The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-06-07
VICTIM OF LAUDANUM.
Machinist Henry T. Evans Took His
Own Life On Friday
Night.

Lying on the asphalt pavement in
front OF the opera house. Henry I.
Evans, an expert machinist whose
home was in West End, came to his
death few minutes before 12 o'clock
Friday night the victim of an overdose
of laudanun, administered by his
own hand evidently with suicidal in
tent.
It appears that Evans drank the
laudnanum at the opera. house at or
about 8 o'clock Evans, who had been
drinking. claimed that he had severe
pains in his stomach and seemed to be
suffering intensely. and the money
to get the laudanum was given him
BY Mr.. E. Cabaniss. and the laudanum
was bought for him by young man
who was with him, o. B. Steele. who
is blacksmith at the Newberry cot
ton mills. Evans had already had one
bottle given him by Mr.. Steele, but
he had broken this bottle and Steele
had refused to buy him another bot
tie.
A note was found in Evans pocket,
which had been scribbled Friday at
ternoon about 7 o'clock. Although it
is said Mr.. Evans wrote a very good
hand, this note is hardly ineligible,
but as nearly as it can be made out
it reads: "For Gods sake let it be,
can't help it, .
At the coroner's inquest held in
city council chamber Saturday morn
ing. the young man, Steele, said that he
met Evans in front of the opera
house after the mill shut down Fri
day afternoon. Evans had asked
him. "For Gods sake, can't you help
me?" Steele said he asked Evans
what was the matter, and Evans told
him he had a cramp in his stomach
and wanted bottle of laudanum.
Steele got it for him and Evans
dropped it and broke it. He wouldn't
give Evans another one and Mr.. Cab
aniss gave Steele 10 cents to get it
for him and Steele got it and told
Evans to take a dose. Instead, he
drank it all right down. Steele saw
him drink it out of the bottle. Evans
told Steele he had taken laudanum
for the same pain before Steele did
not see him any more after that. The
last thing he did for Evans, he said,
was to make him a cigarette.
Mr.. E. Cabaniss said that about 7.3o
o'clock Friday evening Evans came up
with his hand on his stomach, and
told him he was in terrible pain. He
asked some one to stand for bottle
of laudanum Mr. Cabaniss gave him
10 cents to get it and he sent Mr..
tSteele for it. Evans. he said, had
complained to him before that, at
about. noon Friday.
The bottle of laudanum was pur-
chased from w. G. Mayes' drug store
and contained one ounce.
As soon as the police authorities
learned OF Mr.. Evans condition re-
sulting from the laudanum they
sought medical aid. DR., James M.
Kibler was summoned, and DR.. Van
Smith and others were also present
for some time. Dr.. Kibler remained
with him until the end came. Every
thing that was possible was done. in
the attempt to save his life. For three
hours and more he was walked and
rubbed and handled in the attempt
to keep him awake. At about 10
o'clock he seemed to get better, but
became worse a few minutes later,
and by II o'clock it was seen that
there was no hope for him. Shortly
after II o'clock his wife and child
were notified but they did not come
to him. He was then lying on the
pavement in front of the opera house.
At three minutes, before II o'clock
he died. The family were notified OF
his death and stated that they would
take charge OF the body, and it was