The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-01-14
SENSATIONAL SUICIDE.

Rev. III. ID. Jardine, Late Rector OF st.
Msry's Church at Kansas City, Kills Him
self in the Vestry of n Church ut st. Louis
His History.
ST.. LOUIS, January 11.-Quite q sensa-
tion was produced when late last night the
coroner announced that the Rev. II. d. Jar
cine, who was some weeks ago convicted
before an ecclesiastical court at Kansas
City, had committed suicide here. 1t ap-
pears that Mr. Jardine, since his arrival
here some days ago to consult with his at
torney regarding his case, has been lodging
in the yestry room of Trinity Church, Of
which Father Belts is the rector. Satur-
day evening Mr.. Jardine and his attorney,
MIR. Harrison, and Father Betts had pro-
ing which Mr.. Harrison very decidedly
expressed the opinion that Bishop Rob
ertson would not grant Mr.. jar
dine a rehearing of his case. This
had some effect upon Mr.. Jardine, and
he manifested considerable feeling, repeat
edly declaring his innocence of the charges
| for which he had been flied and the justice
| Of his demand for a new trial, but when
/ Father Belts and Mr.. Harrison left, about
one O'Clock yesterday morning. it was with
out thought that Mr.. Jardine was seriously
| disturbed. When Father Belts arrived at
| the church early yesterday morning he
observed Mr.. JardiEe still in bed, but did
| not disturb him. and went on with his early
services. Later, the sexton OF the church
went TO the vestry room to wake MI. Jar
dine and found him in deep sleep and
breathing heavily. He Immediately called
Deacon Dyer, assistant to Father Belts,
who, on entering the room, detected ch!Oro-
form and sent for physicians On the
! arrival of the doctors they discovered
that Mr.. Jardine had taken chlorOfOrm and
Immediately adopted vigorous measures TO
restore him, but after three hours continu-
Gus effort, they were obliged to announce
that the reverend gentleman was dead.
The Coroner was notified, and after hearing
all obtainable testimony, verdict of sui
| eide by chlorOform was rendered. The
body was prepared for burial and now lies
| in the Yestry room. 1t will be taken to
Kansas City for interment The fact of
tho suicide was known to but few during
the day and received no public announce
ment until the Coroner reported the case
late last night The case is likely to create
a great sensation in church CIRCLES.
THE NEWS AT KANSAS CITY.
! KANSAS CITY, Mo-, January 11.-The
news of Mr.. Jardine's death was first re-
ceived in this city through telegram sent
! bv Mr.. John Harrison, Mr. Jardine's attOr-
| new in st. Louis, to Mr.. J. Edward Lewis,
one of Mr.. Jardine's vestrymeD, night
| generator at the Western Union office. The
| telegram simply stated that Mr.. Jardine
died suddenly yesterday morning, and re-
| ouested that the other members OF his YES
| try be notified. The telegram was received
/ about seven o'clock last night and the
/ news at once spread through the city. a
meeting of the vestry of st. Mary's parish
/ was held at the church yesterday after
noon, before the intelligence of Mir.
Jardine's death had been received
presumably in anticipation Of SEN
tence being pronounced upon Jardine by
| Bishop Robertson. The vestry refused to
| give any information regarding their pro-
ceedings. ST. Mary'S Church last evening
was dark and silent. To reporter who
| called the person that resided there de
! cIined very bruSouely TO give any informa
ton regarding Mr.. Jardine's demise, beyond
the mere fact that telegram announcing
/ hospital few members Of the congregation
gathered and mingled their tears over the
sad news. They, however, declined to give
any information of which they were in pos
session. Members of the veStry also re-
fused to talk 1t is understood, however.
that a committee of the vestry will go to
St LOnis to-day. The reporter could not
ascertain whether the funeral would take
place in this CITY or elsewhere.
HIS CAREER.
Mr.. Jardines career II this city has been
written and rewritten dozen times. His
rectGrship at 81. Mary'S Church began
about six years ago and for time there
were no serious disturbances in the parish
and Mr.. Jardine was apparently satisfac-
tory to his paIishiOners. Trouble began
during the summer of 1854, when Mr.. Jar
dimes resignation was demanded by MeSsrs.
Sherlock and Shea, as well as other mem
bers of the vestry. 1t Was generally un
derstood at that time that the resignation
was asked chiefly on account OF certain rit
ualstic practices 10 which Mr. Jardine was
addicted. Mr.. JartiiDe declined TO resign
ard soon afterwards secured majority in
the veStry which rendered his position safe.
Mr.. John Mcdonald was then elected a
member OF the veStry through the efforts
cIared 10 be illegal by Mr.. Jardine and
he was disqualified. From that time on
Mr.. Jar,line has figured prominently in the
newspapers. Charges against his moral
character were made by his opponents, and
the Times, for publishing certain insinu-
atoms against Dir. Jardine's character, was
sued for libel, but the suit was subsequently
dismissed In December, 1884, Bishop
Robertson appointed a commission to in
yes.igate the charges against the rector OF
St. Mary'S but the commission did not con-
slider him liable to Presentment for trial.
Then Mr.. John Shea issued a pamphlet,
Truth VS.. Jardine," in which he charged
Mr.. Jardine with gross immoraiities. Mr..
Shea was arrested and prosecuted for Grim
inal libel, but was acquitted, the jury hold
ing that the charges made against Mr.. Jar
dine were sustained by evidence. In the
meantime the fact that Mr.. Jardine had
served a term in the Monroe penten-
larry was published. This publication is
thuught To nave pre- ndiced his case in the
courts. Mr. Jardine resigned, but the YES
try refused TO accept his resignation. IL was
about this time that his addiction to the
chlOrOform habit became known. In view
of all the charges made AGAINST him and the
fact that jury had refused to convict tie
man who made them of libel, the other
Episcopal clergy men of the city deemed it
their duty to present Mr.. Jardine for trial
before an ecclesiastical court. After fouI
weeks session he was found guilty on
Wednesday, October :. Mr.. Jardine ap-
pealrd his case to tie Bishop. asking for a
new trial. On January Bishop Robertson
rendered his decision, refusing the applica-
lion. Mr.. Jariinc left this city for St
Louis That night and remained there until
lie time of his death.
The following story is from New
YORK County, Pa: While Emori