The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-11-14
WEARY OF LIFE.

Thomas A, Maxwell Commits
Suicide by taking Strychnine.
The inquest-verdict Of the coroner's Jury.
Yesterday about noon our citizens
were startled by the announcement of
the sudden death Of TfomasA A, Max
well, AN old citizen of this county.
which took place atseDyer's hotel on
Eddy street during the forenoon.
1t was at first rumored that Mr.. Max
well had died from rheumatism of the
heart, but upon investigation the case
proved to be one Of deliberate suicide.
The circumstances are as follows:
On Thursday the 7th inst, Mr.. Max
well arrived from his ranch, on the
Chugwater; about fifty miles north of
Cheyenne, and took a room at Dyer's
hotel. He was in i'll health, being, as
he had been for a long time, a sufferer
from rheumatism. Soon after his ar
riyal he went to a physician and OBJ
tanned o prescription for his ailment,
but upon applying the remedy found no
relief therefrom. He next obtained
some medicine at one Of the drug stores
"a remedy of his own selection, but as
before, without relief. Becoming dis
couraged he resolved to put a period to
his existence, the manner and means
used being fully described in the fol-
lowing
Il TESTIMONY
as given by Witnesses in the presence
OF the coroner's jury:
Edward Gleason, night clerk at Dyer's
hotel, being sworn, testified az follows:
One of the hotel men told me that
Somebody was yelling and groaning up
stairs; upon going up I found Mr..
Maxwell In room 10, on his bed; his
hat, coat and boots had been removed,
and he was writhing and groaning, APP
parently suffering from cramps. l
asked him what was the matter, but
received no reply. l then asked him If
l should send for a doctor, and he re-
sponded, M, it will soon be over;
hold me, and don't let me get off the
bed" 1 took hold of him, but although
in great pain, he made no effort to get
of the bed. Then he grew worse, and
! told Lewis Vaneesbeck to run for n
doctor. He did so, and DR.. Russell
came. Maxwell died very soon after
his arrival. He died about 11:30 O'Clock
a. IN. I40HD (
Frank o. Beaucaire sworn: Am a
clerk in Hurlbut Brothers. drugl store.
This morning about z o'clock Thomas
A. Maxwell came into the store and
purchased a drachm bottle of strych-
nine, and also a two ounce bottle of
chloroform. The bottles of strychnine
and chloroform shown me here are, i
think, the same sold by me to Maxwell.
About one-third of the strychnine, i
should judge, has been removed. Three
fourths Of the original amount of chic
reform has also been taken out. l
asked Maxwell no questions concerning
the use he designed to make of the
drugs. 1t is customary to sell strych-
nine to stock men. They buy large
quantities of it to kill wolves. l have
also known Maxwell a long time; ]
saw nothing unusual this morning in
HIS appearance, and did not deem It
necessary to question him. In selling
unbroken packages of strychnine we ask
no questions; when we sell a few grains
we do.
DR.. G.. IL. Russell sworn: | was
called to Dyer's hotel about l1:3C
O'Clock, to see T. A. Maxwell, reported
very i'll. He was lying on the bed, and
breathed his last SOC after | arrived.
In a few minutes thereafter Marshal
Mcdonald, Constable Talbot, John H
Bishop and d. 1. Griffith, entered the
room. We began to investigate the
cause Of his death, and found botf
~strychnine and chloroform in the room,
A tumbler of water was also found
containing strychnine, and from which
he had evidently drank. Several pieces
Of paper which we found, upon being
put together, proved to be a recipe fol-
a corrosive liniment. His life might
have been saved If an antidote had
been administered soon after he took
the poison, but when found by Gleason
he was beyondhuman aid. The poison
had then taken too firm a hold upon his
system. 1 believe he took the strych-
nine to cause death, and the chloroform
iA> -u--f-A--<t ~
~ aiIoNiaUc pam.
Lewis Eaneesbeck sworn: Am day