Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-11-24
SUICIDE.
A Guest at the Burtis
House Found Dead
this Morning.

A Guest at the Burtis
House Found Dead
this Morning.
The people about the Burtis House were
shocked this morning at issrning that enc
ef the guests had bsss found dead in bic
bed upon the second ,or-resm %. Sseh
was the css,, and the psrtieslsrs Of The
melancholy affair are about ~ fslIsvs:
On Thursday evening last . gentleman.
absut fifty years Of age. respectfully clad,
arrived At tho Burtis House on the western
train, and registered N Charles l. john
son, Iowa." He Was no. an entire stranger,
having been at the house before, and ac-
quainted With several Of our citizens. Since
his arrival he spent the greater part Of his
time about the house, end seemed TO bs net
particularly engaged 10 any business trans.
actions here. but nothing Was noticed in
his actions or csnversation that would dis
tinguish him from any hotel guest laying
over a few days. On Friday he spent
social evening with Geo. II. Parker,
Esq, at his residence on Sixth e.,
aad appeared to Be happy and cheer
ful. On Saturday be was seen about
the streets, and yesterday also; and Il
about four o'clock west to the hstsl. when
he seemed 10 be il confused state Of mind,
inasmuch - he went int the wrong room
and laid down. This mistake Was rsoti6sd
and nothing Vas heard from him during
the night. Not appearing this morning, -
usual, at about eight o'clock, Dr.. Burtis
sent servant 70 see II ne was 10. He wss
reported still in bed, the door licked inside.
After waiting an hour Or % loasss The
Doctor directed the servant - 70 up again
and ascertain the cause Of his non n.appsar.
ancs. The door Vas still licked, and the
servant proceeded 10 the window, which 10
easily reached from the rsof Of the dining
room, and, upon raising the sash aud
opening the blinds, asssrtained that the
occupant Of the bed wss stark dead
Coroner Tcmssn was Immediately called,
who proceeded . investigate The matter.
On stand WAS found IN empty glass tum-
bier, with traces Of laudanum in It on the
floor pises Of brown wrapping % it came
from two ounce bottle. No bsttls was 70
b sees, but stepping out upon the reel,
he found at the farther side, the lower
part Of . tive ounce bottle, in the bottom Of
which vas unmistaksabls traces Of lauda-
NUN The label that adhered thereto
showed that il had been purchased At Hen
tington's drug store, and was properly
marked "Lsudanum-(Poisen)." This
explained the whole matter. No clue hss
been obtained to the cause Of this step
ne letters, papers. NO trace Or intimation
whatever Of any kind was left 10 reveal the
cause Of the awful deed. There was no
baggage, net paper Of any kind 10 bic
posssssion-nor . scrap Of msnsv 10 bis
pockstbook, but to oil appearance. entirely |
From Mr.. Parker We learn that the de- |
ceased was and has been for many years
! resident Of Tiffin, Seneca CO. Ohio, vas
cashier Of the Seneca county bank, fer >
opgwhils. He was once knswn 70 have
possessed great wealth, which may BE- the
Ease still for aught 10 known here. II 10
llso thought by Mr.. P. that the deceased
vas Interested in the enterprise here
knn.~ .. eh> A-.,;a.u N.~H..l D.l.>.l
Line, and that he was. perhaps, At the
lime Of his death, interested in the
Ti.Rn L Fort Wayne Road, which FERNS .
portion Of the American Central scheme.-l
At oil events. his life has come to sad ter.
ninstion. He was bachelor, we under.
stand. His friends in Ohio have been tels-
Zraphsd, and ere long ws shall know more
lbout the affair.
From Dr.. Yingling, former resident Of
rifin. new Of this city, W lsara that do.
ceased was formerly . highly influential
ind respected citissn Of that plass, a.
banker and capitalist. His
'ssstting sin Vas . craving fer strsng
lrink. He informed Ar. Y. that be stiIl
retained bonds . the amount Of 1lOo, 900
. the THIN and Fert Wayne Road, and
hat be had landed interests in Kentucky
hat be was On his way t. lsok after.
The Csrsnsr's inquest has bssa psstpsn.
ID until tomorrow, in srdsr that brother
II the deceased may arrive.
HAyRplY'a ArRNnRla -Thia teAus>a >h,nh |