Suicide Verdict Returned in Death of Student Nurse

A coroner’s verdict of suicide was returned today in the death at Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri April 11, 1933 of Miss Wanda H. Nicholas, 19 year-old student nurse.

Miss Nicholas, in training at the hospital since last September, died following a brief illness. An autopsy showed only an enlargement of the thymus gland. Analysis of the stomach contents, however, showed traces of strychnine. Hospital attaches testified Miss Nicholas suffered a nervous breakdown last November, but resumed her training after a short rest.

Her home was in Olney, Illinois. Burial in Haven Hill Cemetery, Olney.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO) – Wednesday, April 26, 1933

Miss Wanda Henrietta Nicholas, 19, daughter of Mr. and  Mrs. Edwin L. Nicholas died quite suddenly last night, April 11, 1933 at Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, where she became ill of a heart attack and passed away in a short time.

Miss Nicholas was graduated from the Olney High School in 1931 and in September of that year she entered nurse’s training in the Jewish Hospital, making the highest rank in her class.

She is survived by her parents and two sisters, Mrs. Charles Mullinax and Miss Fern Nicholas of Olney;  also a nephew, Paul Mullinax and a neice, Jean Mullinax.

Published in Olney Advocate (IL) – April 13, 1933