The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-12-24
MYSTERY in HER DEATH
Mrs. Charles Woodard's Sudden
Death is Being Investigated
Was She Poisoned?


Was She Poisoned?
The sudden death of Mrs. Charles
Woodland on Tuesday of last week, a
short mention of which was made in
last weeks paper, has caused vast
amount of talk, many wild rumors and
an investigation by coroner Layton, the
result of which has not yet been made
public. THE REPORTER does not desire
to express an opinion in this case until
the result of the coroner's investigation
is made public, and we will simply give
the facts in the case as we learn them.
Mrs. Woodland was the wife of Charles
Woodard, farmer living three miles
n orthwest of Decatur, and on Tuesday of
last week she expressed a desire to go
and visit her parents, Mr.. and Mrs. VIM.
Kirkpatrick, who live near Grand River.
Mr.. Woodard hitched up his team to the
spring wagon and started with her for
the Kirkpatrick farm. Before reaching
there Mrs. Woodard was taken sick
with convulsions, and Mr.. Woodard says
that after it passed off she expressed
wish to continue on to her mother 4
although he wanted her to stop on the
way. They continued on their journey
and Mrs. Woodland was very sick when
she reached the house, and DR.. Robin
son, of Grand River, was telephoned for
soon after they arrived. The woman
died just as DIR. Robinson reached the
house some thirty or forty minutes after
the Woodlands arrived at the farm. DR..
Robinson stated Immediately upon see
ing the woman that she had died from
strychnine poison. This report soon
spread over the neighborhood and there
was considerable talk about the case,
which ended in sending word to coroner
Layton asking him to hold an inquest.
Coroner Layton, accompanied by Drs.
A. Brown, of Leon, and b. l.. Eiker, of
Decatur held post mortem and inquest
on Wednesday, jury composed of W.
Wadsworth, Harrison Brown and Grant
Yonng being sworn. The physicians
made a post mortem and stated they
found nothing to cause the womans
death, but did not examine the stomach,
it being removed and preserved to be
sent to Des Moines for analysis to de-
termine whether she died from poison
or not, the stomach being taken to Des
Moines Thursday by Drs. Layton and
Brown, and delivered to DIR. Kennedy, Of
Drake University. The coroner says no
report Of analysis has been received,
but the Des Moines papers state that
there was poison found in the stomach.
The inquest was not concluded, being
simply adjourned until the result Of the
chemical analysis became known, and
therefore the testimony of the wit
nesses before the coroners jury can not
be secured until the inquest is finished
and filed.
There have been many wild stories
floating around in connection with the
case, it being claimed that Mr.. Woodland
had recently had his .wife's life insured
in his favor. But this is denied, for
while the application was made for the
insurance when the policy came it was
only for $4,000 instead of $4,000, and
Mrs: Woodward refused to accept it aGii.,
the premium was never paid on it, SC
that it would not be in force. 1t is
also claimed that Mr.. Woodard secured
some medicine for his wife at Decatur a
day or two before her death, and that
she was given part Of the medicine or
the road to her fathers, but DR.. Eikei
says the medicine he gave was simply q
tonic for neuralgia, and Mr.. Woodaro
ssSays she took no medicine while on he'
way to his knowledge.
Should the chemist at Des Moine!
find poison in the woman's stomach
there would still be question as to hoy
it eot there. Whether it was given t.
her as some claim by her husband
whether she took it herself with suicid
al intent or by accident, time alone cal
determine. AS in many cases while a
first there are many suspicious circum
stances which may cause Mr.. Woodar
trouble to explain, at the proper time
may be easy to explain eyerythin
away and clear his name of ever
breath Of suspicion. Mr.. Woodland
now in Leon awaiting the result Of tn
inquest and has retained Hoffman !
jackson and v. R. McGinnis to repre-
sent him.