DeKalb County Indiana Obituary
Viola Nodine Copeland
Contributed by Roselyn (Mills) Wells
March 20, 1919 Probably from the Waterloo Press
MRS. ORA COPELAND TOOK CARBOLIC ACID ROUTE Committed Suicide
on Tuesday Morning Death Shortly Followed Dead Body Found in the House
by Her Oldest Son - Woman Demented - Daughter of John Nodine East of Town.
Mrs. Ora Copeland, aged forty-one years, committed suicide at her home just
northwest of Butler Tuesday morning. She arose with the family as usual
and after doing up the morning work sent her two younger children to school,
the oldest son, aged 21, going to school with them. On his return home
he went to the house and found the dead body of his mother on the bed.
Investigation revealed the fact that she had taken carbolic acid with suicidal
intent. A number of years ago Mrs. Copeland suffered from scarlet fever,
at which time the entire family were victims of the disease. One daughter
was left in a weakened condition as a result and afterward died. Mrs.
Copeland's brother, Myron Nodine died last fall at Camp Taylor as a result
of the flu, and it is thought that the worry over her brother's death, and
the effect of the scarlet fever had much to do with her unbalanced condition
of mind and health. Mr. and Mrs. Copeland lived for a number of years
four miles east of Waterloo and only last week moved to their new home northwest
of Butler. The house in which they moved was rather small and it is
believed that she was also troubled over this, as it was with difficulty
that they could get all of their household effects in the house. W.
E. Byers, county coroner, went to Butler Tuesday afternoon to hold an inquest
and he rendered a verdict of suicide. Mrs. Copeland was considerably
burned from the acid, but she had taken a sufficient dose to cause her death
in a short time.