Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-10-25
AN UNEXPLAINED DEATH.
Walter Leno of Salisbury Plain Passes
Away Under Peculiar Circumstances.


Away Under Peculiar Circumstances.
Walter Leno of Salisbury Plain, for
merly of East Middlebury, died at Bur-
Ellington Tuesday night about IL o'clock
under circumstances pointing to suicide
by poison, but on which point theIphysi-
clans are not in agreement.
According to the Free Press Leno, who
Nyas about 81 years of age, was arrested
Sunday noon on complaint of his wife
that he had tried to poison himself with
laudanum and she wanted him locked up
to prevent his carrying out the design.
When taken to the jail Leno was in
normal condition and conversed freely
with Sheriff Reeves and others. He said
he had taken no laudanum, but that he
had small quantity and occasionally put
some on tooth that bothered him. A
small bottle was found in his clothes and
was taken away. Further search re-
vealed no other drug.
At about 0 80 I.eno went to bed with
the other prisoners. He was In cell
with another man. Nothing unusual
was noticed in his behavior and he bade
frank goodnight to the sheriff as the
cell was locked.
Monday morning at{about $50, when
Turnkey Quinn unlocked the door of the
cell, Leno's comrade said he had been
trying for some time to wake his fellow
prisoner, but was unable to do so. Sher-
If Reeves was told and Leno was
brought from the cell and laid on the
office floor. DIR. H. r. Watkins, the
health officer, was called and arrived in
about ID minutes. After examining the
sleeping man, he said there was no dan
ger and that recovery would undoubt-
edly take place. The doctor returned
estimate of the sleeper's condition.
Shortly afterwards Leno's breathing be-
came irregular and DR.. Watkins and DR..
Lyman Allen were called. They cleansed
the mans stomach and treated him for
poisoning, but were unable to arouse
him. 1t was thought he would die that
night, but Tuesday morning he rallied
somewhat. He remained in a lethaI gic
condition throughout the day, however,
and died that night as stated. The re-
mains were sent to Salisbury Plains ar
riving on the Wednesday evening train.
There they we're taken to the home of
Daniel LenO, the aged father of the
deceased.
The physicians consider the case a
most remarkable one. The symptoms
were puzzling, being unlike those Of
laudanum poisoning. Death was too
long delayed to have been from such a
cause. No suspicious bottle or paper
was found in the cell, and Leno had not
left the room in the night.
From what the REGISTER can learn,
Walter Leno was an honest, hard-work-
ing man. He was doing day work In
Salisbury, and those who know him say
he would have got along nicely had his
own household cO.orerated with him.
He had wife and five children whom
he was trying hard to support. Last
week the wife, taking her children with
her, and, 1t is reported, without the
knowledge of Leno, went to Burlington.
He followed her a few days later, and
presumably quarrel resulted, ending in
his making an effort to take his life.
The Free Press notes the fact that Mrs.
would not see her husband, saying she
had to go to work and had not time.
None of the family remained with him
during the two last days Of his life, and
three of the children were all who &C:
cop2anled the remains home. n