CUNNINGHAM

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Monday, November 29, 2010 at 05:28:05 :

The Marin Journal
Thursday, January 27, 1910
Page 7

Ends Life By Drowning

After ten months’ confinement in Mill Valley Sanatorium for nervous troubles, Miss Alma Grace Cunningham, daughter of P. S. Cunningham of San Francisco, escaped from her room Saturday morning and ended her life shortly after by jumping into the reservoir.

She was missed that night and a search through the hills instituted.

Early Sunday morning her coat was found near a reservoir and a few hours later her body was recovered by dragging the reservoir. She was 26 years of age and an attractive young lady.

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Mill Valley Independent
Friday, January 28, 1910
Page 1

Young Woman Ends He Life By Drowning
Daughter of T. H. Cunningham of San Francisco Becomes Insane

A tragic case of suicide took place in Mill Valley Saturday night when Miss Grace Cunningham, who was living at Dr. Lamb’s sanitarium high up on the middle ridge, committed suicide during a moment of temporary insanity by throwing herself into the waters of the dam in the hills above the Cascades, about two and a half miles from the sanitarium.

The young woman had been a patient of the sanitarium for some time, and had suffered from nervous collapse since the earthquake. The treatment at the sanitarium had greatly benefitted her, and at the time of her tragic death she had so improved that her return home was contemplated. Usually she had an attendant when walking near the institution, but her improved condition caused her to enjoy absolute freedom. She disappeared late Saturday evening and on Sunday morning Fred Summers, a bellboy, discovered a pile of clothes on the edge of the dam. The body was later recovered from the waters.

Miss Cunningham was 26 years old. The body was buried Wednesday at the Holy Cross Cemetery.

The coroner’s inquest into the details of the young woman’s death was held by Coroner Sawyer on Thursday evening in the office of L. W. S. Downs on Corte Madera Avenue. A jury of local citizens heard the evidence of Dr. Lamb, Fred Summers, and Miss Cunningham’s father, who is prominent in the telegraph service of San Francisco. After 5 minutes deliberation the jury returned a verdict of death by drowning while temporarily deranged.