The Osceola times., 1885-08-29
A KANSAS SENSATION.

Death Under Suspicious Circumstances Of
Hon. J. n. wslkup ut Emports - His
Young Wife Suspected Of Having Admin.
istcred Poison, Which She is Known to
Have Purchased.
EMPoRIA, K,s., August 23.-The sud.
den and strange death Of Hon. ]. R.
Walkup is the universal topic OF CONVEX
satlon. Stories without number have
been circulated on all sides. Many OF
the statements made are mere ru-
mors and greatly exaggerated, while
other statements concerning the cause
OF Mr.. Walkup's sad and untimely
takingoff bear marks which excite the
gravest suspicious and the most serious
charges. Sunday night Mr.. Walkup was
attacked by II severe cramping, but was
able Monday to attend the Council
meeting. He was taken worse on
Tuesday, and although the physicians
treated him for poison, and did
everything possible in their power TO
save him he died yesterday morning at
ten minutes to eleven O'Clock. II was
rumored on the streets early yesterday
morning that Mr.. Walkup was dying
from the effects OF poison administered
by his wife. Although Friday night was
the first time that suspicion OF crime on
the part Of Mrs. Walkup had been made
public, yet II had existed with parties in.
timately acquainted with Mr.. Walkup
and his physicians. The symptoms
which Mr.. Walkup exhibited on Sunday
night indicated strychnine poison, aud
the Indications for forty eight hours or
more before his death were those Of ar.
senic poison.
On the l4th Mrs. Walkup stepped into
Irwin's drug store, and approaching VIII
Irwin asked In low tone for a dimes
worth of sirychnine. Mr.. Irwin was In
the act of getting the drug for her when
she remarked In louder tone that he
might give her ffteen cepts' worth. Mr..
Irwin told her that she would have to
sign the record, as all purchasers OF pol
son are required to do. When he asked
her for what purpose she wanted the
strychnine, she said that was thing she
could not tell, only that she wanted to
use 1t as an Ingredient In a medicine she
was making She stated that while In Gin.
cinnati last July she called for some
strychnine, but the clerk b ad made
mistake and gave her quinine. When
Mr. Irwin again as6ed her to sign the
record she remarked: "You don't think
am going to commit suicide, do your"
On Thursday. the goth, Mrs. Walkup
called at Wheldon's drug store and asked
for quarters worth of arsenic, saying
that she wanted to use 1t to improve her
complexion. Mr.. Wheldon finally sold
her four ounces OF arsenic and as soon as
he heard that Mr.. Walkup was sick he
went to Dwight Bell and told him that he
had sold Mrs. Waikup some arsenic, and
from what he had heard since had grave
suspicious that criminal use had been
made of the poison. post-mortem ex-
animation was held by Drs. Moore, Ja-
cobs, Page, Harrison and Foncannon.
The stomach and intes ines were found
In a congested state, with indications OF
corrosive poison.
shortly after three O'Clock yesterday
afternoon Coroner DIR. G. W. Frost sum
moned Jury and began the holding OF
an inquest. The first witness examined
was Miss Libbie Walkup, daughter OF
the deceased. She testified that Mr..
Walkup, her father, married Minnie Wal
lace at Covington, Ky, and arrived with
her In Emporia one month ago yester-
day; that previous to Saturday he had
been in good health; that during his
III - Mrs. Walkup waited upon him
until Friday noon, when she (Libbie)
took entire charge. Miss Walkup said
she did not know of anv poison being In
the house during his. sickness. She had
been at home but few days since her
fathers marriage, having returned from
Colorado last Tuesday evening.
NJ. II. Bates testified that he sold Mrs.
Walkup about eight grains OF strychnine
on the 18th of August. She signed an
application, but did not write the pur-
pose for which she wanted 1t, saying 1t
was for a private formula. The medicine
was put In a small strychnine bottle and
labelled poison. II was sulphate OF
strychnine she purchased. She sent a
written order Sunday by colored girl
for strychnine, saving that she had lost
the first. Mr.. Bates did not let her have 1t.
l.. Severy testified that Mrs. Walkup
told him in reference to the strychnine
purchased of NJ. II Bates that she had
bought the strychnine for the purpose Of
making a mixture OF strychnine and an
other article to remove some stains In
her clothing; that she had never tried
the preparation but was told that 1t
would remove the stains. aud she bought
1t for thai purpose. She had also pur-
chased arsenic TO change her compile exion,
but on MIR. Walkup's coming home be-
fore she had time to use 1t, and not
wishing to let him know that she was
about to use 1t, she hastily threw 1t into
the slop-bucket
After some further unimportant testi-
mony, the Coroner at $3.50 yesterday
evening adjourned the inquest and in.
structed the Sheriff to hold Mrs. Walk
up In custody until Monday morning at
eight O'Clock, when the jury will meet
again. She takes the arrest very coolly
and refuses to talk to reporters at
all. She is now In charge OF Sheriff
white at tn Fifth Avenue Hotel. Her
cousin, William ID. Willis, boy fifteen
years old, recently here from New Or
leans, at Mrs. Walkup's request was
lodged IN jail about noon yesterday on
account OF suspicious circumstances.
Mr.. Walkup was at the time Of his
death Deputy Grand Dictator OF the
Knights of Honor, President OF the
Council and acting Mayor OF this city.
He became acquainted with Miss Wal.
lace at her residence, No. 222 Canal
street, New Orleans, while visiting the
Exposition, and after short courtship
he returned home and then went to Gov
ington, Ky, where he was met by Miss
Wallace, and they were married, returning
here July 22d, one month ago. She is his
third wife, very handsome and only
twenty years OF age, while Mr.. Walkup
was forty-nine. lie carried life insurance
policies as follows; One Of $4,000 In the
40. wv, and one of the same amount In
the Knights Of Honor, both In favor OF
Mrs, Hannah walkup, mis- deceased wife,
and one In the New York Mutual fol
81, 800 In favor OF his daughter, Libble