The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-02
Result Is That Mrs. Henry Gil
bert Is Dead.
Was Given CoIOdium for Bruist
by Druggist.
SHE WANTED ALCOHOL
Took the Drug for Purpose of
Stimulant.
Police Satisfied as to the Cause
of Death.

Mrs. Henry Gilbert. of 1156 North
Kansas avenue. died at ; o'clock this
morning under circumstances which IN
dictate suicide or accidental poisoning.
The woman drank three ounces of
colodium a preparation OF ether ana
alcohol which is intended only for external
use as a liniment. Mrs. Gilbert, VINO
was formerly Mrs. McClanerty, has Tor
years been known as a hard drlnker
and it is supposed that she drank the
poison for the alcohol II contained
About noon yesterday she went to B. A
Barrett's drug store, 1000 North hanSas
avenue about two blocks from her
home, and asked for alcohol, telling MI
Barrett that she wanted it to bathe her
eyes, which were discolored by brulse,
which she claimed to have sustained Dy
falling down stairs
Knowing the woman's reputation Tor
hard drinking. Barrett refused to sell
her alcohol, but told her that ne had q
preparation made expressly for the
treatment of bruises, and sold her three
ounces of colodium for ten cents, Whlcn
he put in an eight ounce bottle and Ia
belled for external use only Her Ut
tie daughter, Mary McClaferty, aged Il,
says her mother drank the stuff during
the afternoon. The child told her story
TO Chief Donovan this morning. and was
evidently mistaken in the bottle of med
icine She said that her mother sent
her after it Tuesday evening, and that
she bought it at Barrett's. From the
story told by Mr. Barrett it is evident
that it was not the contents of the Dot
tie purchased by the child that killed
the woman.
He said when questioned by Chief
Donovan: THE little girl did come
down here Tuesday after alcohol l told
her to go back and tell her mother she
could not get it. The child returned la
ter and l gave her something, ginger, II
! remember right. Yesterday Mrs. Gil
bert came in and told me she wanted
alcohol 20 battle her ewes. which were
discolored by bruise.-she said she fell
down stairs. I would not sell her alco-
hol and told her that colodium was
made Cor that purpose and was better.
She paid ten cents for three ounces, and
/ labelled the bottle"
Henry Gilbert, the womans husband.
End Mary McClafferty. her daughter.
say that she began TO be seriously sick
last evening about o'clock, afte- sit
ting in the kitchen and taking frequent
drinks from the bottle. The child tried
to get her to desist from drinking the
fluid and called her attention to the
fact that it was bought to battle her
face with About dark she went up
stairs to bed and began to call for wa
ter.
Her husband sat UP with her all
night. thinking She was Affected by hard
drinking and this morning when she
grew worse went out for a doctor.
When he returned with the physician
the woman was dead. Undertaken Ho-
gan was notified to come and take
charge of the body. but when he learned
the circumstances of the woman's death
he refused 10 DO so until the coroner
had made an examination. He also no
titled Chief Donovan who with Ser
geant Jenkins. visited the place and got
the story from the parties concerned
The woman was about 40 years of age
and has led a hard life for many years