The Mankato free press., 1907-01-25
Andrew Layton Takes a
Dose of Morphine.
DEsP0NDENCY THE CAUSE
Unfortunate Man Sought Relief From
Troubles; Doctor Rescues Him
From Deaths Brink.
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
Andrew Layton is again in the lime
light. His troubles in the past have recur
red quite regularly, and last week he was
tried in the municipal court on the
charge of assaulting his wife, but it
took the jury only ten minutes to clear
him. Then his wife started an action
for divorce against him, alleging cruel
and inhuman treatment and habitual
drunkenness and asking for the care and
custody of their only child. While he
was locked up on the assault charge she
left the house where they had been stay
ing and moved into the home of her sis
ter, Mrs. Clements, and the furniture
dealer who had sold the couple their
furniture came around with wagon
and took possession of it, because it had
not been paid for.
All of these troubles, added to in
ability to find work, although he sought
each day after his release to find some
thing TO do, preyed so much upon his
mind that he concluded to end all by
taking his own life. Saturday he pro-
cured two dram bottle full of NOR
phine, and after partaking freely late
that night at John Hager's free lunch
counter retired to room at the City
Hotel. He was not seen again until 80
O'Clock last evening, when chamber
maid heard groans issuing from the
room. She notified Landlord Towne and
the latter investigated and found Lay
ton was given strong emetics and was
groaning, and the empty bottle near.
Mr.. Towne sent for physician and
the police, and Dr.. A. f. Schmitt and
Chief of Police Miller responded. Lay
ton was given strong emetics and as
soon brought back to consciousness and
was removed to st. Joseph's hospital,
where he is doing as well as could be ex-
pected of man who was SO near deaths
door.
1t is suspected that Layton took part
of the bottle when he went to bed, but
that he recovered consciousness during
the day and then swallowed the remain
der. He said that he had bought it at
J. c. Thros drug store, but this is de-
MED there. The box containing the bot
tie bears the label of L. G. Thomas drug
store, but it is also denied there that he
made the purchase at that place.
The following note was found lying
on chair beside the bed, written on
three sheets of small note book such
as are passed around free: Dear moth
er, brother and sisters: | viii now bid
you all good bye, for l am broken heart
ed, and you will know the reason why.
Look in my overcoat pocket. l forgive
everybody and hope everyone will for
give me. Mother, l want you to pay
Mr.. Gcddes for my trouble. Now / will
take long sleep and ! hope will meet
you all in heaven. God bless you ALL
Good bye, Andrew layton"
This was written with lead pencil.
The reference to an account owed At
torney Geddes is for conducting his de.
fense in the trial last week. The sum-
mons in the divorce case was in the
overcoat pocket.
The contents of the bottle could not
be readily distinguished, for the deodor-
lied kind was purchased.
Layton was at one time in the state
reformatory, and later worked on the
Minneopa dairy farm. After his release
from the state institution he was mar
ried to Miss Lulu Dumbeck of Medo,
who went to Spring Valley to we'd him.,
that being the home of his mother, who
is said to be quite well to do. Layton is
twenty-six years of age and his wife
twenty-five. Their attachment began
while Layton was employed on Dunn
beck's farm, and the marriage occurred
March q, 1905.
MIR. Geddes saw Layton Saturday and
the latter was disappointed at not hav-
ing secured work, but was not especially
respondent and said nothing about the
divorce suit having been started the day
before. Mr.. Geddes tried to get him
work, but could not find any opening at
once, although there was promise of
work given a little later. Mr.. Geddes
states that he has been a industrious
man.