The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-02-09
DOCKs sAD TER DEAD,
He Succeeds. in His Attempt at sui
cide-WhO Tie Was and the Prob.
able Cause.


A. B. Dockstsdter, VINO took five ounces
oflaudanum Monday, to terminate his life,
succeeded. All the efforts of the physicians
failed to save him, and he expired about
l O'CLOCK yesterday morning.
Justice Edwards, acting coroner, empan-
neled the following jury of inquest to in
quire into the causes of his death E. w.
Smith, T. @. Hagsrt, G. e. DeBeck
Louis Lenway, Ben Davis, and
M. II. Dixon. The jury viewed
the remains after which the testimony of
witnesses was neard.
James McGnly, the frat witness, was
sworn and said: saw crowd gather at the
Crutchiield house yesterday; they asked me
to assist them with the deceased; | did so; the
deceased died about 1890 o'clock last night,
and never spoke at any time; Drs.
Garter, Crowdus, Leske and Hardin
were present; deceased had some vals on
his person labeled lsudsnum
Mike Roe, the second witness, testified: |
was called yesterday evening about
o'clock to SEQ the man who
WAS dying at tho Crutchdeld house ia this
city, corner of Houston and Main streets.
found several doctors and other persons
there. identified him rs A. B. Dockstadter.
Judge Good read me note that deceased
had with him before he died, saying that he
had left to me 10 give to his family 1860.
l have known deceased for eight years. De-
ceased was a resident of Grsyson, Collin and
Dallas counties, He was railroad man.
DR.. Garter, the third witness, testified: l
was called yesterday evening to see man
named A. b. DocksLadter at the Orutchfeld
hotel, who was supposed to bedying. Upon
examination / fouHd IS well as could be, that
the man hsd swallowed fatal dose
of laudonum. Everything in connection
with the case indicated that opium caused
the death; | was aided by Drs. Leake and
Hardin in doing al that could be done to
restore the man to life, but he expired at
1890 last night from the effects Of the lsuda-
nun.
The jury returned verdict that the de.
ceased came to his death by an overdose of
lsudanum administered by his own hands.
On further examination of the clothes of
the deceased Il note was found in his vest
pocket stating that in the lining of his vsse
was q silver watch, Of the Elgin make, and it
was even so. Mr. Roo took charge of
the vGlise and opened ii 1t contained u lot
of neat clean underwear, pair of overalls,
and lot of other articles necessary to the
comfort and convenience st man on the
road. He had needle.bOol, thread, coat.
plaster, scissors, comb, brush, looking glass,
etc. Among other things was his memoran-
dun book, which gave the postoflice address
Of his father, Henry j. Dorkstadter, and bis
son Harry II. Dockstsdter, Fonda, Mont.
gomery county, New York, and his daughter,
Miss AIdie Dockstsdter, Hon, Herkrone
county, New York In pocket in his book
were several photographs one of himself,
token by Bolton, of Denison, Texas, and one
each Of his children, "A sprightly looking boy
and girl Of six or eight summers, which
were taken nj Fonda, New York.
The deceased appears TO have been Of
q scientific turn Of mind, and evidently spent
the greater portion Of his time in getting up
patents, such ms car couplings signal lights,
endless rails and q ballast car. There were
letters in his valise from all the heads of rail-
roads in this state, ss well as those of the
principal roads throughout the United
States They were generally of dlscour-
aging nature, though some Of them spoke
favorably of the feasibility of his patents.
He had secured pa:eNt through Mum &
Co., for his ballast car, aud was in fair
way to procure patent on his endless
rail. Among his list of letters
in regard to his latter invention is letter
from General Eads, the celebrated engineer,
and also enc from Colonel Tom Scott
president of the Texas 81 Pacific road BE
was evidently IMAM of culture and in
telligence, and his failure to perfect hsspat,
ents no doubt unsettled his mind and 81
proved upon it that he WAS led to take the
rash step to end his existence Mr. Roe ha:
written to his relatives and will forward tC
them his effects.
The remains were given christian burial il
the Catholic cemetery.
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