The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-17
FRANCIS 7. HORD DEAD
TO INDUCE sLEEP HE TOOK AN OV-
OF MORPHINE.
He Was Well known I'm business and
Social CircIes-Carried Life
Insurance.

Continued loss Of sleep and the taking
OF morphine in too great a quantity caused
the death yesterday morning of Francis T.
Hord, a ~well-known lawyer of this city,
at mis- home, 1901 North Pennsylvania
street. He was found about Z o'clock yes
terday morning by his wife dead i'm bed,
and Dr.. Kahlo, who was called, said he mad
been dead for about two hours. All efforts
to revive him were unsuccessful.
Mr.. Hord had been ailing for several days
on account of loss of sleep and Wednesday
went to DIR. Henry jameson for advice.
He was given some light medicine and then
went home. He lay down on a couch after
having written a note to his wife, who
went out, i'm which he said: DO not wake
me until bedtime. l took a part of one
eighth ounce of morphine. O~ne-eighth
ounce is the usual dose in tablets, L under
stand"
Later he went TO his bedroom. and when
Mrs. Hord returned she found him asleep.
She did not find the note and thought he
was enjoying restful sleep and therefore
did not disturb him. Early yesterday MORN
ing she went to his room and found him
apparently sleeping. He did not answer
her low call and she went away, returning
in about an hour. Something about his APP
pearance alarmed her and she tried to
awaken him. Being unable she called DIR.
Kahlo, who found the body chilled.
The quantity OF morphine taken was
enough to kill even those who habitually
use il. Mr.. Hord evidently made a mis-
take, aking o~ne-eighth of an ounce instead
of o~ne-eighth of a grain, which is the usual
dose. Little of the medicine prescribed by
DIR. jameson had been taken.
DR.. Knox. deputy coroner. was called,
.nI afrar hearing the statements of Mrs.
Hord and his physicians decided that no
autopsy was necessary, his illness, the note
and all the circumstances giving evidence
of death from an overdose of the drug
taken through a lack of knowledge OF the
proper quantity.
AMAN OF PROMINENCE.
Mr.. Hord was quite prominent in business
and social circles and his many friends,
who saw him Wednesday morning and
afternoon, were unable TO believe the re-
port and many of them called at the house
TO verify the statement. He was unusually
cheerful Wednesday and had no illness ex-
cept his inability to sleep.
Francis 4. Hord. born and reared in this
city. was thirty-four years of age. He VAS
a graduate Of the public schools, the Boys
Classical School at Rose Polytechnic and
the Ann Arbor Law School. lie began the
study of law I'm the office of Harrison, Mil
Ter x Elam, and after graduating, III 1892.
formed a law partnership with Lafayette
Perkins. the firm name being Hord ~ Per-
kins. lie was a Democrat in politics and in
party work Was quite an active worker.
He was elected in the year OF his admission
10 the bar TO the Indiana House of Repre-
SCntativeS. where he served in a conspicu-
Gus manner. being. at times, vigorously op-
posed to party work.
lie was married in 1889 to Miss Eleanor
Young. of Terre Haute, daughter of Or.
and Mrs. stephen Young. His wife and
two children. Eleanor. eleven years of age.
and Stephen, three years old, survive him.
His father. Oscar Il. Hord. who was at one
time attorney general OF Indiana, and a
member of the law firm OF Baker, Hord x
Hendricks. died I'm 1855 of apOpleXy. His
mother resides at Terre Haute. Harry r.
HOrd. a brother. lives in this city. DR.. and
Mrs. Young came here yesterday, having
been early notified of his death. His wife
was yesterday said TO be seriously i'll from
the shock.
Mr.. Hord IL said TO have carried a large
amount OF insurance upon his life. the esti-
mates being placed from $4,000 TO 1000.
He was a member OF no secret orders. bat
was a member of the Country Club. Of
which he was once president, the Cniver-
sitv club and the Commercial Club.