The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-04
ACID ENDED ALL
George GarwOOd Is Frightened
Into Suicide.
Doctors Had Told Him He Had
Heart Disease.
LIVED ON A FARM.
Appeared Cheerful Short Time
Before His Death.
Left No Note or Explanation of
Any Kind.

Without any apparent reason, George
Garwood, young farmer boy, "a years
of age living on the Gordon road about
four miles west of North Topeka, COM
mitted suicide last night, taking the
contents of two ounce bottle of car
bolic acid. DR.. H. H. Keith. coroner,
was called to the farm about seven
o'clock this morning and he decided
that it was plain case of suicide and
death occurred Immediately after the
drinking of the deadly acid.
Beyond all doubts the young farmer
committed suicide about one o'clock
this morning or at some time near
midnight. He was last seen by Mans
field Austin and his wife, a couple who
live on farm near the Garwood place.
Garwood was on his horse just out of
North Topeka and he was smoking a
cigar. When Mr.. and Mrs. Austin
caught up with the young man he
turned and seemed in a very happy
mood over the result of the election.
He told them he had been standing In
front of the State Journal office for
over an hour watching the returns and
he seemed much pleased over the out
come as this was the first time he had
voted in presidential election and his
vote had been cast for Taft. Mr.. and
Mrs. Austin drove beside him for over
a mile talking of different topics and
the young farmer seemed cheerful and
full of life. The couple in the buggy
soon drove by the farmer boy on his
horse as he said the night was such an
excellent one he would walk all the
way home. He bid them goodnight in
the brightest of spirits.
The next seen of the boy was this
morning when his father found him in
the hayloft of his barn dead and cold.
Beside him was an empty two ounce
bottle bearing a carbolic acid label
which had been purchased at the L. T.
Price drug store in Topeka A small
white teacup which contained a very
small amount of the acid lay near the
bottle and tire young man lay dead
about three feet away. His head was
in a pile of kaff1r corn and hay while
his feet lay in the small corn crib
which was next to the hay NOW. He
wore a white checked shirt, pair of
overalls and a new pair of shoes. His
shoes were united and had apparently
been slipped on just to walk to the
barn from the house. While in the city
he wore his best suit and when he ar
rived home he had gone to bed as the
covers on the bed were disturbed. He
had taken his clothes and carefully
folding them placed them in the trunk.
Nothing was found in his pockets ex-
cept a small pocket mirror and a comb.
No note of any kind revealing the pur-
pose Of his deed was IOund. he nad
been dead about six hours when ex-
amined by Dr. Keith and undoubtedly
he had been in bed but a few minutes
before he arose. slipped on his working
clothes and ended his life. From all out
ward appearances the act was pre-
meditated. The carbolic acid had been
purchased in the city when he came to
vote in the early afternoon. The tea
cup which was used 10 drink the acid
was but quick method of forcing the
deadly poison into his mouth and had
been planned.
No good reason can be given for the
act. All of the neighbors who know
him said this morning that they would
never have dreamed of such a thing
He had no trouble of any kind during
his life. He has always been quiet
but still of a jolly disposition. He
never complained of anything and the
greatest of harmony existed between
himself and family. He had no love
affairs that amounted to anything. One