Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1884-05-22
BY HIS OWN HAND.
Rev. Williamson of the Chillicothe
Baptist Church
Ends His Earthly Career.

Monday evening, May 10Th, abou
dusk, Harry Truog noticed man lyins
in the little pasture lot, just outside tn,
city at the west end of Jackson street
belonging to Mrs. Stinson, for whicl
Judge Clark is agent. He told his faith
er, Mr. +. Truog about it, but Mr.
Truog paid little attention to it, just
then, thinking it was some one sleep
ing off drunk. Harry went back
again and seeing the man still thcr,
told his fathe:, who, now thinking ii
might be some one in distress, went
over to look after him. As soon Us he
got near enough to see the body, Mr..
Truog became impressed with the fact
that ii was something more serious
than Il drunk. The man was well
dressed, and his clothes were neat and
clean He went up to the man who
lay face downward, one arm partly un-
der his body and one leg over the 9TH
er. His hand was white as marble.
All this Mr.. Truog observed in an in
stant and before he had touched the
man. He then felt his hand and press
ed down the grass and looked at his
face and found him cold and stiff
dead. There was no blood and six
ounce bottle lay near him about quar-
ter full of liquid lie and Mr.. Jcli
Broaddus and another gentleman who
went with them. neither Of whom rec
Ogni2cd the body, gave the alarm and
Mr.. Truog at once notified Coroner Ed
Taylor. A jury WIS Immediately sum-
mOned, witnesses were examined and
the following verdict returned:
In the matter of the inquest over the
body Of Robert II, Williamson, doccas-
ed, near Chilicothe in Livingston coun-
ty, Mo-, May II, 1881;
We. the jury, find that the deceased
was known as Robert II. Williamson,
that he came to his death at the county
aforesaid, ON the 10Th day of May. 1851,
by taking hydrocyanic acid, admins
tered by his own hand.
[SignrJ lJ. j. Clark, r. W. Reynolds,
RObt. Stewart, Ben L. Davis. Jos.
Rucggcr, j. IL. Millcr.-E. ID. Taylor,
Coroner.
THE CAUSE.
Last August DR.. Robert II. William
son came hero 10 Chiilicothc from Mo-
berry, where he had resided and prac-
ticcd medicine for some time previous.
He came here on the invitation OF the
Baptist Church, TO become its pastor.
He was not then an ordained preacher,
but he had while at Mohcrly, joined the
Baptist Church and had been here once
or twice and preached. So it was ar
ranged for him To come here, be or
daincd and fill the Baptist pulpit for Il
year. He was ordained rs Il minister
and preached each Sunday, his sermons
becoming better As he gained expert
cnce, and the church growing rapidly
under his care.
On the 10th Of last November, Miss
Sarah JamiSon came here from Me
Grcgor, Iowa, and she and Rev. Viii
hanson were on that day married by
Rev. John Carr OF this city. II we re-
member correctly, the intended mar
riagc was announced by Rev, William
son some days previous to Miss Jami-
sons arrival here. We understand that
once when Miss Jamison was sick at
McGrcgor, Iowa. Williamson was her
physician. They lived together very
happily and his church erected for him
Il neat Iitlo parsonage. His cup of
bliss seemed 10 he ovrr!lowing.
Meanwhile a correspondence was 70
ing on between McSsrs. Swift 4 Camp
bell, lawyers, Of Chicago, and l.. A.
Chapman, ESP, an attorney of this
place. On February 29th last Swift ~
Campbell, finding ChapmanS name in
their directory, no doubt, wrote TO him
inquiring how long Rev, Williamson
had been here, whether he had any
property in his own or his wifc's name,
and whom he married and where he
was married. Chapman answered this
letter and another, asking some more
questions, when he received the follow
ing letter;
Chicago, March %, 1884.
To L. A. CHAPMAN, Esq, Chillicothc
Mo.
The Rev. Robert IL. Williamson was
married about twenty years ago. His
witc'S name is Charlotte H., and she
now resides in Massachusetts. Some
time after their marriage Mr.. William
son was settled at Wilkcsbarrc, Pa.
He was there guilty Of such grossly i'm
moral conduct that he was obliged to
leave. His wife condoncd his ollcnscs
and remained with him.
He studied medicine and went to
Milwaukee to practice, but was unsuc-
ccssful; and his conduct was such that
in September, 1880. his wife left him
and went to Massachusetts, where she
has ever since resided. About the time
that she left him, Mr.. Williamson went
to MCGrcgor, Ia, and after remaining
there some time to Mobcrlv, Mo-, and
from Mobcrly to Chllicothe, us you
know.
We have had records searched in
Clayton county, Ia, in which Metre
gor is situated, to see if he obtained a
divorce while there, and find that he did
not. We wish YOU would search the
records in your county and in Randolph
county to see if he has obtained di-
vorce in either of those places. If he
has not, Mrs. Charlotte l.. Williamson
wishes TO file bill against him and To
obtain n divorce, and the facts which
you have already made known TO lis
will enable her to do it.
Please examine records and report
to us what you find. If you can find
out under what prctensc he married, as
widower, or bachelor, or divorced
man, please do so and let us know. II
he was married without having a di.
vorce we do not care to spare him, and
in fact we purpose TO put a stop to his
Il. a 4