The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-07-21
VERY PECULIAR DEATH.
Thos. fasterIlne Of The Fifth Ward Died
Yesterday Afternoon.
HAD BEEN Assault TED BY HIS LANDLADY
Drug Taken Later-rcstimony
in Reference to the Anair.

There was death attended with pc
culiar circumstances In the Fifth ward
yesterday afternoon, Thomas r. Easter
ling. a white man about 80 years old.
died. but 1t will require an autopsy to de-
termine the cause OF his death. as there
assigned. Easterling was the prescrlp
ton clerk at Duncan's drug store. 22l2
Odin avenue. and had been boarding at
Mrs. A. NJ. Kimbars boarding house,
1915 Mckee street Lately. though, he
has not been a regular hoarder. only TAX
ing his meals there occasionally. He was
there for dinner yesterday. and il is al
legged by witnesses that he was bolster
Gus and quarrelsome, apparently being
under the influence of liquor or some
narcotic. He ouarreled with some of the
boarders during the meal, and 1t Is said
used language which angered the land
lady. as there were several ladies at the
table. After dinner was finished. Mrs.
kimball went to Easterling and requested
him TO leave the place, telling him that
he was iniuring her business through his
fused TO leave in such manner that
Mrs. kimball became lnfuriated and
struck him on the head three times with
Ratchet which she held in her hand.
One wound made by the Ratchet was
quite severe one.
After having been hit with the hatchet
Eas,erlng went to the home of Or. p. h.
Smith. 1917 Providence street. where no
died at $3.50 D. m.
Citv Health Dntcar AJouefa ,,;o,uoJ IN
corpse and at his suggestion Justice
Malsch held an inquest. at which It was
developed that the deceased had taken
some sedative after going to the house
of DR.. Smith. An autopsy will be held to
determine the character of this drug and
its effect.
The following testimony was taken at
the INQUEST:
Emma Kimball-I know deceased; his
name is Thomas Easterling; he is about
~ years of age, Deceased used 10 be at
our house. but lately has only been taking
meals occasionally. Today. at noon he
came in and ate some soup after which
he threw something on the table and
broke some dishes NV mother then Or
uereu MN TO leave, but he said he would
not mother then became infurfated and
struck him with a Ratchet; she struck
MN three times He then went in our
room and locked himself in. ran out on
tle porch and opened the shutter of 4
WINDOW 10 the room he was in: he asked
me 10 phone for DR.. Brumby. but didn't
40 IT, Right atterward he came out and
sald TO mother. Let me by. Mrs KIM
pan l believe I'll 90 TO DR.. Smiths" and
shdt as the last l saw of him. After
inother struck him three times and was
IN the act of striking him the fourth blow
De sald on. don't" and she aurt.
MIS- j. b. Quinn am boarding with
MIS- himball. Deceased has been worry
ung MRS. Kimball for some time: TODAY he
ate dinner. sitting right next TO mo de-
ceased was talking rather Insulting a a
gentleman and Mrs Kimball told him "a
hush ana he hushed. / got through S,n-
heI and came to my room; Mrs K'r.btlI
came TO my room and told me she Nou,d
hurt deceased If he didn't leave. aa'
Nlsed her to call a policeman, but She
SAID she didn't want to do that. She then
went out and heard her say. "Lesge my
mouse; you are driving my boa-ders
away" He said, you cant make me
leave She said, II will make you leave "
stepped to my door. saw Mrs. KlmbalI
strike deceased one blow and went bach
in my room, as | didn't want TO SEQ any
more
Mrs. P. L. smith-About 1:45 p. m. de.
ceased came to my door and asked for DR.
He then wanted to know If could reach
the doctor by telephone; told him
could not He then asked me II he could
come in and wait, and | told him yes
When he got in noticed him bIeed,nl
very profusely and asked him what caussf
1t; he said Mrs Kimball struck him witt
Ratchet. l then bandaged his head with
wet towels and got him TO lay on the sofa
as I was afraid he would bleed to deatl
standing up. then telephoned FOR Or
Davis. who came at once. | concur in tn,
testimony as given by Or. Davis. De
ceased died about 1880 D. m. I saw de
ceased drink something out OF this bott,,
which he said was sedatiye.
DR.. F. VI. Dayis--I was called to attent
the deceased about 2 O'clock and founC
him bleeding very profusely from the c,t
over his left eye. He seemed to me Il
the time to he intoxicated. and he r..
fused to let me attend to his wounds, ay
ing that he was going 10 die anyhow anC
It would be of no use to do anything to
him Through persistence he allowed m,
to place a bandage around his head 4
stop the bleeding. He then told me of d,
insurance policy Of his which he said WA
in Mrs Kimbsll's hands. assuring me d
the same time that ! would be compensat
ed out Of It for my services. In fact. h,
talked like he was positive that death wa.
near. / finally coaxed him to let me pu
some stitches in the wound on the sid,
Of his head I then left him.
Pr. p. l.. Smith, came home about mr.
teen minutes before Easterlng died AM
found him perfectly ratlonal-so much s.
as to discuss business matter with me
1 examined his wounds casually, intend
| ing later, when / washed, to get som.
clean clothes for him aud bandage hi
wound so he could get out and go home
! asked him who struck him and he toll,
me Mrs. Kimball did and that she ough
to have killed him years ago While
was making preparations in my bedroom
! heard deceased draw a very deep breatl
and remarked 10 my wife. 81 don't Tx
that and am going to see what Is the mar
ter with Tom went in and found min
about gone; | got my wife TO telephone
for Drs Davis and Massie while worket
On deceased, but he died within about nv
minutes after he drew that deep breath.
Mrs. j. D. Berry, was at the same
table deceased was at this noon, and
seeing that he was inclined TO be fussy
hurried through dinner and came Il
my room. Sometime after heard Mr.
Kimhall tell deceased to leave; deceased
made some reply. which ! didn't under
stand then heard Mrs. Kimball say: q
| will crack you one" ! then heard Z
noise which I think was the blows
ran into Mrs. Quinns room. then into
Tho hoif "a oat out NJ tho houea In fhs