Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-07
Walter Harkins Dies in
Great Agony at Home in
Fremont.
DEN led SUICIDE.
Had Just Returned From Knoxville,
Where He Formerly Worked-lnti-
mated That He Had ouarreled With
Sweetheart.

Fremont, April 3. - (SpeciaD
Racked with the pain of terrible con-
WILSON'S with which he was myster-
iously attacked yesterday afternoon,
after several hours of intense suffer- 4
ing, Walter Harbins, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. James Harlins, passed away at
his home here.
The cause of the death of the young
man is a great mystery and has come
as a great shock to the people Of this
vicinity According to the indications =,
and the information obtained from the u
physicians it is supposed that the con-
yulsions We're caused from the effects
Iof poisoning. \
Whether young Harllins took drug
that evidently caused his death is
matter that is yet unsolved and though
he protested innocence OF such action,
there seems to be an uneXDressed SEN
!timent should such he the case it is
probably due to some trouble in a love
affair which it is minated had occur !.
red between the young man and an
4 Knoxville girl to whom he used to payE
considerable attention.
just Returned From Visit.
Yesterday at noon Mr.. Harkins re,
/ turned to his home from Knoxville,
Il where he had been on visit with
friends. He was in good health and
seemed to be in excellent spirits.
About the middle of the afternoon be
, was attacked by severe commissions.
J, DR.. Meythalefs was Immediately CALI
ed, but all efforts to allay the suffering
of the patient or stop the convulssons
twere unayailingsg and the young nan
died shortly after 5 O'Clock.
Believe He Was Poisoned.
During the. hours of suffering Her
ikins was unable to talk much but en-
phatically denied that he had taken
any poison. 1t is the opinion of the!
physician, however, that the conyul-
sions were caused by a poison of some
character.
Harkins was well liked by all who
knew him. and the intimation that has
been mentioned by some that he might
. have been made victim of some
! tgrudge is given 70 credence by those
a who knew him best.
t To Make Examination.
This afternoon at the Inquest 1t is
the purpose of the authorities to make
an examination of the stomach of the
L young man for the purpose of deter
Z mining if there is any trace OF poison
( Was Only Son.
e The deceased was a young man
about twenty-four years OF age and the
p only son Of Mr.. and Mrs James Har
r l1ins of this city His death has pros
h trated his parents and has come as
y, great shock to the many friends and
acquaintance.
hlas Caused Sensation.
| Knoxville, April 3. - (Special.)-
= Word that Walter Harkins, who for
If merly resided in this city, had mystic
Iriously died at his home in Fremont
Iyesterday afternoon has caused con
. siderable excitement in this city Init
=, nations that have been received here
= saving that his death might have beer
:, the result of some trouble with for
&c mer sweetheart, are given very nesA'
o. icredence.
h. Was Not Seen in Knoxville.
So far as can be learned here Hal
!. l,ins has not been seen in this city re
tcentlv and was not in Knoxville thi
% week.
,s. Had Worked Here.
pc 1t is known that Harkins worked i
rs this city last summer and during tn
80. fall. During his stay here he had bee
al employed by grocery firm and late
ell lin one of the bakery establishments c
the city.
= Kept Company With Young Woman
~ During the time he worked in thi
on city it is stated that young Harkln
kept company with young womai
I'M Miss Rachael Kersey. Miss Kerse
of was often in Flagler, and it is know
oml that during the time he was resldln
i'm here Nh Harkins had taken trips
ore that place to visit with her.
lgs Was Out of City.
inquiry made here this mornin
with a view to learning If Harkins ne
been in Knoxville to visit with MI
Kersey disclosed the fact that she nj
TOR been in Flagler since last Monday
is not considered improbable here tn
had Harkins come to Knoxville durli
of the first of the week for the purpose
SUIT seeing Miss Kersey, he might ha'
urt seeihS 1 49,, ot,,rnino he
two Wednesday night and leaving here I
and Oskaloosa enroute to his nome yese'
ter, day morning.
Mill 80, oa,.a
was 'aa
iced II is known that about month
It a Miss Kersey and Mr.. Harkins had
nat falling out supposed to have been I
,een ia ii - - az, ,,o,,,a uoro
NTH result Oh uesiie " 'ite
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