The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1893-06-01
WAS He POISONED /?
suspicious AROUSED AS TO THE
CAUSE OF A PROMINENT
PHYSICIANS DEATH.
Peculiar Proceedings ON the Part Of a
Second Wife at the Time of and
Prior to Her Husbands De-
mlse--H -Hasty Burial,
Etc., Etc.

What bids fair to be a sensation Of
no little interest seems to be taking
shape in certain suspicious misgivings
entertained by interested parties re-
lating to the sudden and unexpected
death of prominent physician and
surgeon, DR.. @. Wheeler, Of Greene
vile, we'll known throughout this and
adjoining counties.
His death occurred on the morning
of Sunday, May 14th, at his home in
Greenevile.
His remains were Immediately pre-
pared for burial and removed shortly
after noon on the day of his death to
to his old home at Washington Col
lego for interment in the old Salem
cemetery at that place.
By interference Of relatives living
near, however, the funeral was deferred
until the next morning, when, with
unusual despatch, the ceremonies were
gone through with, and the remains
of one OF East Tennessee's best sur
geons were thought to have been con
signed to that peace which is eternal
But it seems that they are yet to be
disturbed, for the peculiar proceedings
of the hasty burial, coupled with 9th
ers alike suspicious, were not passed
unnoticed aud may yet be the cause o
grewsome and startling effects.
The suspicious rest solely upon tht
wife of the deceased surgeon, and un
til she can show herself innocent o
the matter her position is by no means
a comfortable one.
DR.. Wheeler had been married twice
and was the father OF five children
two sons and three daugAters-by hi
first wife, all of whom are grown ant
living, except little girl, Oracle, VIII,
died at about eight years Of age short
ly after the doctors marriage to hi
second wife. Her death was quite IN
expected and surrounded with suspi
cions, so much so, in fact, that th
the grown children at the time &C
cused the stepmother openly OF pois
oning her, but the doctor, having tn
utmost confidence in his wife, woul
not admit of an investigation, and s
the matter was passed By, as it yet re
mains, an unsolved mystery.
In the fathers death the Hntimel
end Of the daughter finds deadly pal
allel, characterized throughout wit
the same peculiar procedure on tn
part of the suspicioned wife.
Iu this case, as in the other, none {
the children we're present at the deatl
nor we're they, with. the exception {
one. even notified Of it by the wife I
} the deceased From outside parties
! was soon learned, however, and the
are now gathering in,
=, DR., e. A. Wheeler, son OF the d.
ceased, police surgeon OF Denve
Col came to the city the latter part
j last week, and, accompanied by 81
? ter, Of this city, went down to Green
: vile yesterday, where they will pr
Q ceed to investigate the matter and d
7 termine, if possible, whether or Ii
their misgivings are well founded.
Q postmortem examination viii be he
d over the disinterred remains eth
+ to-day or tomorrow, and upon Il
( autopsy viii depend all further pr
\ ceedlngs in the matter.
Z DR. Wheeler, lr., from whom u
:, particulars of the case were obtaine
i of course made no outright charge
+ but expsessed himself without he
fancy as well nigh confident of TO
play, and manifested a determlnati'
to see the matter thoroughly Inves
q gated.
Z The elimination Of the matter W
! :. be looked forward to with interest.
10 -----s - s----