Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-29
THE DRUG WASFATAL
Mr.. Carpenter, a Guest at The Dod-
son, Dies from Taking Morphine.
BELIEVED TO BIZ SUICIDE.
The Man In Good Spirits, However, When
He Purchased tho Poison-Was
Travelling Mantle Details.

Mr.. G. NJ. Carpenter. a travelling sales
man for the paint-house OF j. w. Masury
& Sons. OF New York and Chicago. but
who registered from Baltimore. died at
the Hotel Dodson last night from dose
VI morphine taken with suicidal intent.
He had been drinking. and was attend
ed soon after his arrival here on wed
nesday by Dr. Bosher. lie retired very
late Friday night. but arose between I
and O'Clock yesterday morning. ana
going to Poythress's drugstore. purchased
twenty-five grains OF morphine.
The clerk on duty at the time engaged
him I'm conversation. and thoroughly sat
ished himself that his customer was fuzzy
aware Of the dangerous nature OF the
drug Mt Carpenter was apparently per-
fectly sober, and was In a very good
hurnor. The package containing the NOR
phine was labelled with the usual red
label to designate the deadly character
Of It's contents
FOUND TO BE UNCONSCIOUS.
Tpon returning TO the hotel the unfor-
tunate man went Immediately to his
room, and about II O'Clock was discovered
there In an unconscious condition. An
effort was made to get Dr. Bosher but
he could not be reached and DR.. George
l., Stone was summoned. Or. stone ar
rived in about half an hour, and by 100
O'Clock had succeeded in getting Mr.. Car
pcntcr on his feet and restoring him to
consciousness. lie then gave directions
that he should b. kept moving until he
could SEQ him again. These directions
were carried out by Mr.. Dodson and some
OF the guests at the hotel so faithfully
that Mr.. CARPENTER had at one time raj
lied sufficiently TO put on his own shoes.
THE RELAPSE WAS FATAL
He was then taken down into the back
yard. ana about hali-past o'clock, while
being walked back and forth. suddenly
rclaUsed into Inconsistencies. DR.. stone
was ar1n telephoned for, but could not
Ica.c another very i'll patient, and the
almehouec physicians were summoned.
An electric battery was applied and Il
stomach-pump used. but without avail.
as the unfortunate man brcathed his last
about & O'Clock. lie never admitted that
he had taken the drug, but once asked:
"Who said ! took anything"
Again while Sir. Dodson WAS Shaping
his face he suddenly opened his eyes and
said. 81 was waiting TO see how long you
would keep that up"
PROBABLY TOOK 1T ALL
It is not known how much Of the drug
he took. but the supposition is that he
swallowed the whole twenty-five grains.
Mr.. Dodson AID the travelling-men who
are guests at the hotel never relaxed
Cor an instant their efforts to keep him
awake.
Or. stone said last night that no one
had ever been worked upon more faith
fully By his friends than was the de-
ceased When ne left Mr.. Carpenter lie
hoped that he would pull through. but
he was terribly shattered and no one can
foresce the end Of such cases.
QUIET AND POPULAR MAN.
Mr. Dodson sad last night that the de-
ceased was about ~ years Of age. that he
had known him as a guest for several
years and that he was "A very quiet ana
popular man. His wife is at present III
Franklin. y. g., and was tclegraphed 10.
The in7ression at the hotel is that Mr.
Carp"nter was n southern man.
Coroner Taylor viewed ;he remains
but as his examination SdtlSHcd MN tiaI
il was a cage Of suicide, he decided not
to hold an inquest. ..,.,.e,
THE DECEASED'S PAPERS.
There WAS nothing among the papers OF
tho deceased 10 give rise To the Suspicion
Of suicide. and the impression among MS
friends at the hotel is that death was
the result Of accident. When he arrived
at the hotel Wednesday night H. was
too nervous 10 sign his name, ana the
clerk WAS forced to register Tor nm.
4 letter from his house was awaiting
him. but This only contained instructions
as to what firms he should visit III At
lauta. lie received a letter from his wife
Thursday under date OF April 2ith. This
was of very affcctiOnate nature. ana
contained no sort of reproach. Another
letter from his wife was received ycster-
dqy afternoon after ne had taken the iata
dose. and is sul unopened. Not one cent
WAS found on his person nor among his
effects. but the hotel people say that Ia
very often ran out Of funds while here
ana his drafts were always promptly
hCnOred
WIFE NOT HEARD FROM.
1,rr.pfa. will pot receive the tolo