The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1897-04-02
Shielded ]!
DR.. George Dana Purinton's
Strange Action.


d. Furinton committed suicide
in a room at the Lindell Hotel, St.
Louis, Saturday night. The
Globe Democrat speaking of the
sad affair said Mrs. Purinton was
Frustrated all day Saturday. and
at times hysterical. Soon after
the news of her husbands death
reached her she went to the
home of the Rev. DR.. w. L. RI
Smith, 4l16 Westminster place.
Many friends called there yester-
day to express coincidence. and
two warm personal friends of
her husband.
The body was removed from
the Lindell Hotel to the morgue.
Later Eberle T. Keyes TOOK
charge OF the remains. Mrs. Pur-
linton did not view her husbands
remains yesterday, being phys
ically unable to do SO. A friend
of the family, however, tele-
phoned to the morgue, request
ing that no curiosity.seekers be
permitted to look at them,
The body will be taken to the
home of DIR. Purinton's mother.
in Virginia, for burial. The lady
is over So years OF age.
For some months past DR.. Pur-
inton's friends noticed that he
was highly nervous and irritable
and that his mind at times was
affected. Several months agp
he became invofved IA an mag
mary trouble, with Mr.. Allen, q
druggist, at No. 1926 Olive street
and procured a shot gun. The
druggist saved himself by fight.
Subsequently he was arrested
for an assault on a negro, but was
released. He also became high.
" excited, on one occasion, aud
made a groundless accusation
against some one Of poisoning his
horse. He spoke of his malady
to a few of his personal friends,
saying that he was not at him
self.
His domestic relations we're of
the most pleasant character. ex-
cept that after his mental trouble
appeared he was at times irrita,
BILE and easily excited. He leaves
a wife in somewhat limited cir
cumstances. Two children we're
born of the union, but both are
dead. The doctor was about 3S
years of age. He and Mrs. Pur-
inton were active members of the
Third Baptist Church. His
friends attribute all his deed to
mental alteration.
DR.. Emory Lanphear said last
evening that he had known the
deceased Intimately for the past
six years. When the College of
Physicians and Surgeons was
reorganized, DR.. Purinton was
called from Columbia, Mo-, to
take a position in the faculty.
HE was one Of the best educat-
ed men in the country" continued
DR.. Lanphear, having received
the degree of Master Of Arts at
the University of West Virginia,
and being q Doctor Of Philosophy
and Doctor of Medicine. He was
man of exceptionally high at.
tainment and at times complain.
ed that he was not getting on as
well as he ought to, although l
think that he was doing quite
well. He held a number of posi-
tons of trust. having had charge
Of the government experimental
station Of the Department of Ag-
rrculture, was at one time a mem.
Der Of the faculty of the Arkan.
sas University and president of
the Missouri State Teachers As
sociation at the time he moved
Eere, and a member Of the local
Academy of Medicine and Sur
gerry
..He made an effort to get the
appointment of president Of the
Rochester University" continu.
DR.. Lanphear, "but was unsuc-
cessful, and this fact appeared to