Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-04
A Serious Charge Against a
Prominent Man.
DR.. Scudder Accused of Killing
His MOther-in-Law.
A Case That Has Created the Greatest
Sensation.
Tho Accused Is the Son OF an Eminent
Clergyman-His Accuser Is the
Husband OF the Dead
Woman.
Associated Press Dispatches.

CHICAGO, March SIT is an ugly
thing to say of a man who occupies
prominent professional and social posi-
ton that he murdered his m5ther-i in.law
for her money, and yet this is what F.
H. Dunton, an aged and wealthy gentle
man who lives at % Aldine square, ac-
cuses DR.. Henry M. Scudder of having
done. Scudder married the adopted
daughter of Dunton, whose invalid wife,
who had large fortune in her own
right, which up to few days before her
death she had proposed to leave to some
blood relatives, but which at last. as she
lay in bed, but halls conscious of what
she was doing, as her husband alleges,
she was induced to sign over to Scud-
der's wife. February 2lst another physi-
clan was hastily summoned, and found
Mrs. Dunton unconscious and dying
with several severe scalp wounds,
caused, according to Scudder's tale, by
falling against furniture in the room.
AS Scudder was the last man said to
have spoken with her, and as he could
not account satisfactorily for the
wounds, suspicion fell on him, and Mr..
Dunton ewore out warrant for his ar
rest yesterday.
Scudder is said to be illand is guarded
in his own house by officers.
This afternoon Scudder's father and
mother appeared before County Judge
Scales and applied to have their son
committed to detention hospital for
examination as to his sanity.
Mr.. Dunton is proprietor of publica.
ton known as The Spirit of the Turf
Speaking OF the case this afternoon he
said "Scudder was alone with my wife
previous to her death. The wounds on
her head were not there before he came,
nor was his explanation of them eatis-
factory. More than that, she had lately
altered her will in favor of his wife.
Putting those things together, am con-
vinced the man murdered my wife to
gain her money"
The body Of Mrs. Dunton, which was
buried at Janesville, Wis, will be ex-
humed for examination.
DR.. Scudder is a son oil the eminent
clergyman, Rev. DR.. Scudder. He was
born in Arcot, India, forty years ago.
At an early age he came with his father
to San Francisco, where the latter be-
came pastor of the Howard Presbyterian
church. AT the age OF II he entered
Yale, went through that college, then
spent several years studying medicine
in Philadelphia, New York, London and
Paris. In 1874 he was appointed med
ical officer at the American Arcot mis-
sion, India. He spent about ten years
in that country, achieving an en-
viable reputation as practitioner,
and was for some time medical officer
for the English government for the sur
rounding district. For his services dur
ing the famine of 1873 and 1879, and
later during the epidemic of Asiatic
cholera. he was highly complimented in
official orders. Eight years ago he re-
turned to Chicago on a visit, and offers
induced him to remain. Since then he
has become we'll known. He devoted
much time to home missionary work,
especially TO the relief OF sickness and
suffering among the poor; has been
head of the free dispensary of the Ar
mour mission, chief examining officer
for prominent life insurance company
and held positions on the stats OF the
largest hospitals.
The case has created great sensation.
1t is said Mrs. Dunton opposed Scud-
der's marriage to her adopted daughter,
and never became reconciled to it..
Hannah johnson, a domestic, asserts
that when she heard Mrs. Dunton
scream, she rushed in and saw Scudder
beating the PROSTATE woman over the
head. A neighboring physician was
quickly called and expressed surprise at
the nature Of the cuts. Scudder said
she had fallen into a fit and cut her head
on the furniture. This seemed singular
to the other doctors, since the room had
very little furniture, and it seemed i'm
possible that any one could receive such
injuries.
Dr.. Scudder said he had given
Mrs. Dunton an injection of quarter of
q grain OF morphine, and that she strug.
gled so that it bent the needle of hy-
podermic syringe. He appeared greatly
excited, and as DR.. Leavitt was about
to leave, inquired if it would not be we'll
to give Mrs. Dunton another injection,
and produced another syringe. Leavitt
said an injection of brandy or whisky
would be beneficial, and Scudder made
preparations to administer it.
Leavitt said tonight: "I don't know
what drug he administered. only
know that Mrs. DuntOn died that after
noon."
Disagreeable stories are rife about the
serious illness Mr.. Dunton had last
month after taking medicine Scudder
prescribed. Little stock is generally
: taken in the statement that the alleged
murderer is insane.
Tonight Scudder was placed in the de-
tention hospital for the insane.
lSome local interest attaches to the
above case from the fact that the Rev.
DR.. Scudder, the father of the man &C.
cused of the crime related above, re-
Gently resided in Pasadena, whittier he
had come from Japan for the benefit of
health OF his invalid daughter. Miss
Scudder died about year ago, and the
remainder of the family removed to
: Chicago. The Scudders are we'll and
favorably known in Pasadena and Los
Angeles. They are people of the high.
est standing, and it will be difficult for
their friends to believe that any mem
Der OF the family could be guilty of any
crime, let alone one so heinous az MUIR
der.
Mrs. Dunton, the dead woman, was
business manager Of her husbands