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Obit For Bland (Bayless) Martin
Headline Sad Death
Text A message was received in Cassville Friday morning to the effect that Mrs. Bland Martin was found dead Thursday evening at her home in Kansas City. The following clipping from the Kansas City Journal tells about the particulars of her death:

Suspended from a curtain rod in a doorway by a piece of clothes line, the body of Mrs. Bland Bayless Martin, wife of William Pharis Martin, an insurance man, was found late yesterday afternoon by her husband when he returned to their home on the second floor of an apartment house at 1606 East Thirty Third street. The body was sent to the undertaking rooms of Freeman & Marshall by Dr. Harry Czarlinsky, coroner.

The cause for the suicide is not known. Mrs. Charles C. Martin, mother-in-law of the unfortunate woman, said last night a sudden fit of insanity must have led the young wife to kill herself.

"She was at my home yesterday and several times complained of a pain in the back of her head," the elder Mrs. Martin said. "I thought nothing of it at the time, but now I believe she may have suffered some temporary mental derangement. She and my son were happily married and was building a new home in Morning Side Park. I know of no cause for her to take her life. She was 27 years old."

William Pharis Martin, 31 years old, has an office in the Waldheim building. It was his custom to telephone his wife just before he started home to supper. He did this about 5 o'clock yesterday but the call was unanswered. Thinking his wife had left their flat for a few moments, he went directly home.

Entering his apartment and going into the dinning room he was started to find his wife's body. Immediately he called for help. The woman was released from the cord. The frantic husband then endeavored to bring her back to life and would not leave the body until Coroner Czarlinsky told him there was no hope that Mrs. Martin could not be revived.

Martin collapsed and was taken by friends to the home of his mother, 1004 Lindwood Boulevard.

Mrs. Martin was formerly Miss Bland Bayless, daughter of the late J. M. Bayless, and was born and reared to womanhood in Cassville. The news of her death brought grief to her many friends and associates here. Her mother, Mrs. Mary Bayless of Claremore, Okla., who was at the time attending an aunt, Mrs. Charity Sooter, of near town, went to Kansas City, Friday night.

Her body was shipped to Claremore where interment was made Sunday.

Besides a mother and husband she is survived by one sister and five brothers. They are Mrs. Fanny Davis, Guy, Earl, Ross, Burk and Wayne, all of Claremore.

They have the deepest sympathy of many friends here in their bereavement.
Newspaper or Funeral Home Cassville Republican
Date September 18, 1913, Thursday
Death Cert Link Death Certificate
Resource State Historical Society of MO
Submitted by Donna Cooper