The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-20
KANSAS NEWS.
Passing Of DIR. Foote, an Aged
Hermit of Argentine.
Once Wealthy and Respected, He
Died F0rsaken and Alone.
POISONED BY MISTAKE.
Recorded His Sensations as He
Felt Death Approaching.
An Eccentric Character Known
as the Musical Man.

Argentine, Kan, Aug. 20.-The body
and most eccentric character, was
found in his little rickety Office at No.
Spear avenue, yesterday afternoon
about o'clock. The indications are
though note that he had written
while dying partly justifies the belief
that he took dose of morphine, think
ing it was Quinine. DIR. Foote died as
he had lived. alone, and in his poorly
furnished and poverty-looking office.
He died, evidently, few minutes after
O'Clock Tuesday morning. but the
body was not discovered until twelve
hours later. George w. Toothaker, q
real estate agent of Argentine, and one
of the old physicians warm friends,
noted the mans absence from the street
during the day and visited his Office
out of curiosity. Toothaker peered
through the front window Of the ply
sician's office, which was also his home.
He saw the body of the man stretched
on the floor, face downward The few
broken chairs in the room and a small
table were covered with dust. Scattered
about the floor were a number of surgi-
cal instruments. Beside the body was
he died and after he had taken the
poison. The missive was addressed to
Mr.. TOothaker and George Simhoff. It
follows:
Il have had one more OF those terrible
chilis. Thinking I was taking Qufnine.
I fear must have taken morphine. in.
stead. feel all right at the present
time, but know that the poison is doing
its work. burn but feel a sort OF a
soothing sensation flow over me and
desire to go to sleep. I am sure that
have not much longer to live. Please
take care of my affairs and write to my
daughter that forgive her. do hope
that you can straighten up my affairs
SO that it will be found that am not in
debt. If there is hereafter I will see
you all there and I>hope I will see my
daughter and my son. I don't know
what comes after death but put my
body in the grave and there will rot,
life after death. It is now after three
o'clock and I feel I am dying though
still conscious. My head IS very clear
and my brain works perfectly But now
be gone. Good by, DR. FOOTE-"
DR.. Foote was about 80 years old. He
came to Argentine eleven years ago.
He was native Of Ohio and lived in
that state just previous to taking up his
residence in Kansas. His wife. son and
daughter accompanied him to Argen-
tine. The old man was respected by
members of the medical profession. not
SO much for what he knew as for what
he had forgotten. He was eccentric and
had many queer notions Six years ago
he startled the medical profession by
contributing an article to the Medical
Index in which he stated that part of
his own physical system constituted a
musical organ. He said he could hear
musical sounds from within his own
body and that the strange condition was
regulated by his own mind. This article
was copied in newspapers all over the
United States and in short time DR..
Foote was known as the musical man."
a title that stuck to him until death
Three years ago his wife died and
year later he left Argentine and went
to Gas City, Kan. There he met wo-
man whom he had loved in his youth.
The old flame was rekindled and the
~@1 ,1,xyrxs oSo @,1 IL
| married. They didn't live happily to-
gether and within a few months the
wife deserted him. DR.. Foote sued for
divorce and his petition was written in
blank verse. Part of that petition read
as follows:
Comes now the plaintiff to the altar
of justice, bearing his burden of sorrow
and woe. which he humbly lays down be-
fore the ermine and woolsack.
HE declares with solemn truth that
he has been for more than one year
last past an actual resident in good
faith Of the state of Kansas. whose
valiant sons swan the Bag-Bag; that
state pointed out by all the world as
being the deserted home of Carrie Ma
ton and Mary Ellen Lease; that he is
now a resident of Allen county. same
state. where the roar of natural gas
wells and the whistle of great indus
tries have become as familiar to its in
habitants as was the croaking of frogs
to the people of Posey county. Indiana,
in the days Of auld lang syne.
1T was back east in the good old
state Of Ohio, that has given birth to
statesmen and politicians. It was long
years ago in the sultry summer time,
when the fdoRfennel blossomed in the
lane and the woodpecker pecked his
peck on the decaying trunk of the hol-
low sycamore. tree 1t was at the spring
meath the hill. close by the spreading
beech, a youth and a maiden met, and
meeting, loved. and loving. plighted
their troth."
Last spring he returned to Argentine
He had lost his wealth He was poor,
almost poverty stricken. His knowledge
of medicine and surgery was fast leav-
| ing him. All that remained were his &C.
centricities. He rented the little room
at No. Spear avenue. and put out a
single. 1t has printed upon it