Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-03-20
OUT OF WORK;
DRINKS POISON
Frank w. Stapleton Commits
Suicide at His Home, 2709
Sixth Avenue.
FOUND IN AGONY
Physician Is Secured After Some De-
lay But All Efforts TO Save
Young Mans Life Fail.

Despondent over being out of work
and evidently acting on a sudden i'm.
pulse, Frank w. Stapleton, 2709 Sixth
avenue, committed suicide last even
ing by swallowing half the contents
of an ounce bottle of carbolic acid.
The young man had been employed for
number. of years at the Sash ami
Door works as woodworker. bur
some time ago he secured a position
at the woodshop of the Moline Pillow
z company in the east end of Rock I,
land. A week ago, however, he was
thrown out of employment and he be-
came downhearted and dispirited, a.
Z, though his parents and family had
never noticed any indications of his
sswanting to make away with himself
Last evening he came home about
supper time and after eating. left
again. A little before o'clock he re-
turned and told his sister that he was
going TO dance and he changed his
clothes accordingly. He asked his
. sister to find some buttons for him. but
as she was busy she refused and lie
angrily hunted them up himself and
then departed without a word
Is Found In Agony.
Half an hour later he returned but
made no explanation OF his ear'y
home coming and his sister did not
venture to ask him in view of their
words previously. The young man
took a seat in the kitchen and sat for
some time with his head bowed IS
though completely discouraged. About
this time. Mrs Stapleton who had been
upstairs, came down and on her ar
rival i'll the kitchen, Frank arose ami
went into the dining room, closing the
door after him. A few minutes later.
the mother and sister heard Il grodu
from the dining room and they went
in at once, and were amazed and hor-
rified to find the young man rolling
about on a lounge evidently in great
agony. They took the bottle of car
bolic acid which was still i'll his hand,
away from him and then telephoned
for a doctor. but none could be Sc
cured for fully an hour during which
time the young man was in great
agony
Is Beyond Relief.
When a doctor finally was secured,
he found young Stapleton in an nm
conscious condition, with his pulse
about dead and his eyes set He used
a. stomach pump which showed that
the carboiic acid had already com.
menced eating into the lineameut Cf
the stomach and that there was very
little hope, nevertheless he continued
ttiS exertions until O'Clock before
leaving. Half an hour later he was
called back and he succeeded i'll
quieting the agonized victim of The
deadly acid and once more he left
About 3 O'Clock he received a call
over the phone saying tina. the patient
was about dead and again he went tc
the house but this time when he ar
rived life had departed
Inquest IL Held.
Coroner J. F. Rose held an inquest
this morning and the testimony of Mrs
Stapleton and her daughter. Ethel
and that of Dr. b. J. Lachner was
taken. The jury gave as its verdict
that death was caused by the drinking
of carbolic acid with suicidal intent.
The young man is survived by h,
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel J. Staple
ton, five brothers, George D.. who is il
Oklahoma. Harry E, Thomas Raw
mond, Daniel H. and Roy j.. and sis
ter, Ethel May. at home. He was wei
known among the Young men of thu
city and had many friends.