St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-04
MURDERED FOR GOLD.
Dr. Scudder, of Chicago, in a
Seemingly Very Bad
Position.
Charged With Fastening His
Mother-in-Law's Death
by Violence.
The Disposal Of a Large Fort
une Alleged as Reason
for the Act.
& Michigan Bank Touched for
$4,000 - Disciples
Mobbed.

CHICAGO. March Sit Is an ugly
thing to say of a man who occupies a
good social position that he murdered
his mother-in-law for her money. And
yet this is what F. II. Dunton, an aged
and wealthy gentlemen who lives at %
Aldins square, accuses DR.. ii. NJ. Scud-
der of having done. Scudder married
an adopted daughter of Dunton, whose
feeble wife had large fortune in her
own right, which, up to few days be-
fore the time of her death. she had pur-
posed to leave to some blood relatives,
but which, at the last moment, as she
lay i'll bed but half conscious of what
she was doing, as her husband alleges,
she was induced to sign over TO Scud-
der'S wife.
On Feb. 81. another physician was
hastily summoned to her bedside and
found her expiring with omnious
wounds in her head, produced by fall
from her chair as she was sitting up
one day, Scudder says. AS Scudder
was the last man said to have spoken
with her. and as he could not satisfacto-
Hily account for the wounds. suspicion
fell on him. And so warrant was
sworn out for his arrest by Mr.. Dunton
yesterday and, rs he is i'll, he is being
guarded at his home by policemen.
Nlr. Buttons Statement.
"Scudder was alone with my wife
previous to her DEATH" says the old
gentleman in justification of his course.
1.-The wounds on her head were not
there before he came, nor was his ex-
PLANTATION OF the way in which they
were caused satisfactory 70 me. More
than this, she had lately altered her will
in favor Of his wife. Putting those
things together, | am convinced that the
young man murdered my wife to gain
her money"
The body of Mrs. Dunton was buried
In GAINESVILLE, Wis. Today it was ex-
humed, and two physicians are making
minute examination of the skull and
other parts which were lacerated in SO
strange fashion. DR.. Scuddar is son
of the eminent Rev. DR.. Scudder The
latter and his wife appeared before
Judge Scales today in the county court
and applied to have their son committed
to the detention hospital for examina-
ton as to his sanity. Mr.. Dunton is
proprietor of horse paper, the Spirit
of the Times.
Mrs. Dunton and DIR. Scudder had
never been Oh very good terms with
each other, particularly since the mar
riage last September Of the doctor with
Mrs. Dunton'S adopted daughter. This
marriage was opposed by Mrs. Dunton,
and she was never reconciled to it. She
cut her daughter off with scarcely
shilling in her will. and this was the
reason, it is alleged, DR.. Scudder as
eaulted his mother-in-law, that he might
secure possession of her will, change it
and then
Hasten Mrs. Dunton's Death.
She had been i'll some weeks, heart
disease and an abdominal trouble making
her condition critical. Sunday morning,
the 2lst, she seemed unusually well,
walked about her room, read the morn
Ing paper and seemed much improved.
Her breakfast was brought up to her by
a domestic, who Immediately after left
her alone. Fifteen minutes later Mrs.
Dunton was heard to scream, and
every one in the house rushed
up stairs. Hannah johnson, the
domestic, was the first to reach the
room. She has made a statement upon
oath that she saw DR.. Scudder. and that
he was beating his mother-in-laW over
the head, but when the others reached
the room he had ceased, and Mrs. Dun
ton lay upon the floor face downward,
bleeding and unconscious.
Neighboring physicians were quickly
called, one of whom, DR.. BasSett, as he
went up stairs, met DR.. Scudder coming
down. Subsequently. while the newly
arrived physicians were trying to re-
store the injured woman to conscious
ness, DR.. Scudder came in. The ply
SicianS asked how Mrs Dunton received
her injuries. He replied that in fit
she had fallen and struck
her head upon the furniture.
This answer surprised DR.. Leavitt,
since the room had very little furniture,
and it seemed impossible that any one
could have fallen and received cuts of
such peculiar appearance and in such
positions.
DR.. Scudder was also asked If he had
administered any medicine to Mrs. Dun
ton. He replied that he had given her
one-quarter of grain of morphine.
Seudde~ Was Excited.
"Here," said he, sis the syringe l
used. She struggled so that bent the
needle" and he took from his pocket
syringe, whose needle was bent almost
to form a right angle. He appeared
greatly excited. and, as Dr.. Leayitt was
about to leave, inquired if it would not
be we'll to give Mrs. Dunton another i'll
lection and produce another syringe.
DR.. Leavitt replied that all injec-
ton of whisky or brandy would
be beneficial and DR.. Scudder there
upon made preparations to administer
it. Butte said DIR. Leavitt tonight, Il
do not know what drug he admins
tered. l only know that Mrs. Dunton
never revived. and died that afternoon"
DR.. Scudder's designs extended to Mr..
Dunton it is believed. On Feb. 16. while
visiting Mr.. Dunton at the Office of
the Spirit Of the Turf, the
doctor tod him that he looked
i'll and gave him a dose of
medicine which made him violently i'll.
He was scarcely able to reach home and
became unconscious Immediately after,
continuing in that condition for thirty
six hours. The case has elected un-
usual interest and no little excitement,
owing to the high standing of the famil-
les involved, and the secrecy observed
as to all details. Little stock is taken
in the statements that the alleged MUIR
derer is insane.
Scudder is thirty-nine years old, and
makes a speciality of examining appli-
cants for life insurance in Eastern COM
panies. 1t is alleged that several COM
panies have got rid of him for shady OPP
HratiOnS.