Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-12-03
S0CCUMBS
TO OPIUM.
4 Noted Temperance Orator Very
II in the Hospital.
Was in Elk Point a Short Time
Ago.

Will J. Mcconnell, the temperance
orator, who delighted audiences here
and elsewhere in this section during
September and October, taking Col.
Balm $ untitled appointments in October,
because OF that gentleman's illness, IL
now very i'll in Pittsburg hospital
suffering from the excessive use Of
/, opium. The following special telegram
from Pittsburg to Chicago papers,
under da1e of Nov. 20, conveys the
startling intelligence:
! will J. Mcconnell, the well-known
! temperance lecturer and theatrical
agent, and q former protege Of Frances
/ Willard, arrived 10 Pittsburg this
! morning to attend the murder trial Of
William J. Richter, who murdered Mr..
McConnell's 13-year old son last July.
| When court adjourned at noon Mr..
Mcconnell boarded one sf the elevators
| in the court house, intending to 60 out
| for a lunch. As the car started to de-
scend Mcconnell sank to the floor.
| The jail physician said he was very
/ sick, and ordered him taken to tho
! Homeopathic hospital. There 1t was
| found that his condition was serious.
1t was supposed to be stroke Of
/ apopiexy. but the physicians dis covered
traces OF poison. A stomach pump
showed large quantities. OF morphine.
| DR.. Goggin said tonight that Mr.. Mo-
| Connell had taken enough morphine to
kill three ordinary men, and did not
think he would recover. He thought
Mcconnell had been using the drug
long time. He had 80 much morphine
| in his system that he was doeed for two
! hours with all kinds of antidOtes before
| he was restored to q condition Of con-
seriousness. 1t was thought Mr.. Nc.
Cornell had attempted suicide, but he
denied this,
He says he has been using morphine
to quiet his nerves and allay his crav-
! ing for strong drink. For four months
during the recent campaign, he says,
he lectured in South Dakota, in aid Of
the pending prohibition amendment"
| Mr.. Mcconnell filled his last appoint
| ment at Huron paior to his departure
for Pi.lsbllrg several weeks ago. At Q
large meeting there on the Sunday
previous to going east he delivered q
soul-inspiring appeal for sObriety.
During his talk at the Sunday after
noon meeting Mr.. Mcconnell referred
to the death of his sOn-murdered
about six months ago by . man under
the influence of strong drink. His
words were touching and brought tears
to the eyes OF scores o! listeners. Mr..
| Mcconnell said:
MY little boy was very bright and
beautiful, and had his ambition fired
to the highest pitch. He knew more
oi history and books in. general than
| most OF young men OF twenty. His
smile was a sunbeam, his laugh the
merry ring OF silver bell, and his
/ voice was strangely sweet. Oh, /
loved him SO. But one day not long
ago the cruel hand OF murder fell upon
his fair young head, and few hours
later stood over him while the min
lister OF God said, James David, I
baptize thee In the name Of the Father
and Of the Son and Of the Holy Ghost, ,
and just then the death angel came and
kissed his breath away, and his dear
| life went out into the great unknown.
ever knew. wrapped my soul In deepest
\ !,
| is in my heart. I often start from :
troubled sleep, and the hot tears are
upon my face, and often in my waking
1 hours deep waves OF sorrow overwhelm
/ me. But when see other boys step
1 ping out into the perilous pathway Of
1 drunkenness | say there 10 no telling
what my loved one escaped. The other
day in Pittsburg wae talking with my
| old friend Thos. p, Hershberger.
4 Across the street we saw q young man
under the influence Of drinR, and my
1 friend said: Mcconnell, when you
look Mt that boy you ought 70 thank
God that yours is out Of DANGER"
/ While in Redfield Mr.. Mcconnell
appeared to many - being . man OF
marked genius, struggling under Z
terrible mental strain, and looked like
a man who was q victim Of some ter
rible habit. Withal he Was Z pleasing
|conversati0nalist, man Of rare gffts
and, NJ q platform speaker, superior "a
the majority that have bored this Oon-
munity. He was formerly . theatrical
manager and, It Is believed, tho DE-
termination TO lecture for prohibition
came 70 him with the tragic death OI
his idolized son. Il Il thought, alec
that the old desire for drink returned
TO him and to allAy its cravings be 70,
sorted TO the delerium Of opium.
During his stay hero he sttemptod
, 10 get opium, nut wHs refused, it g sni6
the pillabeing credited with .cOutaininl
opium suflcient % kill - ordinary man
The Thousands Ia this state Who 81
IspeilbDu under hls matshleoo 0tAACgs
and whoe0 feelings were eWayed ~ IN
] magic ~ his voice and the rich paetul