The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-12
MRS. HlI' : Story
Of the Death of F. M. TomIin
in a Roadside Camp.
IF SHE GOES TO PRISON
She viii Go Happy, Because
Innocent, She Says.
IF SHE GOES TO PRISON

Guthrie, o. T., July n,-Mrs. NJ. J. Hill
who is charged with having murdered a.
old man named F. NJ. Tomlin, while il
camp near Okarche, was lodged IL th'
county jail at Kingfisher on Monday
Both Mrs. Hill and the dead man had re
sided in Saltwater. and warm affection
grew up between them. Last April the,
decided to take an overland trip together
and Mrs. Hill asserts that II was THEN
intention to marry. The couple had been
on the road several days and while in
camp near Okarche, the old man died
suddenly on the night Of April q, the
body being buried by some neighboring
farmers, who evidently had no suspicion
but what death resulted from natural
causes, his travelling companion asserting
that he was troubled with heart disease.
Some weeks later the sons of the dead
man had his body exhumed and the stom-
ach sent 10 a chemist for analysis. It is
claimed that subsequently traces Of
strychine were clearly evident and on this
assertion Mrs. Hill was indicted last May
but her arrest was not made until last
week.
She was taken in custody in Pawnee
county where she has resided since the
indictment and while passing through
Saltwater in charge Of Deputy Sheriff
Walter Kelly. the prisoner gave the FOL
lowing interview to the Populist:
when did you and Mr.. TomIin leave
Saltwater"
I'VE left there about the 10th or 18th
OF April"
Where did you go?"
We drove TO Fl Reno and were two
and one-half days on the way; from there
We went to Weatherford and stopped over
night; then we started back to Downs
and had got nine miles east OF Okarche
where we camped for the night, this be-
ing the 2lst day Of April"
1T was while in camp that Mr.. Tomlin
died ?"
yes; during the night one Of the horses
got loose and Mr.. Tomlin got out TO catch
IT, He had to run for some distance and
that 10 hill. and when he came back he
got into the wagon and struck a match
q see what time it was and found it to
be twenty-five minutes after i o'clock, as
he. announced"
''Then what did he do?"
He made the remark that there were
but two matches in the box, and laid
down.
"Then what?"
Presently I heard him breathing hard
and raised up and went to him; by that
time he was limp and apparently dead
tried to lift him up, but could not; I
put the faatherbed under his head. He
refused to revive and went for water
and bathed his face; it did no good"
Then what did you do
Il went for help and had to run all over
the noighborhood 10 get some one to see
after him. q"
You got assistance?"
ives. sir
'Was the coroner notifed?"
Il requested an inquest but the people
thought it unnecessary; that death was
due TO heart trouble and the expense of
an inquest would be a needless one"
Did you bury Mr.. Tomlin "
Yes sir; he was buried two miles
north Of the place Of death in what is
known as the Smith graveyard, the entire
neighborhood attending"
Who bore the expense Of the funeral?''
Al did. I paid every cent and tried TO
give him a decent burial"
On being informed that after the funer-
al it was reported that she took the team
and wagon into town and sold them,
Mrs. Hin said:
Yes, I sold them, and thought, and be-
Aeve now. that had a right to do so"
Did it occur to you that perhaps you
We're doing wrong in selling the team?"
No, needed the money and since I
had spent mine for the funeral, I did not
think il wrong"
Were you married to Mr.. TomHn?"
NO, We were not married, but expected
to at the first opportunity; that is what
We went away for"
Flow old are you Mrs. Hill, and what
was the age OF Mr. Tomlin?"
Il am 80 years old and he was &C."
Had he ever complained of feeling
10