The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-05
SUICIDE BY POISON.
eHArry L. Smith Calmly Swallows
Strychnine
in NIKE THOMPSON'S BILLIARD HALL.
His wife Would Not Live With Him
He was at Work Yesterday.

His Wife Would Not Live With Him
Re was at Work Yesterday.
Harry L Smith, carpenter 26 years
of age, took strychnine in Mike Thomp-
sons billiard hall about 6 o'clock last
evening and was dead in twenty minutes
Harry Smith was married in Topeka
about two years ago to a young woman
who was known as VIVA Fisher and also
as VIVA Root.
Smiths relatives objected to the mar
rage and he and his wife have had trou-
lble- at several times which has caused
them to live apart sometimes for months
at a time.
Since last December they have been
living at 81 Adams street. Yesterday
morning Smith took his wife to the San
ia Fe depot and she took the train for
Osawkie where her parents live. He then
went to work for n. T. Keller, the con-
tractor, and was employed during the
day shingling a house at the corner of
Tenth and Quincy street
Several times during the day Smith
told the men who were working with
him that he was going to kill himself,
and asked them how much strychnine it
would take to kill him. The men who
were we'll acquainted with him thought
he was TESTING and paid no attention to
his talk.
Smith quit work at o'clock last even
ing and told Mr.. Keller he was going
home to pack his trunk to send it to
Osawkie, where his wife had gone to
visit her parents.
About o'clock he went into Mike
Thompson's billiard hall near the corner
of Eighth street and Kansas avenue. He
remarked to Thompson ut will soon be
over with me-"
He then walked to the rear of the
room and took drink of water. When
he returned to the front door he threw
empty strychnine bottle to Thompson,
who then realized what Smith was doing
Smiths lips were turning purple then
and his eyes were looking strange, but
he would not allow DR.. Sheldon, who was
called, to attend him.
A hack was called and he was taken
to his home at 81 Adams street When
he reached his home he begged for a
physician and City Physician Mitchell
was sent for, but before he arrived Smith
was dead,
At noon yesterday Smith sent the fol-
lowing telegram to his wife at Osawkie
E'Vina, come home at once, Harry is
dying and wants to see you. | will stay
with him until you come. George Go
to 81 Adams"
Mrs. Smith supposed the telegram was
from his brother George. who works for
the Pacific Express company, and she
came to Topeka on the first train, which
arrived here at 7:20 P. M, about an hour
after her husband died.
Smiths friends say he was a hard
drinker and his wife was responsible for
his recklessness, as he cared more for her
than she did for him
A note, found in his pocket, which he
must have written while in ThOmpsOn's
billiard hall, read as follows:
81, II. L. Smith, am tired of life and
do not want to live. May God forgive
me for this deed My wife is at Osaw-
kie, and l want her to come to me. Have
me buried at Osawkie where my darling
wife can take care of my grave. 1 would
like to have the A. o. U. w. take care OF
my body. l cannot live without my dar-
ling wife. We have parted and l must
60"
Smith was member of A. o. .. W.
lodge No. pa and the members of that
organization have taken charge of his
remains which were last night removed
to DeMoss & PenwelPs undertaking
rooms
A short funeral service will be held a.
the undertaking rooms at o'clock to-
night and the remains will be taken K
Osawkie tomorrow morning for burial.
Mrs. Smith will get $4,000 life insur
ance from the A. o. .. W. Contractor
Keller this morning paid her 50 for the
work her husband did yesterday.