Evening times-Republican., 1903-08-17
DIES By POISONING
George NJ. Seick, a Des Moines
Man, Succumbs to Dose
of Poison
MAY HAVE BEEN SUICIDE


parently Well-Found Unconscious
and Died Today-Formery Lived
Here.
After lingering on the very brink of
the grave for thirty hours, George NJ.
Seick, a travelling man of Des Moines,
died in the rooming house of Michael
Reusch, in the Dixon block on South
Third avenue, at II o'clock this morn
ing from the effects of a dose OF poison
taken some time Saturday night. He
never regained consciousness and the
exact manner and cause of his death
if it was suicide, will probably remain
a mystery. He was seen on South
Third avenue Saturday evening. and
appeared in good health. He was also
well when he retired to his room about
$50 o'clock. His wife and son, the
latter G.. w. Seick, of Des Moines, We're
at his bedside when he died.
Certain circumstances and evidence
connected with the case tend to show
that it might either have been a case OF
suicide or an unintentional overdose
of morphine. The latter theory is be-
lieved to be the most plausible, and
is the only explanation the relatives
Of y,
why he should have desired to end his
career Seick was found by the pro-
prietor of the place, after several un-
successful attempts to awaken him. \
physician was at once summoned, and
all during Sunday every effort was ex-
erted to revive the almost dead man.
When the room was entered he was
lying on his back with only the faintes,
signs of life visible. With him in the
bed was found a three ounce bottle of
chloroform, with about an ounce gone,
and in his left hand he held handker-
chief. On the dressing table stood a
bottle labeled lemon extract which
contained the mixture which 1t is pre-
sumed he took. 1t smelled strongly
of alcohol, and 1t is believed contains
opium in some form. About an ounce
or It's contents had been emptied. A
pint bottle of beer, partially empty,
also stood on the table.
Thinks He Was Poisoned.
From the diagnosis and symptoms
when he first examined the body. the
doctor is led to believe that death
was due to some form Of opium prob
ably morphine. This it is thought he
might have taken, and then to put him
self at once to sleep applied the hand
kerchief saturated in chloroform to his
nostrils. No race of the fumes .lf
chloroform was found. however on the
handkerchief which was covered with
the bed clothing. The attending phys-
ician thinks there is a possibility that
his death may have been due 10 hem
orrhage of the brain. but believes the
poison theory the more plausible.
The wife and son. who were notified
SUNDAY. arrived in the city the same
evening. and were horror stricken when
Informed of his condition. Neither is
willing to believe 1t suicide, and both
say that they know of no cause, but
think that 1t might have been done un-
Intentionally while he was taking a
sleeping potion. They knew nothing OF
his being accustomed to taking an op-
late for this purpose.
Leaves Letter to Son.
Among the effects found in the room
was letter addressed to the son, G..
w. Seick. at Des Moines. Certain parts
or 1t is tinged with melancholy. He
wrote of feeling queer at times, and
wondered If his son had noticed 1t. He
stated that at times everything appear
ed blank to him, but that these per-
iods lasted only for a brief time. H.
spoke of leaving here for home in the
morning, saying he would take the 80
o'clock train, and referred to the
amount of money, about $11, he had
with him. The letter was written evil
IDENTIFY just before he went to bed, as
he closed with the statement that he
would retire and sent his love and good
night. The letter was dated Aug. Is,
and was found lying on top Of the con-
tents of the small grip in his room.
The reason for his writing it. if he in
tended leaving in the morning, is not
known, for If he had gone he would
have reached Des Moines as soon as the
letter.
Efforts to Rouse Him Fail.
Mr.. Reusch visited his door about s
o'clock and raped on il, loud enough tn
awaken him. After three similar ef-
forts he judged something TO be wrong
and at last, getting no response, un-
locked the door leading into the room
from one adjoining. He found hin,
apparently asleep, but very white, and
all efforts to bring him TO consciousness
by shaking or shouting failed entirely
The doctor was then summoned, an1
but short time elapsed until his ar
| rival. He at once began to administer
antedotes and subjected the almost
dead man to the most vigorous and he
roic treatment.
Came Here on Business.
Mr.. Seek, who travels for his son
G. W. Seick, proprietor of the Seic'i
Manufacturing Company, manufactur-
ers of tents and awnings, of 200 West
Second Street, Des ,Moines, arrived III
the city Saturday morning, He visited
members of the MarshalltoWn Carnival
| Company with view of obtaining an
order for tents, etc, and spent the ev-