Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-11-15
A FATAL ERROR.
The Mistake Of q Cincinnati
Druggist Kills a Citizen.
From the CiucinnAtl Gazette.

The entire community was shocked
Yesterday when il learned of the sud-
den and unexpected death of Mica
jahl- Bailey, a prominent provision
broker of twenty-five years standing
in Cincinnati.
lie died from the effects of a large
dose of cyanide of potassium, put up
by Il druggist through mistake, in
stead of .te,Yocynide of potassium.
Tho druggist, August F. Woesten,
was arrested and is now under $4,000
bonds for his appearance
Micajah Bailey, the victim of this
unfortunate tragedy, was born In
Virginia, 6S years ago. Born OF QUA
kcr parents, and beinga firm believer
in that faith, he left tho state of his
birth in early manhood, and removed
to the free state of Ohio, settling at
Wilmington. lie was one of the
original Abolitionists, and many a
fugitive slave owes to his exertions
the freedom he sought in Canada
In Wilmington, Mr.. Bailey first Went
into the hat business, and was sue
cessful. He added the dry goods and
merchandise branches to his large
trade, and was still successful. These
were yet too limited for his broad
views of mercantile operations, and
he embarked in pork packing. For
a while he was successful, but revcrs-
es came, and he left Wilmington for
Cincinnati, with nothing but a good
character and business qualifications,
in the year 1876. He embarked In
business as provision broker, which
no has followed ever since, with va
rying success and misfortuncs. AT
the time of his death, although not
possessed Of much of this worlds
goods, he was universally respected
and esteemed by the merchants OF
Cincinnati, and it might be said that
his word was rs good as his bond.
1t was not alone in the line of bust
ness that Mr.. Bailey was honored.-
His boundlcss charities, his self. deny.
ing efforts to alleviate the sorrows
and afiliction of his fellow men, made
him beloved wherever he was known
and that was almost everywhere
Possessed Of fair knowledge of thu
science of medicine, which he studied
in his youth, he was ever on hand a
the sick-bed with his counsel, and hi
services as nurse. When the cholert
broke out in 1S49, he was untiring in
his efforts to help the destitute anG
needy. Day and night he was nurs
ing and attending the wants of thos'
too poor to pay the necessary expen
ses of hired nurses. After the cpl
demic abatcd in this city and brok'
out in Sandusky. Mr.. Bailey was 9
volunteer to 60 to that city at his owl
expense, to nurse the sick, and give
the terrified citizens the benefit Of hi
, counsels and experience. During tn
cholera seasons of 1852 and 1866, MI
, Bailey pursued the same praiseworth..
, course, and people now live to bles
him for his heroic exertions, AM
mourn his taking-of by an unfortu
: nate blunder, while in the prime o
his usefulness. During the war h
q was prominent and effective mem
I Der of the Sanitary Commission AM
v was instrumental in alleviating mucl
suffering in the field hospitals, by hi
0 personal presence.
;, He has always been consisten
e member of the orthodox society Q
TIlCuuS, nhu ACS uAoils otSCuuOA pnu
lie worship at the meeting house col
|, ner of Eighth and Mound streets, q
# which congregation he was one G
c the pillars. 1t was said of him yes
= terday, that had he died twenty year
ago, when his name and his fame fo
charitable deeds were III the mouth
Of everybody, no one could have die
more regretted, or could 60 little hav
O been spared. Having passed tho mt
9 ridian of life, and grown in the cours
a of nature unable to take such activ
!. part in charities as formerly, exccI
in the immediate locality of his ow
II home, he goes to the grave remen
bered by hundreds who have bee
d the recipients of his bounty quartz
Of a century ago, and rcvcred and bt
|. loved by those who have been int
Is mate with him in his later years.
G Mr.. Bailey was twice married. III
@ last wife survives him. One of Ii
j. sons, David II. Bailey, is America
;. Consul at one Of the ports of Chin'
= Another son lives in California; on
I of his daughtcrf is the wife of Josep
4 Guest, of the firm Of Guest Il Atkil
r. son another the wife Of G. q. God
| ESQ another daughter, widow, II
j. sides in Wilmington. Besides thcs
" he has three or four younger chi
- drcn at home.