Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-06-03
cHAS. R. HANSON TAKES AD0SE
OF PRUssIC ACID WITH
FATAL EFFECT.
The Suicide Subject to Spells OF De-
preston and No Doubt was
Temporarily Insane at
the Time He Took
the Fatal Dose.

lad been here just fifteen weeks to
lay. He had come to Mexico from
st. Louis and had brought his wife
md four-year-old boy, Charlie, with
lim. They had taken board with MIR.
and Mrs. Peterson and appeared to all
TO be a happy and contented family.
Hanson was a wide-awake, energetic
fellow who was always on the move
and became acquainted with many
He was of a bright, pleasant
well informed, agood con-
yersationalist and made numerous
Among the places where he
was in the habit of passing some part
of his time were the meat markets of
F. A. Sannebeck and II. @. Sannebeck
and the Hub clothing store owned by
B. Scheinberg. These gentlemen all
knew Hanson we'll and had talked to
him much of late, but not n of them
for a moment suspected that he con-
taking his life. On the con-
trary,a all say that he has appeared IN
usually hopeful and cheerful of late,
yet this but goes to show how often it
is that the smiling mask is all the
world sees while the face beneath that
mask is distorted with the agony of
despair.
From the best facts obtainable it
seems that, weighed down with bust
ness worries and troubles, the burden
of which vas greater than he could
bear, Hanson had resolved upon the
deed. He was subject to these spells
of depression and twice before had at
tempted suicide by taking morphine.
On both of these occasions he was
saved by the watchfuIness and care of
his faithful wife, who knew OF and
shared with him the troubles Of which
the word knew nothing. All those
who knew him are of the opinion hat
he had become temporarily insane
and that while in this condition of
mental and moral responsibility
drank the death-dealing poison He
was at his boarding house but little
Monday and his wife, fully cognizant
of the state of mind he was in, was
uneasy about him all day. He did not
come into his boarding house until 8
o'clockTuesday morning 1t ID supposed
that he was spending these silent
hours of the night wandering around
the deserted precincts of the M. M. A.
grounds and the Fair Grounds.
Hanson, his wife and little boy oc-
cupied the front western room in the
Peterson house, and when he came in
that morning he disrobed and got into
the bed with them. About 6 O'Clock
that morning his wife saw him get out
of the bed, and going to the chair
upon which his coat was lying, take
therefrom a vial, and putting it to his
mouth began to drink the contents
She imm ediately OWNED his intent
and springing from bed wrenched the
bottle from him, but it was too late
He had swallowed the entire contents
of an ounce bottle of prussic acid
Mrs. Hanson Immediately ran int
the room occupied by Mr.. and Mrs
Peterson and told them of what he
husband had done. Mr.. Peterson hur'
riedly dressed and started to secure
physician. A few doors below tn
Peterson home lives w. B. Marshall
and Mr.. Peterson seeing him in hi
yard told him of what had happene'
, and requested him to go to the seen
of the sad occurrence and do what b
could for Hanson until he could brini
! a doctor. MIR. Marshall did as re
auested and worked faithfully wit
l the poisoned man, applying all sue
simple remedies as lard and othe
/ things, but it was of no avail. MI
Peterson returned shortly with Dl
Toalson, but already the seal of deaf
was upon him, and although Dr.. Toal
. son did all in his power to save him b
had arrived too late. At z O'CLOCK
, just one hour after taking the poison
Hanson died. He did not speak ono
after drinking the fatal dose, and ,cor
, trary to the usual nature of sue
deaths, his seemed to be ar easy on
8 as it was unattended with convnlsioi
or other violent strugglings. tn
body was viewed by a LEDGER repo,
O ter that morning and gave no indic'
tions of the effects of poison asi'
It from being somewhat discolofed.
Coroner Rodes viewed the remain
but as the cause of death was plain
evident and the facts we're establish
h beyond peradventure he did not sur
y mon a jury. His verdict was that d
le ceased came to his death by reason
prussic acid administered by his oy
q hand and that he was instigated to t
deed by reason of business troubi'
a.. Hanson purchased the prussic ae
n with which he killed himself at t
drug store of ]. F. Llewellyn.
came into Mr.. Llewellyn's drug sto
10 Monday afternoon and attempted
purchase a bottle OF the poison a
y was at first refused. He left the ste
o but returned later and told Mr.. Lie
ellyn that he wished the acid for
;, wife who, 90 he said, is a graduate
=, a training school for nurses at Bat
~ Creek, Mich, and was thoroughly CO
yersant with the deadly nature OF !
drug and the proper uses OF It.
this statement Nh. Llewellyn let D
he have it after complying with the Ia
ry of the State governing the sale OF p
nd sons. No blame whatever attac'
u to Mr.. Llewellyn.
r. In a drawer to a writing desk wh
was in the room occupied by Mr. Z
= Mrs, Hanson were found docume
which proved Hanson to have o.
been q member of the Masons !
also of the A. o. wv. He had ne
affiliated himself with either orga
Tue cation at this place. Several leu
'ot of recommendation were also fou
he among which was one from VIII
Ia II. Mayo, of st. Louis. In the 81
= drawer was found the letter given
u low, which was written on WING
Hotel letter paper, in q sealed en-
Der ope and addressed to MIRA. Mil
ect Hanson, his wife:
bIel MEXICO, Mo-, May 81, 1ss7.-Dl
MAMMA AND DEAR CHARLIE: w