The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-04
AN UGLY CHARGE TO MAKE
That a Man Would Murder His
Mother-in-Law for Her
".~@... Money. e.o. s-@..
Yet DR.. Scudder Is in Custody and
Must Disprove That
Accusation.
A Son of Rev. Dr. Scudder. th. Notad
piclous circumstances
strong Against Him.

| CHICAGO, March 3It is an ugly thing to
say OF man who occupies prominent
professional and social position that he
murdered his mother-in-law for her mouey
and yet this ia what F.. Fl. Dnnton, an
aged and wealthy gentleman who lives at
70 Aldlne square. accuses DR.. Henry M,
scudder of having done. Scudder married
the adopted daughter Of Dunton, whose in
valid wife hnd largo fortune in her own
right, which, up to a few days before her
death, she had proposed leaving to some
blood relatives, but which at last, as she
lie in bed but half conscious of what she
was doing her husband alleges, she was in.
duced to sign over to Scudder's wife. Feb.
q another physician was hastily summoned
and found Mrs. Dunton unconscious and
dying with several severe scalp wounds.
| caused, according to Scudder's tale, by fall
ing against the furniture in the room. Al
ocudder was the last man said to have
spoken to her. and as he could not account
satisfactorily for the wounds suspicion fell
| on him and Mr.. Dnnton swore out war
rant for. his arrest yesterday. Scudder
is said to be i'll and ia guarded
i'll his own house by officers
This afternoon Scudder's father and
mother appeared before County Judge
Scales and applied to have their son COM
mitted to the detention hospital for exami-
nation as TO his sanity. Mr.. Dunton, who
is proprietor of the publication known as
The Spirit of the Turf. speaking Of the
case this afternoon, 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 satisfactory. More than that, she
had lately altered her will in favor of his
wife. Putting those things together, anu
convinced that the man murdered my wife
to gain her money"
The body of Mrs. Dunton, which wag
buried at GAINESVILLE. Wis. will be exhumed
for examination. DIR. Scudder is son Of
the eminent clergyman, Rev. DR.. Scuddar.
tie was born in Arcot. India. forty years
ago. At an earlv age he came with his
father to San Francisco, where the latter
became pastor of Howard Presbyterian
church. At the ago Of Ia he entered Yale,
went through that college, then spent sew
eral years studying medicine in Philadel-
phia, New York, London and Paris. In
1874 ne was appointed medical officer of the
American Arcot mission, India He spent
about ten years in that &C untry, achieving
an enviable reputation as Il practitioner,
and was for some time medical officer for
the English government in the surround
ing district. For his services during the
famines of 1873 and 1899. and later during
the epidemic of Asiatic cholera, he was
highly complimented in official orders.
About ei ight years ago he returned to Chicago
on visit and hattering offers induced him
TO remain. Since then he has become we'll
and prominently known. He devoted much
time to homo missionary work, especially
to the relief of sickness and suffering
among the poor; has been at the head Of
the free dispensary Of the Armour mission;
chief examining officer for several promi-
nent life insurance companies, and had po-
stions on the staffs of the largest hospitals,
The case has created great sensation.