The morning call., 1892-03-04
MURDERED FOR HER MONEY.
Tho Arrest Of a Prominent Physician
in Chicago.
PROFESSIONAL AND SOCIiL SENSATION.
DR.. Seudder Accused Of Causing the Death Of His
MOtheF.in-LaW Damaging Statement Of
a Servant.
Special TO THE MoRSINs cAtt.

CHICAGO, March Sit Is an ugly thing
90 say of a man who occupies a prominent
professional and social position that he
murdered his mother-in-law for her money,
and yet that is what T. 81. Dunton, an
aged and wealthy gentleman who lives at
% Aldine square, accuses DR.. Henry III.
Scudder of having done. Scudder married
an adopted daughter of Dunton, whose in
valid wife had large fortune In her own
right. which, up to few days before her
death. she had proposed leaving to some
blood relatives. but which at the last, as
she lay in bed. but half conscious of what
she was doing, as her husband alleges. she
was induced to sign over TO Scudders wife.
On February 21 another physician was
hastily summoned and found Mrs. DuBtcn
unconscious and diving, with several scalp
wounds, caused, according 10 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
swore out warrant for his arrest yesjer-
day.
Scudder Is said to be Ill and is guarded in
his own house by officers. This afternoon
Scndder's father and mother appeared be-
fore County Judge Scales and applied to
have their son committed 10 the Detention
Hospital for examination as TO his sanity.
Mr.. Dunton, who is proprietor Of publica-
tion known as the Spirit of the Turf, speak
ing of the case this afternoon. said: " Scud-
der was alone with my wife previous TO her
death. The wounds on her head were not
there before lie came nor was his explana-
tion of them satisfactory. More than that
she had lately altered her will in favor Of
his wife. Putting those things together
am convinced that the man murdered my
wife to gain her money"
The body of Mrs. Dunton. which was
buried at GAINESVILLE. Wis. will be exhumed
for examination.
DE-. Scudder Is the son Of an 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 became
pastor of the Howard Presbyterian Church.
At the age Of IL years he entered Yale and
went through that college and then spent
several years In studying medicine in
Philadelphia. New York, London and
Paris. in 1874 be was appointed medical
officer Of the American Arc0t Mission,
India. He spent about ten years in that
country, achieved an enviable reputation
as practitioner and was for some time
medical officer for the English Government
for the surrounding district For his ser
vices during the famine Of 1873 and 1879.
and later during an epidemic Of Asiatic
cholera, he was highly complimented- in
official orders. About eight years ago he
returned TO Chicago on a visit and fatter-
ing offers indUcea him to remain. Since
then he has become well and prominently
known. He devoted much time to home
and missionary work, especially to the re-
lief of sickness and suffering among the
poor, and has been at the head of tie Free
Dlspensary Armour Mission, chief examin-
ing officer of several life insurance COM
panies, and held positions on the STATS OF
the largest hospitals. The case mas created
a great sensation.
Ii is said that MRS. Dunton opposed Send
dePs marriage to her adopted daughter and
never became reconcled to II. Hannah
johnson, domestic. asserts that when she
heard Mrs. DuntOn scream she rushed in
and saw Scudder beating the prostrate
clans were quickly called and expressed
surprise at the nature of the cuts. ScuddeT
said she had fallen in 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 impossible that
any one could receive such injuries. Doctor
Scudder said he had administered to Mrs.
Dunton quarter of grain of NOR
phine. and that she struggled so that
it bent the needle of the hypodermie
syringe. He appeared greatly excited. and
as DR.. Leavitt was about to leave. inquired
If 1t would not be well to give Mrs. Dunton
more morphine, aud produced another
needle. Leavitt said brandy or whisky
would be beneficial, and Scudder made
preparations tc administer it. But" said
Leavitt. tonight, 81 don't know what drug
he administered. l only know that Mrs.
DnDton died that afternoon" Disagreeable
stories are rfe about serious illness Mr..
DuDton had last month after taking medi-
cine from Scudder's hands. Little stock is
generally taken in the statement that the
alleged murderer is insane.
Tonight Scudder was placed ia the De.
tention Hospital for the Insane.