Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Courier, March 21, 1899, p. 1, extra edition. Note: The surname is spelled both Herbin and Herben in the article. MONDAY MORNING EXTRA YOUNG GIRL COMMITS SUICIDE A Lover's Quarrel, a Dose of Morphine and Life is Extinct. Bert Sanders, the Young Man In the Case, Now in Jail. The Jealousy of the Lovers Lead to the Rash Act. Insanely jealous over each other, two youthful lovers decide to end their existence with poison. The girl was successful, the young man failed in his attempt and is now in jail. Miss Effie Herbin, who committed suicide early yesterday morning was the sixteen year old sweet-heart of Bert Sanders, a twenty year old boy who formerly worked at the telephone exchange, and later engaged in bill posting. Miss Herbin came to this city from Salt Creek township two years ago. She has worked as a domestic for several prominent families. Their courtship began last October, and notwithstanding they had even more than their share of lover's quarrels and temporary estrangements, their wedding day was set for three weeks hence. The girl, it appears, would occasionally keep company with other young men, and this inconstancy caused his [sic] lover much anxiety, and in brooding over his imaginary ill treatment he decided to end his troubles by suicide. With this end in view he went to the Bowles drug store Saturday and, unobserved, secreted in his coat pocket a bottle filled with morphine. About 10 o'clock Sunday morning he went into the drug store again looking strange and scared. Lewis Krueger said to him, "What is the matter, Bert?" "She has killed herself," he said, meaning his girl. "What did she do it for," was asked? "Jealously," he said. Mr. Krueger then asked the young man what the girl had used. "Morphine," was the reply. He was then asked as to where she got it. To this Bert answered that the girl had taken it out of his pocket. "But where did you get it?" "I stepped behind the case and took it off the shelf." Mr. Krueger had heard enough, and fearing the young man himself was going to make a second tragedy, he led him to the door. Saturday accompanied by Miss Herbin he visited his mother, at the corner of Eighth and Rogers streets. The couple then started to the home of Sherman Pate, an uncle of the girl, who lives on north Lincoln street. When they reached the corner of Seventh and Lincoln Sanders told his sweet-heart that he intended to kill himself with morphine. Miss Herbin took the poison from her lover, and told him that she intended to kill herself. As she had before frequently threatened to take her life, Sanders says that he did not think she meant to kill herself. She retired to her room about 9 o'clock and it was not until early yesterday morning that her uncle knew that she had taken the drug. A physician was called but the unfortunate girl was past all medical skill, and died without regaining consciousness. The following letter was found in her room written by Sanders: Bloomington. March, 18-99 My Dearest Darling. I have got the stuff I said I was going to get and I swear to take every grain of it. Effie darling I love you better than my life and if you will not do as I ask of you, why should I live to see you wed another my God why do you treat me so and how can you do it. Why darling every bone in my body aches with love for you and to think that you do not love me, don't say Darling you do for if you did you would do as I ask of you. Darling when you was so good and true to me it was the happiest hours of my life it seemed like going out on a bright spring morning and breathing the fresh air, and picking wild flowers. But Darling when I picked you I thought you were the sweetest Little Rose bud I ever saw, and I do yet, stronger than ever. But I am afraid you are a wild flower that can't be tamed. I have got a strong thought of taking my own life, and if I pass away in slumber deep, think of me Darling and that you were loved by me. Think of the words I said and see if I didn't try to make a little lady of you for you are so sweet and beautiful, and I am not good looking, don't care to be, I suppose you can't love me on that account. Well darling if you are looking for beauty I can't say where to find it, but I hope you can find the one you can love some day or as soon as possible. I wish you lots of good luck and that you may do well, and if you find me dead, darling, please kiss my cold lips once and think of what I said to you. From your once loved boy Good by [sic], Darling, forever your Darling. BERT Just before swallowing the morphine Miss Herbin wrote the following note to Sanders: My Darling Bert, I said I would take that and I will, oh, God. I love you darling better than my own life. And for you I will die. I said that I would not come in here, but I am here now and come in here after this pencil, but I love you with all my heart. Oh, darling, kiss me when I am dead and so cold, oh, darling good by [sic] until we meet in heaven. Bury me in town, Your beloved darling. EFFIE. Coroner Harris viewed the remains, and rendered an opinion in accordance with the above facts. There was no evidence of undue intimacy between the young couple. As Sanders had threatened to take his own life it was thought best to place him in jail for safe keeping. The girl's brother, J. H. Herben, of the north part of the state, will arrive this afternoon. It is stated that he is a man of means and that he will attend to the burial of his sister, which will be at Rose Hill. It is stated that Miss Herben had attempted suicide once before, and that her father has been in the insane asylum. Constance T. 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