The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1871-10-21
Special G CorrespOndence.-Trial
OF DIR. MedllcOtC for the Mar
der OF I. HI. Ruth.
GARNET, KANSAS,
Oct. Is, 1871.

7
a case which exeites the great
est public interest. The sup-
posed priOclpal actor in the
tragedy and who is now on
trial on the charge Of murder,
was formerly a Lieutenant In
Co. g. (Oapt. Ankrom) I'd Va.
Cavalry, and is well known to
a great many of your readers.
Therefore, thinking it might be
an item OF interest, | Will give
you a synopsis OF its history
down to the present time.
On the morning of the 9th
of April, the city of Lawrence
was startled with the report
that Isaac n. Ruth was dead.
The circumstances are, as far
as | have been able to learn,
that Ruth had gone home
from the Office (he being bust
ness manager of the Lawrence
Tribupe) on the evening OF
the 26th, apparently in usual
health. That during the eve>
ming DR.. John j. Medlioott had
called, and they had played
chess together, until about 9
o'clock, when the doctor left.
After which, Ruth goes to the
room occupied by the children,
and tells the oldest boy to be
careful and turn down his light
before going to sleep, and bade
him good night. A little dog,
which had usually slept in the
room with Ruth, was driven
out, and the little girl who had
been accustomed to sleep with
him in the mothers absence,
was told TO sleep with the 9th D..
er children, Mrs. Ruth being
absent, having that morning
gone to Leavenwolth, No
noise or alarm was heard dur.
!, ing the night. In the morning
the Oldest boy, finding that
|, Ruth did not get up, went TO
waken him, but found the door
locked. lie then pried the
window open and; saw Ruth
lying on the bed, pale; he be,
comes alarmed, runs and calls
DR.. Medlicott; they enter the
room through the window and
find themselves alone with
the awful dead, with the
light still burning, open news
papers lying beside him, and
the deceased lying comfortably
in the bed. The room was soon
lhronged, and in searching the
clothes there was foun1 writ
ten In his memorandum book
the folio wing: ..
DARLING: Doctor-Imean DR.. Med.
licots-gave Inc a quinino powder,
Wednesday night, April Goth. The
effects are these: | have terrible
sensation Of rush Of blood to the
head, and my skin burns and itches
l am becoming numb and blind. |
can scarcely hold my pencil, and can
not keep my mind steady. Perspira-
ton stands out all over my body, and
l feel terribly. The clock has just
struck II, and took the medicine
about 1880 p. m. / write this so that
if | never see you again you may
have my body examined and see
what the trouble is. Good bye, and
ever remember my last thoughts we're
of you. 1 can not see to write more.
God bless you, and may we meet in
heaven. Your loving husband,
]. M. RUTH.
A post mortem examination
of the body revealed the pres-
enee Of morphine in the
stomach. The jury rendered a
verdict that the deceased came
to his death from the effects Of
a narcotic poison, administered
as they had reason to believe,
through the instrumentality OF
DR.. John Medlicott Medli-
colt had in the meantime been
, arrested and confined in Jail.
On the 22d of July Judge
, Barrett granted a change of
venue to this county. During
the time from the death of
Ruth and the order for change
of venue, the prosecution, it is
said,had Ruth's bodyre examin.
, ed in the East, where he had