Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-10-19
WELL KNOWN oTTuMWAN WAS
FOUND UNCONSCIOUS IN HIS
BED YESTERDAY WHILE WIFE
WAS ATTENDING CHURCH.
WAS A PROMINENT
BUSINESS MAN
TAKES DEADLY DRUG BY MIS-
TAKE FOR MINERAL WATER
WITH TRAGIC RESULTS; Fu.
NERAL TUESDAY MORNING.

Death is ever sad affair, but there
are occasions when the blow seems to
fall with unusual force on the bereav,
ed and this was true Of the death yes
terday morning of William 7. Wilkin-
son at his home, 367 North Marion
street, shortly before noon. Death re-
suited through the awful error of mis-
taking carbciic acid for mineral water
which tie decedent was in the habit Of
using because of ill health. The news
of the sad occurrence was, shock to
all of his many friends and doubly so
to his wife who had shortly before left
for Trinity Episcopal church to attend
the morning service, from which she
was called by the awful news of her
husband death. The taking away OF
Mr. Wilkinson removes from Ottumwa
one of it's wide-awake young business
men and one whose friends were le-
gion Few Ottumwans enjoyed higher
esteem and greater confidence from
their friends than did the decedent
Found Unconscious.
Having worked late Saturday night
in the lately reorganized Arnold Jewel
Ig and Music company. Of which he
had been made the president, he did
not arise with the family in the morn
ing. Mrs. Wilkinson went to church
at the usual hour and left word with
the household that Mr.. Wilkinson was
very tired from working at the store
late the night previous and should not
be disturbed Within half an hour aft
er Mrs Wilkinson left for church, her
mother, Mrs. Margaret w. Patterson,
while preparing dinner, heard unusual
sounds as if someone were breathing
heavily or talking in his sleep in the
room occupied by Mr.. wilkinson En-
tering the room she saw the decedent
lying abed as though asleep but he
was unconscious and she was unable
to arouse him. Thoroughly alarmed
she notified some neighbors and called
a physician but death resulted before
help could restore consciousness.
Due to Mistake.
The coroner, DR.. A. w. Slaught,
with A. G. Cook, G.. NJ Diltz and J. l.
Finnerty as Jurors, held an inquest in
the afternoon over the remains. In
the course of the inquest the testi-
mony showed that the decedent had
not enjoyed very good health for some
time and of late had been accustomed
to take mineral water and malt among
other medicines to relieve the distress
which he felt at times. These, and
other medicines were kept in their
various receptacles on a shelf in the
bath room adjacent to the bed room in
which Mr.. Wilkinson slept. Among
them was pound bottle of carbolic
acid used for disinfecting purposes.
From the testimony given at the in
quest 1t appears that the decedent
arose from his bed and took the bot
tie Of carbolic acid by mistake for the
mineral water and thus met his death.
The verdict of the jury places the
cause of the death as such
Born in keokuk.
William T. Wilkinson was born Jam
uary 6, 1864 in Keokuk and was raised
in that city, his mother and brother
still residing there. He was large
Stockholder in a wholesale drug con-
cern in Keokuk and well known
young man Of the southeastern Iowa
city. He came to Ottumwa sixteen
SSol eiSO III lile lSd anu
coffee business on South Court street
which business he continued to-
operate until two years ago when he
sold out his interest. He was one of
the organizers and the first vice presi-
dent of the Fowler & Wilson Coal Co,
retiring from the business last March.
His business interests did not stop
here as he was also stockholder ini
the Hall-Ekfelt Furniture Co., al
stockholder in the Iowa Savings bank
and the president of the Arnold Jewel
ry & Music Co. He was Vestryman
in Trinity Episcopal church and one
of the most active workers in the
local Y. NJ. c. A..
The Survivors.
After retiring from the coal busi-
ness he went to Colorado on an ex-
tended visit for his health and re-
turned greatly improved and seemed
much enthused over his new business
ventures into which he threw a great
deal of zest His death leaves
widow, two children, William and
of this city, his mother, Mrs. |
NJ. w Wilkinson and brother, Burton
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