The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-25
THE CREOSOTE KILLED HIM.
w. j. Neville Swallows the Stuff, Prob
ably with Suicidal Intent.

w. J. Neville known as Shorty" Ne
vile, aged forty-one years, residing in
rooms above No. 249 West Maryland street,
died last evening, about $50 o'clock, from
the effects of taking heavy dose Of ere.
osote. 1t is not known whether he took
the drug with suicidal intent or whether
it accidental. He had been drinking
heavily for the last three days. and was
very sullen and acted in a distant man.
ner towards his family and friends. Yes
terday he was greatly under the influence
Of liquor, and those who saw him believed
that the drink had affected his mind. His
family told the saloons in the neighborhood
not to sell him any more liquor. The sa-
loon keepers on number of occasions
refused to sell Neville liquor, and this made
him very angry.
Last night, about o'clock, he went into
the saloon at West and Maryland streets
and asked the proprietor to give him a
drink. The proprietor refused TO do this,
and Neville started to leave the room, at
the same time remarking, well, this is
the last time you will ever refuse Shorty
a drink" The customers and the propri-
etor laughed, and the latter asked him
what he intended TO do. "Oh, that's all
right. You will learn after awhile" said
he as he left the saloon and went into his
rooms above the saloon. On the stairway
he met his mother, who was going to fetch
a bucket of water. Mrs. Neville spoke
a like manner. Mrs. Neville got the water,
climbed the stairs and was just stepping
into the nearest room, when she saw Ne
vile take from his lips a bottle contain
ing about four ounces Of creosote This
bottle was kept on a mantel in the room,
and had been prescribed for Mrs. Neville.
She dropped the bucket of water to the
floor as she saw Neville staggering around
the room, and exclaimed: My God, judi
son, what are you doing with the creosote?"
Neville did not answer, but, dropping the
bottle containing what was left of the
stuff, continued to stagger around the room.
Mrs Neville quickly summoned neighbours
who assisted Neville to bed. When he
came unconscious. His lips were terribly
burned and swollen. DR.. Eisenbeiss who
had been summoned, arrived and applied
number of restoratives, but TO no avail.
Neville died shortly after O'Clock.
Neville leaves a wife and two daughters
aged twelve and nine years, respectively.
He had been out of employment some
months and this discouraged him and prob
ably caused his drinking spells. Mrs. Ne
vile said last night that the creosote which
her husband took had been prescribed for
City Dispensary. She said that soon after
getting the drug she recovered from her i'll
ness and did not use all Of it. She placed
the bottle a mantle in one OF the rooms,
and it had remained there untouched ever
since. She said her husband was afflicted
with sever pains OF the stomach and on
several occasions took some camphor from
bottle standing on the same shelf on
which was kept the bottle of creesote to
allay the pain. She is of the opinion that
the stomach pains troubled him last even
Ing and that during the agony of a mo.
ment he accidentally took the creosote in
stead Of the camphor However, his ac-
tons in the neighboring saloon give rise
to the opinion that he intended to COM
NIT suicide.