The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1902-11-14
FRANK W. PECK A SUICIDE.
In a Letter to His Sons He Says
lIl-Health Led Him to Take
Poison.

Although the friends of Frank w.
Peck knew he was not in the best of
health, no one was prepared for the
news last Sunday that he had ended
all by taking poison.
Last Saturday afternoon Mr.. Peck
started out for a walk, after having
declined an invitation to attend the
football game. He did not return
for supper and some alalm was felt,
but it was supposed he was up town.
When he failed to return that night,
friends started out to search for him,
going down the NJ, X d II. railroad
track in the direction he was seen
going by some colored people the af-
ternoOn before. In the middle of the
afternoon Sunday J. M. Smith, who
lives south of town, came upon the
body of Mr., Peck in a thicket or
clump of wood about quarter of a
mile southeast of the cemetery. DR..
Thornton, who was driving in the
cemetery, went to see the body and
then came to town for the coroner,
M. p. Parker. The body was lying
doubled up, face downward, with
hands clasped under him. The coro-
ner took charge of the body and held
an inquest at the city hall at o clock
Sunday evening. Among other arti-
cles found on the body were a bottle
of laudanum and one of opium sui
phate.
| Among the witnesses examined
were J. M. Smith, who found the
body, DR.. Thornton and DR.. Graham.
The physicians testified that when
the body was found life had been eX-
tinct for several hours; that discolor-
atiOns on the face were due to Opilm
on the body. DR.. II. E. Graham
stated that he had been Mr.. Peck g
family physician for six years, and
that for about year deceased had
been suffering from nervous trouble
known as melancholia, which is a
form of insanity, with tendency
toward suicide. AT times Mr.. Peck
had asked witness the effects of GER
tain drugs, and once mentioned that
if his health did not improve he had
a notion to take something that
would finish him.
Among the evidence produced be-
fore the coroner's jury was a five
page letter which the deceased wrote
in the drug store last Thursday. The
letter bore date Nov. 6, and was ad
dressed to his "beloved sons, Henry
Gordon and Garrett Peck" He
gave his reasons for the rash act
he had in contemplation. saying that
since the death of "his dear, dear
wife" his health had been getting
worse and soon he would be bur-
den instead of help to his children,
thing that he dreaded. Said that
he did not expect to be any better
In the letter he enumerated his as
sets, told in detail where his property
was located, what sums of money he
was owing; how he wished his estate
settled up; named three close friends
one of whom he requested his Oldest
son to select as counsel and guardian
and designated his brother-in-law
l.. S. Parker, of Jefferson City, as
guardian for the younger son.
1t was his expressed wish that the
antI-toXine business in which he was
engaged should be continued by his
sons, they learning the business; bu
he left this optional with them
Near the conclusion of the note h'
prayed forgiveness for the rash ac
which he was about to commit, an(
prayed Gods blessing on his tw,
sons. He requested that his body b,
buried beside that of his wife an(
that a few appropriate words b,
, spoken at his grave by Walter Will
liams.
The jury rendered a verdict declar
ing.that deceased came to his deatl
from poison.
/ The funeral was held at the famil,
J residence on Sixth street Tuesda.
morning, conducted by Ed. w. w
Elwang with remarks by Waite
t Williams.
Few men in Columbia had NOR
. friends than Frank Peck, who hat
! been in the drug business in Colum
3 bia for many years, and was formerl,
/ at Ashland in the same business
, He was born in Boone county Feb.