The Anaconda standard., 1895-11-21
FRED SMITH IS DEAD
BE Took a Dose of Laudanum With
Suicidal Intent.
DESPONDENCY CAUSED 1T
The Man Had Suffered From an
Afflictlon OF the Hands, Which
Incapacitated Him for Work
His Wife In Iowa.

Fred ]. Smith. barber rooming in
the Maule block. grew tired of life yes
terday morning. and transferred his
spirit to the next world by means of a
dose OF laudanum. Hilda Ecklund, the
chambermaid. was passing Smiths
room about O'Clock when she heard
groans inside and listening more close
ly she heard a rafting and gurgling
sound which accompanied the heavy
breathing OF the occupant of the room
she raped at the door. but could get
no answer and with her suspicious
keenly aroused she hastily summoned
the landlady. Mrs. M. Smith. The
pounding on the door was renewed but
with no better success than before and
II was impossible to gain admittance
with pass key. as Smith had left his
Key In the lock on the inside when he
laid down to die. AS neither the land
lady nor the chambermaid have yet
adopted the new woman costume IL
was out OF the question for them to
climb through the transom and a
young man who sympathized with
them In their dilemma performed that
feat for them and unlocked the door,
Smith was entirely unconscious and
both his heavy breathing and his ap-
pearance indicated that 1t was a case
or attempted suicide. DIR. McCrimmon
"%o sem AOh anu ne pronounced IL a
case OF laudanum poisoning. An empty
half-ounce bottle. which had contained
laudanum was found beside the bed
and there is no doubt that the discon-
solate barber took that amount of
poison. That Smith intended to make
good lob of 1t even IL he had to take
another dose was evidenced by the dis
covery of another half-ounce bottle of
laudanum in a bureau drawer near the
bed. DR.. McCrimmon did everything
possible 10 restore the man to life and
consciousness, but he was too far gone
to admit of recovery and he died about
noon. Judge Turner. as acting coroner,
TOOK charge OF the body and 1t was re-
moved TO the Butte undertaking rooms.
Smith was about 40 years old and
came to Butte a little more than a
year ago from Helena. He worked at
John Murray's barber shop when he
was able. but he suffered from a swell
Ing of his hands which incapacitated
him for work good deal of the time.
he had been sick for the last week or
TWO. but was shown every kindness
and attention by his friends, who were
frequent visitors at his room. 1t is sup
posed that he took the poison in "A tit
or dependency over his illness, as he
mad no other cause for killing himself.
His wife left on a visit to her parents
at Janesville. Iowa. couple of months
eHc oha ANNCnl lCllCIS nel, WnlCn |
were found on the body. are of a most |
anectlonate nature and show that there |
were no domestic troubles. His wife is |
a book agent and in her last letter to |
him she told him not to worry because
ne was unable to work. She said that |
she had some money coming to her
which she would get soon and that on
her return to Butte she would be able
10 earn enough to support him and the
family and that 1t would not be neces-
sary for him to work at all. She also
asked him % come home on a visit and |
said that both her folks and his were
very anxious to see him.
Smith was a member in good stand
Ing OF White Cross lodge and the uni
formed rank. X. OF p. and OF Unity
lodge and the Encampment, 1. o. o. f.,
at Brainerd. MINI. He was I'm good
standing in all of the lodges and the
*. OF p. lodge telegraphed 10 the un-
dertaking company here on being in
formed of his death. to give the body
every attention. He also held an in
surance policy of $1,000 and another
one OF $1,000. which was taken out
later in the Aetna Insurance company.
He left a note. which was dated al
Helena on March Q. 1895, In which he |
gave the number and amount OF the
policies and the date OF their issue. A
postscript to the note. dated Sept. 25,
1895. stated my wife is now at James
Vile. Iowa"
An inquest was held last evening and
! verdict was returned in accordance ,
with the facts as stated above. II was ,
shown that he had at one time been ,
very well Off and owned a large barber I
HOP at Brainerd. Mimi, but had spent Z
lbout all of his money in attempting /
% cure his hands. which were so affect
d with some trouble that he was un-
Ible TO work except at long intervals. Z
de sold out his barber shop at Brain /
'rd about year and a half ago and !
TO Helena, where he started
! BARRIERS supply house. He came 10
Suite last August. A telegram was .
eceived by the undertakers last even
ng from his wife instructing them to
nip the body to her at GAINESVILLE. la n