St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-06-22
SUICIDE.
The Story ofthe Doctors Death in
Jail.

Jail.
CHICAGO, June 2l.-Dr. Henry Mar
tin Scudder, the famous physician who
stood charged with the murder OF his
mother-in-law, Mrs. Mary Dunton,
under circumstances with which the
country has become familiar, and was
awaiting trial in the county Jail for the
crime. died from the effects of a dose of
morphine, apparently Self-adminiStered,
at an early hour this morning. The
doctor had been in good spirits during
the day; he ehatted pleasantly upon a
variety of themes, aud at night eat a
hearty supper. After supper he seemed
to be in a more talkative humor than
usual, and his tendencies ran TO story
and ane"GOte telling.
AT s 81 the door of his cell was locked
for the night. Soon afterwards the
night wardenS heard a series of deep
groanS issuing from the cell. and on en-
tering they discovered DIR. Scudder in a
dying condition. \ physician was
called, but his efforts were %unayailing.
A few moments after his arrival DIR.
Scudder died. According to the teSti-
mony of George Painter. a condemned
murderer who occupied a cell next to
that of the doctor. the latter was given
small doses of morphine, and the sup
position is that he had saved these po-
lions till he had accumulated a Suff-
cient quantity TO end his life.
The object of the murder. it was
claimed by the prosecution. was a de-
termination to put Mrs. DuntOn out of
the way after having forged her will
so that his wife wouid become her prin-
cipal heir. Mrs. Dunton'S skull was
crushed by a heavy wooden club. In
sanity was the plea offered, and the
case was several times continued in the
criminal court to ecure testimony on
the point from witnesses in ln!la,
where he once lived with his father.
who was stationed thnre as 4 mission
ary. His trial was SET for July.
1t was 8 o'clock this morning when
DR.. Scudder's brother, Rev. Mr.. Scud-
der, and his wife were appraised of his
death. They were found at Rev. Scud-
der'S residence, on Thirty-third street
neal Wallace. Mr.. Scudder was first
informed. He realized that the message
about 10 be delivered TO him brought
sad news. and his first inquiry was con-
corning his brother. rs anything the
matter with Henry?:" he asked.
He was told that he had died at the
county Jail and ut the announcement
Mr.. Scudder's face suddenly paled. He
sprang from his chair, paced the floor
for a moment and then took his seat
again without having uttering a word.
$50 my brother is dead" he eX-
claimed at last in an distracted way,
Il had expected this"
After Mr.. Scudder had recovered
from the first Sudden shock of the
news, he was able to talk with clearnesS
1E,A-N ~ I,4%fD-r- lnnkI 10 did 81
before he notified his SiSter-in-law,
who was sleeping in IN upstairs DON
My impression IS that Henry COM
mitted suicide" he said. For several
months he had evineed suicidal ten
denotes, and in fact ne all believed that
he could not be trusted alone. He
often told his wife he would Kill him.
self some day, and was subject to fits of
dependency which seemed to increase
in recurrence and duration. Mrs. Scud-
der always tried to cheer him. and
would often succeed, but there still re-
turned the old desire in his mind. He
would say that ne would some day
throw himself under the wheels of a
railroad train rather than live"
How do you think he secured the
morphine. on the suppOSition of course,
that his death was caused by morphine
%pOiSOning?" was asked.
Il certainly do not know" Mr.. Scud-
der replied with emphasis. "He was
never given any morphine, TO my
knowledge. although | believe he did
take Il drug known as sulphinal TO III
duee sleep. When he was first taken
to the Detention hospital Dr.. Noble
noticed the evidences of a suicidal
tendency and after he was removed to
the county jail l cautioned the officers
there against any possibility of him
killing himself. We feared he might
throw away his food and starye himself
to death. but that We thOughtWOuld be
detected by the attendants. Henry had
great difficulty in getting his breath at
times, and it is possible his death
may have been caused by heart
failure"
When did you last see your
brother?:"
Yesterday. l told him he was look
ing unusually well and he seemed to
be pleased by the remark. He wrote a
letter to his wife which seemed to
cheer her up."
Mr.. Seudder then excused himself for
a few moments, saving he would go up
stairs and awaken Mrs. Scudder. What
TRANSFERRED in her roo is known only to
her brother and herself. There was one
scream that reSOunded through the
hoUse-a scream that bore evidence of a
heart whose cords had been suddenly
snapped by the news hat a loved one
was dead. Mrs. Scudder sank back on
her pillows helpless in grief. 81 fear
that she does not fully comprehend
what 1t all MEANS" said Mr.. Scudder as
he descended the stairway fifteen min
utes later. land when a full realization
does come, | I'M afraid it Will be a death
blow to her reason"
The latest developments in the case do
not leave the slightest doubt that the
doctor came to his death from the effects
of narcotic poison. 1t is also pretty GER
tain that the morphine or other poison
was given him by some one who visited
him while in Jail. The physicians who
have administered all the medicine
given the prisoner say it was impossible
for him to have accumulated sufficient
morphine from the medicine to have
caused death. as has -bPeu reDOrtPd.