Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-04-16
DIED SUDDENLY.
w. S. knowIton Expires in a
Mysterious Manner.
GRAVE SUSPICIOUS OF SUICIDE

The Coro@er to Hold an Inquest and "a Post
mortem NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the
Case-Opinion OF the Doctors-A S,rany.
Case.
W. ). knowlton died suddenly. and
under somewhat mysterious circum-
stances ut the boarding house of Mrs.
q. Z. simpson, 1929 Second avenue.
ut ll:lO this morning
FOR three months Mr.. KnowltoD
had been sufferer from gastric
troubles, and quite recently had
been so ill part OF the time that much
anxiety was felt as to his recovery.
and for couple OF days he was cared
for at st. Anthony's hospital. He
seemed to be better OF late. how
ever, though he manifested svmp-
toms of extreme dependency. which
was attributed in part to his ailment
and in part to worry oyer business
affairs. OF late he had been taking
considerable chlor:N, for the purpose.
he said. of quoting his nerves, but
Yesterday morning Mrs. Simpson be
came alarmed nj his condition. and
sent for Mr.. Knowlton's physician.
DR.. Trucsdale. DR.. Eyster being also
called in. and the patient was finally
revived. He aiterward frightened
up. and in the afternoon walked out,
and in the evening was up town. This
morning. about breakfast time. Mrs.
simpson sent a servant to his room
to call him, but he made no response
and Mrs. Simpson went to his room.
and spoke to him. He seemed in a
sort of stupor, and manifested a dis
position to sleep. Mrs. Simpson
thinking that she had been needless
~ alarmed on Sunday. left the room.
after chatting with Mr.. Knowlton a
few minutes. AT 1l:1O she again
went 10 his room and found him
dead.
IN Inquest Ordered
\ number of physicians were tele-
phoncd for. and Dr.. Carter was the
first to respond. He pronounced Mr..
knowlton dead. and advised the
calling in of the physician who had
attended him, DR.. Truesdale. The
latter deemed the circum stances suf-
iicient to warrant an inquest. and so
notified Coroner Halves That Mr..
knowlton died of IN overdose of
choral DR.. Truesdale admits. but
the theory of suicide has not vet been
answered. The inquest is in pro-
gress this afternoon.
Biography.
Mr.. knowlton was born in Peoria
- years ago, being a son of the late
Judge knowlton. He came to Rock
Island in 1876. and the same year was
united in marriage with Miss Anne
Negus, and the couple resided for
years in the Negas mansion, where
Mr.. kuowlton breathcd his last to-
day. Mrs. Knowlton died three
years ago, and he is survived by two
children. Grace, in Washington, and
Jamie, at school at Alexander. Va.
together with sister. Mrs. Gen.
Brown, of Washington, d. c.
When Mr.. knowlton came 10 Rock
Island he was travelling auditor for
the Is. o. road. 4 position he after
ward rclinquished to become sccre-
tary and manager of the Rock Island
Children's Carriage works. When
that company wound up its affairs
he went into the insurance business
with q. NJ. Loosely, and for two years
had been stamp deputy in addition.
He recently disposed Of his insurance
interests to Ralph Haverstick. lie
was for short time member of the
board of education ia 1889.
His death will be great shock to
the community, in which he had oc-
cupied conspicuous place for years,
and in which he was held in high re-
gard.