The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-10-13
LEFT A NOTE
Saying That He Was Not
Drunk,
But Out OF His Head When He
Took Morphine.
A Case Of Suicide Which Has a
Particularly Sad Feature.

A Young Barber, Tired of Life, and Poe
sibly Demented, Ends His Existence By
Taking a Poisonous Drug--'A Young
Wife Mourns the Loss of a Husband.
Brooks Toby, O barber in the employ Of
John Atkins of East Tuscarawas street,
died at an early hour this morning after
taking heavy dose OF an opiate. Toby
was twenty five years of age and married.
He resided with his wife in the Empire
block, where he breathed his last, The
case undoubtedly was one Of premeditat-
ed suicide.
The deceased was popularly known only
as Toby and had been In the employ of
Mr.. Atkins since June last, at which time
he had just recovered from an accident at
Beaver, Pa, in which he was struck by a
passenger train and his head badly ipjur-
ed. He had acquired an insatiate desire
for liquor, IL seems, and during the
past few days had been frequent in his
libations. Toby reported at the barber
shop yesterday morning shortly before 8
o'clock, and few minutes past that hour
accompanied Mr.. Atkins up town. He
appeared to talk very rational and no one
suspected at that time the deed which was
| brewing within his mind. Shortly after
returning to the tonsorial parlor he sat
around and talked with the men in the
room for about twenty minutes. He be-
| came somewhat sleepy and then entered
the bath room TO rest his weary
body, From 10 o'clock in the
morning until 8 in the afternoon he con-
tinued his nap. AZ the man had been
| drinking quite heavily during the pastfe
days, II was thought by the workmen that
| Toby was only sleeping off the effects OF
| his potations, and he was not molested.
| A bout 3 o'clock he awakened and walked
out IA ITO the shop, stating he felt better,
and he struck up conversation with his
fellow employees. Ala o'clock he left the
shop and returned about half an hour
afterward. He sat down in chair and
there fell asleep. The men removed him
into the bath room, where he lay until
| few minutes past nine O'Clock, when a
! number of customers appearing in the
shop, and surmising he would become
busy, Mr.. Akins entered the bath room to
awaken him. Toby was lying on his back
semi.unconscious. and an attempt to re-
store him was of no avail. Atkins thought
the man was only doing heavily, but
when his endeavors to revive him proved
useless, he became alarmed and called
for an officer. Patrolman McCort re-
sponded and Toby was lifted up, placed
in cart and his almost lifeless body con-
veyed to his rooms In the Empire block.
The body was placed upon bed and in a
few minutes Drs. Hudson and Ed. d. Brant
summoned. They applied stimulants
but Teby's features grew white and
deathly, and at :15 this morning he
died. The scene at the death bad was
pathetic one as witnessed by NEWS DEM
oCRAT reporter. Mrs. Toby grew frantic
with grief, and 1t was with considerable
difficulty that she was kept away from the
bed on which lay the corpse OF her hus-
band.
The symptoms were those of morphine
poisoning. A short note was found in the
coat, which probably had fallen out Of
Toby's pocket while being carted to his
home. II read as follows:
"If anybody asks why did this, tell
them wasn't drunk, but little out of my
head.n
The faithful wife stated to the reporter
that she met her husband on East Tus-
carawas street yesterday, while doing
some shopping, below theft. Wayne road
and be had just made his egress from a
drug store. He called to her to stop, says
In he wanted to speak to her. But the
conversation was only trivial and betold
nothing regarding his death.
A reporter investigated into the case
this morning. A call was made at the
drug store in question but a denial was
made of any opiates being sold to Toby
yesterday. Coroner Openhimer viewed
the remains this morning and post NOR
tenn will probably he held. The remains
, will be taken to LoudonvilIe for burial.
Coroner Openhimer will hold an inquest
, to enquire into the cause of Toby's death
Monday afternoon at o'clock at hi:
, office.
1