hotel for more than a year. She was pretty, of a quiet disposition, and when in her best humor talked but little. It seems that she gre despondent Sunday night. On this occasion she was invited to take a walk by one of the other girls in the hotel. The invitation was accepted, but Belle had nothing to say to her companion, and in answer to her questions she would only shake her head. Her strange action of Sunday night were told to her other companions, but she had acted in a similar manner before. Monday she worked all day in the linen-room, where she was engaged. She was still despondent, and did little or no talking. it was shortly before 8 o’clock when she retired to her room. Here she wrote the following letters. One was addressed to Thomas Ronand, C&O shops, Covington, Kentucky.”
“‘Dear Tom- I will write you a few words of good-bye. No doubt you will laugh when you get them, but never mind; it will all come out in the washing. So read the papers on May 12-13. Perhaps you will see what will surprise you. so good-bye and God bless you. -Belle'”
“Ronand is thought to be her sweetheart.”
“The other letters were written to other employees of the house.”
“‘Mrs. Kate- Please send for Alma just as soon as you get this, at 2122 Grand Avenue, Walnut Hills. tell May I hope she will some day find out how much cause she had for treating me as she did today. Good-bye. -Belle'”
“Dear Little Emma- Don’t you blush when you read this, for my wheels are turning as usual. just look at our pictures and see how sweet we were (nit). Your friend, Belle.'”
“After writing these letters she sat down upon the bed and drank the greater portion of four ounces of carbolic acid. It was nearly 9 o’clock when she was found, just as she was breathing her last. Coroner Haerr was at once notified and viewed the remains. the dead girl’s sister, whom she mentioned in one of her letters, was sent for and took charge of the remains.”
“The unfortunate girl came here from Greenup County, Kentucky, where her stepfather, John Messer, still lives. He was notified of her death.”1
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