Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1886-01-14
SENSATIONAL SUICIDE.

Rev. H. d. Jartline, Late Rector OF 81
Mary's Church at Kansas City, Kills Him.
self in the vestry Of Church at st. Louis
His History.
ST. LOUIS, January 11.-Quite . sensa-
lion was produced when late last night the
coroner announced that the Rev. II. D. Jar
dine, 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 vestry room of Trinity Church. OF
which Father Belts is the rector. Satur-
day evening Mr.. Jardine and his attorney,
Mr.. Harrison, and Father Belts had pro-
Ionged conference in tine vestry room, dur
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
eddy declaring his innocence of the charges
for which he had been tried and the justice
of his demand for new trial. but when
Father Belts and Mr.. Harrison left, about
Dne 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.. JardiLe 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 sMr. Jar
dine and found him in a deep sleep and
breathing heavily. He Immediately called
Deacon Dyer, ss:stant 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 chlor0form 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 obtainabe testimony, a verdict of sui
eide by chlOrOform was rendered. The
body was prepared for burial and now lies
in the vestry room. 1t will be taken to
Kansas City for interment. The fact OF
the 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
great sensation in church circles.
TIE NEWS At KANSAS CITY.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, January 1.-THE
news of Mr.. Jardine's death was first re-
ceived in this city through telegram sent
by Mr. John Harrison, Mr. Jardine's attOr-
neg in st. Louis to Mr.. j. Edward Lewis,
one of Mr.. Jardine's vestrymen, night
operator at the Western Union office. The
telegram simply stated that Mr.. Jardine
diet; suddenly yesterday morning, and re-
ques.ed 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. Marys parish
was held at the church yesterday after
noon, before the intelligence of Mr..
Jardine's death had been received,
presumably in anticipation of SEN
tence being pronounced upon Jardine by
Bishop Robertson. The yestry refused to
give any information regarding their pro-
ceedingS. st. Mary'S Church last evening
was dark ard silent. To reporter who
called the person that resided there de-
clined very brusQueiy to give any informa-
ton regarding Mr.. Jardine's demise, beyond
tU6 IflcIC tilUt q tClCS OihipthSi'h
his death had been received. AtAll Saints
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. Louis to-day. The reporter could not
ascertain whether the funera! would take
place in this city or elsewhere.
HIS CAEEEE.
Mr.. Jardine's career in this city has been
written and rewritten a dozen times. His
rectorship at st. 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 parishiUners. Trouble began
during the summer of 1884, when Mr.. Jar
dimes resignation was demanded by Messrs
Sherlock and Shea, as we'll as other men,
bers OF the vestry. 1t was generally un-
derstOnd at that time that the resignation
was asked chiefly on account of certain rit-
ualistic practices to which Mr.. Jardine was
addicted Mr.. Jardine declined to resign
aid 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
of the minority, but his election was de-
clarcd to be illegal by MI. Jardine and
lie was disqualified. From that time on
Mr.. Jardine has figured prominently in the
newspapers. Charges against his moral
character were made by his opponents, and
the Times, for publishing certain insin,-
ations against MIR. Jardine's character, was
sued for libel, but the suit was subsequently
dismissed. In December, 1884, Bishop
Robertson appointed commission to in
vesigate the charges against the rector OF
st. Mary's but the commission did not con-
slider him liable to rresentment for trial.
Then Mr.. John Shea issued pamphlet,
''Truth VS.. Jardine," in which he charged
Mr. Jardine with gross immoralities bIr.
Shea was arrested and prosecuted for c-im-
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 peniten-
larry was published. This publication is
thought to have prejudiced his case in Tie
courts. Mr.. Jardine resigned, but the ves-
try refused to accept his resignation. 1t 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 the
man who made them of libel, the other
Episcopal clergymen 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 z. Mr.. Jardine ap-
pealed his case to the Bishop. asking for
new trial. On January Bishop Robertson
rendered his decision, refusing the applica-
ton. Mr.. Jardine left this city for st.
Louis that night and remained there until
the time of his death.
The following story is from New