The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-04-09
HARKINS DEATH.
Inquest Postponed Till Monday
Stomach Will be Analysed.

! Fremont, Iowa, April 1.-THE mys-
terious death OF young Walter
Harkins at the home of his parents
in Fremont Wednesday evening con-
tinues to attract widespread attention.
AT the home ofthe young man not a
little excitement has been occasioned.
The autopsy deemed necessary by
the coroner, Chas. Foehlinger, and al
so desired by the parents revealed
nothing from superficial examination
and the chemical analysis of the con-
tents of the organs will be necessary
to determine the point in question as
to whether or not the cause of death
was poison.
The physician called diagnosed the
case as poison from strychnine, as all
of the symptoms would indicate. DR..
Windle also suspects the drug on &C
count of the nature of the symptoms
and the appearance of the body after
death. But some physicians hold the
tLeory that other causes might have
been productive of the same result
and this sets up the doubt as to wheth-
er or not there was poison taken into
| the system. This theory was advanc-
ed in the first place on the statement
made by the young man during his
suffering. He said to his mother
that he believed he mad been poisoned.
When asked if he had wilfully taken
any he stoutly denied iC. lis mean
ing was that he had unknowingly
eaten something containing poison.
When wondering ii there could be a
reason for his taking anything or de-
string to suicide the idea of the trou-
Bile and the falling out with the girl
suggested itself. Young HarlSins said
nothing about this, however, but de-
MED that he had any thought of self
destruction. These contradictory cir
cumstances lend color to the doubt as
to what was the cause of death.
Doctor Windle is at present engaged
with the analysis Of the contents of
the stomach and of the other parts of
the body. The process is necessarily
slow and must be conducted with the
greatest of care. 1t will not be pos
before Sunday evening.
Should the presence of "strychnia"
or any other drug be indicated it will
then be for the jury to determine how,
where and when the drug was admin
istered or taken, and whe ther wilfully
or unknowingly Harkins was in Os-
kaloosa Wednesday morning and had
ample opportunity for going about.
There is as yet no evidence showing
where he spent the hours that he was
in Oskaloosa.
When the lad come to his home
excellent health and he acted as
though nothing could be the matter
with him. He was in The most ex-
cellent humor and talked and chatted
with his mo.-ler about numerous mat
ers. He ate well, talked well and
acted in way contrary from that
which would indicate that he contemp-
lated self destruction. All of these
circumstances would indicate that
death resulted from natural causes.
1t has not yet been possible to COM
municate with the girl, Rachel Kersey,
at Flagler, with whom Harkins had
been visiting and whether or not she
may be able to tell of any circum-
stances that will bear upon the death
is not yet known. 1t is possible that
she may be called upon to attend the
inquest.
The cOroner's inquest will be called
in Fremont at the town hall" at 8
O'Clock Monday morning. The jurors
selected by Mr.. Foehlinger are: c.
B. Van Buskirk, G. w. Beck and John
S. Reeves Thus far about ten wit
nesses have been summoned to appear.
The coroner is being assisted in the
work by County Attorney James A.
Dewitt The findings of the autopsy
and the coroner's jury are being await
ed w.,h much Impotence by the en-
tire people.