The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1877-08-30
SUICIDE.
A Beautiful Young Girl in Easton
Township, Near the Scene ofthe
Scrusgs Tragedy, Takes
Strychnime,
Unfounded Stories With Regard to
Her Character Supposed
to be the Cause.

On Wednesday evening coroner John
| Mckee was notified Of suicide which took
place in Easton towship, about twelve miles
| north from this city near the Atchison coun-
ty line, and within the immediate neighbor-
hood Of the terrible tragedy which was EN-
acted near Oak Mills on Sunday evening and
Monday morning. Not being able to go at
once he waited until yesterday morn
ing when he left here at six o'clock.
He arrived at the residenc. of Mr.. Thomas
Snoddy, where the deed was committed, in
good time, and after empaneling jury found
the following facts as produced by witnesses
examined:
Mr.. Thomas Gavin, who Is q weli-io-do far
mer, testified that the deceased was named
Annie Higgins, and that he adopted her
when she was five years of age,
and that she had lived with his family from
that time until she was fourteen years old,
after which she had worked out at various
times making his house her home up to the
present time.
Mr.. Thomas Snoddy gave in substance the
following: Near nine o'clock yesterday morn
ing went o my house and found things in
great confusion. On enquiry, learned that
Miss Higgins, or Gavin, she is known,
was believed TO be dyiDgIup airs. I asked "a
few Questions; don't recoilect their import
and then proposed TO my wife TO go for assist
ance. i went, and Mr.. Hand returned with
me- and when we came back she was dead.
The ladies present were Mrs. King and my
wife, Mrs. Hand and my daughter, Mrs. Pen
nington, Miss Mamie Better. Mr.. Price
and Mr.. Eegley were present. My attention
was called by one Of the ladies to
A NOTE
which was found under the pillow OH iie bed
Thu note was handed me and read il until /
was satisfied had made out the contents cor
rectiy.
THE NOTE.
The following note, without "A signature,
was then presented and read by thejury:
"There is one fair creature on this earth that
knows the sole cause of my death, and wish
them well. But If il is a thing that can be-
done, I'll haunt them day and night. Fare
well, kind friends, farewell-'
Mr.. Snoddy, continuing with his evidence,
said, that after her death he went to the near
est neighbor's house and found help To lay
the deceased on. When he returned, his
wife called his attention to 4 prescription, !
from Thompson : drug store, in Leavenworth, |
labelled /" S,rychnine," and further called at |
tention 10 small bits of paper, which, put to- |
gether, read "Strychnine," being portions of
a small envelope, in which the
POISON.
had been deposited. She came 10 his hou 81 |
in March, and has been here ever since. There /
had been no strychnine in che house since
1853.
John Hand testified that he saw deceased
4 week ago coming from a dance, and that
the told him she would be dead within two
weeks. She said she was going to kill herself
giving no reason at the time for her
statements. She further stated that one FL
en- Delaney was the only friend shad in this
world and was the one probably referred TO
N the note-ED)
Mrs. Thomas Snoddy testified that
he deceased had spoken Of
icing affected with heart disease
md was low spirited at times i'll consequence.
some talk about her also troubled her, but
Turing the last four weeks She seemed TO be
linking fast. She said Mr.. loves folks
tarted the talk and that She went TO see them
bout IL, and told Mrs. Lowe what she thought
f her. About 4 week after that, Mr.. Lowe
'vertonl; her, and she Told him what she
hought of him. She went to
'lCilit " |
ms grose. and at night 10 a dance
4 Mr.. Gavins. She went To town next day.
Thursday and before going said she
ould never so out without hearing
omething more about the character
nd mentioned sew eraI parties she thought of
uing il she could make anything. She said
he was going for medicine. on the Saturday
'revious she had been I" town 10 Sec the doc
l... \. |
thursday to get medicine. She said she was
ding to see Doctor Thomas. She return
d in the evening. ON Friday morning
he complained of being sick and remained
n bed all day, complaining Of a burning in
Ter throat. "On Tuesday told her was GO
ng to the funeral, tthe Scrugss matter,) and
he said all right. When / came back, she
ras worse. went up stairs and was talking
With her
ABOUT TIE MURDER.
She said that If she ever took anybody's
ife, ii would be her own. She said she was
at the window when the corpses
,assed, and it struck her sick, and she thought
he would die for a while. She ate her break
asst on "Wednesday morning and helped 10
lean up the dishes. l started away on a WIS.,
l., and tho ght 1 heard long breathing
|
thought Annie Was worse, and said would
nj cave her. Annie went up stairs, and my
itfle rand daughter saw her soon come down
With shawl Oh. She went to the safe, got a
facu :, and asked 10 have Mrs. Kelly sent up
% ..~r room, as she wanted to see her
The then went TO the well and drew a bucket
# water and went up stairs. Ms. King and
ny granddaughter said Tia At they would stag
With her while went away. / shortly heard
frs. King calling me. / ran out, and when l
OF home, found her in commissions.
he was dressed IN her night clothes
he was dying when reached her and pro-
ested against relief. She wanted somebody
ut did not say who, and called on God to
AXE her. In a few minutes she was dead.
THE VERDICT
the jury was rs follows:
TATE OF KANSAS, -
COUNTY,
An inquisition holden at the residence of ;
tsI hi. l.