The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1885-09-19
The Farmcryille Scandal.

Tuesday, Geographic dispatch in the
shreveport Times, coming from Far
mervillc, which sent a shudder of hor-
ror through them and kindled flame
of interest at the same time. The
principals that figured in the subject
were known to a majority of our peo-
pie. The Shuster family were at one
time residents of Monroe and S. S.
kirkpatrick had gone from this place
when he took up his residence at
Farmerville.
| The special to the Times was of a
more daming a nainre to Mr.. Kirk
patrick than the account contained
in the Farmcrville Gazette of the
10th, which we have felt called upon
to reproduce, careful pcrusai Of
which will give, according to what we
have been led to believe by personal
inquiry, a true insight TO the circum
stances connected with the scandal
with its sad sequel:
Ida Shuster wes a young Jewess in
her seventeenth year. She had been
raised and educated in our town and
WI ; well known to be a girl rctir-
ing in her manner, but possessing a
quick and active mind. AS a pupil in
! in our schools she was noted for her
studious habits. Her teacher placed
| her among the best scholars in the
! several schools attended. She was not
| beautiful, but her attractive manners
rendered her popular.
! At an early age she was permitted to
receive calls from young gentlemen, and
| accompany them to dancing parties and
other amusements. During last winter
she was frequently attended by Mr.. S.
S. kirkpatrick, popular young drug
! gist of our town. lie was a bOarder in
| the family and consequently the two
young people saw each other daily. A
mutual affection for each other was ap-
parently fos: cred I; and developed, on
| the part of the unfortunate girl, into a
strong love.
Last Thursday morning MIR. Kirk
patrick left our town. On Saturday
| evening Ida Shuster learned that his
departure was permanent. After
learning this fact she was in the COM
pany of her sist X and young gentle
man who YVES calling, until about 10
O'Clock p. m. There was no apparent
depression of spirit on the part of Ida
although she complained of slight
headache. Shortly after 10, she retired
to her room, occupied by herself and
older sist n. When the elder sister
went to her room to retire for the
night she found Ida sleeping or appa-
rently asleep, in bed.
| About II o'clock the Older sister was
awakened by Ida who was striking
with her arms. She thought Ida had
a spssn aud called her mother who
was sleeping in an adjoining room
DIR. Barnes, living one block away
from the residence Of Mr.. Sinister, was
: called at once. AS soon as he got tt
the bedside of the unfortunate girl he
said to her mother, "Where did she
get strychnine." He found her in :
CONFUSION the body bent in bow
> like form, being arched on tho back
, and resting on the head and heels
He quickly asked for warm water
The convulsion passed off and thu
girl was rational but refused to take
any medicine from her attending
, physician. Before warm water could
r be procured another CONFUSION sue
cceded the first. The tetanic symp
toms produced by strychnine were
apparent in this CONFUSION. 1t wa!
her Last she never recovered from it
Death had claimed her whether as
suicide or a victim of murder can no
= he determined ut this time.
On Sunday morning the citizens
were startled, when the death o
Ida Sinister was announced. Or
Main street, men in groups wer
, discussing her death and tho prob
able cause which led to it. lie
, associations with Mr.. S. S. kirkpatrick
seemed to be generally known, ant
the suspicion that her relations viii
, him, when she found that he hat
!, deserted her, had prompted her t
. commit suicicdc was freely expressed
by several persons. Others though
her incapable of voluntarily destroy
$ ing herself, and that the fatal dru
$ had been given to her under represcn
D tations that it would have the cffcc
to shield her from shame. This las
suspicion prompted the coroner, ID
I" Jameson, to summon jury an
hold an inquest over the body
: the dead girl.
s The following citizens were seiCcto
G by the coroner w. w. Bavncs, NJ
d., W. n Grace NJ d. Saxon hi