The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-11-30
DEATH BY CARBOLIC ACID.
Ex-postmaster Stephen W, Hays
Commits Suicide BY Taking
That Drug.
The Terrible Deed Committed In a
Fit of Dependency Over
the Future.

Stephen w. Hays, ex-editor of the
GAZETTE, ex-postmaster of the city of
Redwood Falls, and until recently a
United States inspector, in the employ
of the Custom department, with head
quarters at Chicago, committed sui
eide about eight o'clock last Saturday
evening, by taking an ounce of carbol-
ic acid. The rash act was committed
on the banks of the Redwood river,
thirty rods below the falls, and just
above the first turn around the banks
familiarly known as the "hogsback."
Dependency, superinduced by his f.
nancial condition, is promulgated as
the cause.
The body was first discovered Sun
day morning about ten o'clock, by
Charlie Thompson, young boy, who,
with his brother, had gone down to
the Dalles for the purpose Of enjoying
skate. The little fellow thought the,
man asleep, walked up and shook him
with the request to ''get up" and then
discovered that the man was dead. He
carried the new to the city as fast as
possible. It spread rapidly. A crowd
rushed down to the place, and soon it
was discovered that the remains were
those of the late S. w. Hays. This
fact created amazement and bewilder-
ment, the large number Of friends of
the deceased doubling that man of
such prominence, in full health and
vigor, seen by them on Friday and
Saturday, could be lying dead down
by the rivers side.
The remains were lying partly on
the ice and partly on the rocks form
ing the banks. The face was pointing
to the north, sideways, and partly COW
cred with the heavy overcoat which
Mr., Hays generally wore, it having
been pulled over his head, evidently,
while he was still conscious of the
cold. The eyes we're closed. The
wearing apparel of the deceased was
clean, and seemed to have been
changed but the day before. One leg
was drawn up, contracted, it seems in
the commissions of death. The thumb
and two fingers Of one hand were
tightly pressed together, as if forming
q triple death wise.
County Attorney Madigan was noti-
fed, and after viewing the remains he
wired for Coroner Crandall, but the
Lamberton telegraph Office was closed
for the day, and the remains, an hour
or 80 later were moved to the residence
of Hon. O. B. Turrell, on Ramsey
Heights. A letter was found on them,
addressed to Mr.. Hays nephew, N. Y.
R. Hunter, of this city, in which Mr..
Hays asked the people of Red
wood Falls and vicinity, and
his friends, to throw a mantle Of
charity oyer his deed, and consigning
his remains to the care of his comrades
of John S. Marsh Post, and to his
brothers of the local Knights of Pythias
lodge.
Mr.. Hays walked out of the Com
mercialss House, where he has been
boarding ever since his return to this
city from the position which he was
removed by the Democratic admins
tration, about 1890 o'clock Saturday
afternoon. He walked down Third
to Mill, slowly, around Mill to Second,
and on Second to Schmahl & Co.'s
drug store, where he asked for an ounce
of carbolic acid, which was given to
him, and for wh,ch:he paid. He then
went back to the hotel, retired to his
room, evidently wrote the letter adj
dressed to Mr.. Hunter, and about $50
o'clock he went down to supper. He
ate heartily,sleft the table, retired
from the hotel through the parlo1
door, and was not seen by any one af-
ter that time. He evidently walked
down to the river, and when within
twenty or thirty feet of the place
where he was found swallowed the
contents of the VIAL The burning pain
necessarily following the swallowing
of the carbolic acid must have been
terrible, and. in fit of frenzy he stag
gered to the river, fell over some stones
striking on his head, and bruising his
temple, and then summoning his re-
naming strength, he attempted to
reach the land, succeeding only par