The Leavenworth weekly times., 1875-08-05
HENRY HOOVER

D,on. from the Ragged Edge" Of Trouble,
with a Teaspoonfui OF Arsen'c IN hi'
Stomach.
Henry Hoover was an old and respected
citizen of Atchison. For many months lie
has been unable TO do any physical labor
owing to bodily inGrmities, and has been
a sort OF charge upon his family. Night
betore last he ended his life, and the cir
cumstances connected with the sad suicide
bring TO light a condition OF things that
would seem barbarous among the most de-
,raded barbarians that inhabit the globe,
and lack Of filisl affection that 1t seems
hardly possible to exist, especially IN this
era of civilization. 1t has called forth the
Indignation Of every respectable citizen who
has heard of the many brutalities attendant
upon the case, and the ungratefulness and
tudied cruelty OF the poos old mans DIS
reputable daughter, his shameless son and
unprincipled wife is denounced bitterly, as
not only unmanly and unwomanly, but SO
utterly contemplate and barbarous as to
receive the execrations OF everybody.
For months past, as the testimony before
the coroner's jury showed, Hoover has been
a victim OF the malicious attacks OF his
wife, son and daughter-in-law, and the
home that should have been q haven of
rest to him in his old declining days, was
rendered a hell on earth by their mistreat-
ment of the old man. 1t wac more than he
could bear. and he determined upon put
ting an end to the life that had become 20
sad burden to him. Monday forenoon he
came down in town and purchased an
ounce of arsenic, enough to have killed a
dozen men, and took il to his home. AT
noon he told his wife and daughter that he
could no longer stand the life he was COM
relied TO lead by reason OF their malicious
cruelty. This final plea for peace met with
ieers and dares to take il, and without fur
her ado, the old man emptied whole tea
gpoonfull OF the fatal drug into his mouth
and swallowed it. Not hand was raised
to prevent it, and one OF the witnesses
swore that the abandoned daughter-in-law,
Mag Hoover, as the poor old man was
pleading for peace, replied to him in these
words: Take it, you old whelp, and hope
j; will kill you"
NOt lne least dtteilllOn Wac paiu " eho
old man, and the fatal poison was allowed
10 be absorbed without one hand being
raised to remedy the rash act. Unnoticed
and uncared for, he who had spent his
years Of life that his family might enjoy
The comforts Of home, was refused even a
bed to lay upon, and lay himself down upon
the floor of back porch. Here he re-
mained uncared for until nearly six O'Clock.
No physician was sent for, no remedy ap-
piled, and three hours passed before even a
neighbor was apprised Of the deed, and then
i; was through information outside OF the
family. At seven O'Clock some citizens
brought a physician around, but it was OF
no avail. The deadly poison had done Its
work Even his son, jerome Hoover, was
not informed of the act until six o'clock in
the evening, and the old man was almost
unconscious when he arrived, He and his
wife did everything in their power for him,
hut it was too late; at half-past ten O'Clock
he hreathed his last.
The inhuman feelings OF his son William,
his shameless daughter-in-law and wife,
displayed itself at the coroner's inquest held
10y Dr. Bryning yesterday. Throughout,
they appeared Indifferent to everything
and not a sign of regret was visible.-dtGki-
soa Champion, J,ly 7n.