The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-23
SUICIDE FOR LOVE.
Young Man Takes Strychnine at the St.
Nicholas Hotel.

Young Nan Takes Strychnine at the 81.
Nicholas Hotel.
B. A. Priddy, a young man 81 years
old, living at Osawkee. Jefferson county,
nineteen miles north of Topeka. made an
attempt at suicide last night at the St
Nicholas hotel by taking strychnine.
The attempt may yet be successful, as
the physicians give but little encourage
ment regarding his condition. The
cause of the suicide was dependency IN
a love affair.
Bert Priddy loved a pretty Osawkee
girl named Laura Stephy. In his love
affair he was not altogether happy. and
he had tod his brother several times that
he intended to commit suicide He worked
for his brother, L. D. Priddy, in the
Osawkee drug store His brother told
JOURNAL reporter that Bert had been
very Respondent for two weeks. He spent
much of his time at the store, sitting on
box, picture of wretchedness. They
occupied adjoining rooms, and the broth
er says that often IN the night he could
hear his brother groaning in his sleep, or
sobbing.
Last Tuesday afternoon Bert asked his
brother for some money, saying he was
going away.
''Where are you going?"
sob, don't know; anywhere" Bert re-
piled
His brother gave him SO, and thought
he had gone to Atchison until he re-
ceived the telegram this morning
nouncing his attem pied suicide at To-
peka.
Bert Priddy registered at the ST. Nicho-
las hotel last night at midnight. At
about $50 a great commotion was heard
in his room, No. II, on the second f DOR.
Pitcher True. of the baseball team, who
occupies the next room, was first awaken
ed by the noise, and the porter was noti-
fed.
The door was unlocked and Priddy
was found the floor in commissions.
| On the bureau was the following note:
ITO whom it may concern:
II, B. A. Priddy. of Osawkee, jefferson
county, being tired of this life, now seek
repose in better land. I bid an eternal
/ farewell to all who make inquiries In
quire at Lakes drug store. BERT
up. 81 request that l be buried in
the Osawkee cemetery by the M W.
of A."
DR.. Will Storrs was summoned after
some delay. A stomach pump was APP
| piled The doctor was in attendance
! continually until noon today. To a
JOURNAL reporter Dr. Storrs said Priddv's
recovery was next to impossible, mas
much as he was not called until nearly
two hours after the powerful poison had
| Doon taken. Inc unfortunate young
man lay on the bed breathing in quick
gasps, apparently making a hard strug-
gle for life.
Jacob Priddy, the boys father, was
telegraphed for, and he, with his older
son, L. D. Priddy, arrived on the morn
ing train from Leavenworth.
W. L. Lake, the druggist next door to
the st. Nicholas hotel, is a cousin of the
Priddys. Mr. Lake told JOURNAL report
er he understood that Hiss Stephy was
coming over to Topeka last night. Wheth-
er they intended to elope or not he does
not profess to say. Priddy met the train
last evening on which the young woman
was expected to arrive, and she failed to
come. This rather seemed to increase
Bert's dependency, but whether it is
responsible for his attempt at suicide is
a matter for conjecture.
Bert Priddy is a member of the Mod
ern Woodmen of America. At home he
has always been known as quiet, we'll
behaved boy. His father, Jacob Priddy,
is a prosperous farmer, having lived on
farm a mile west of Osawkee for
twenty nine years. Bert was born there