The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-02-22

Lying PROSTATE on the floor Of a
room in the Williams rooming. house
on East Illinois avenue, and surrond-
ed by unmistakable evidence of death
by poisoning, the bodies of w II.
Atay, aged about fifty years, and l..
j. Boorman, who appeared to be be
tween tweny-six and thirty years old
were found shortly after two o'clock
yesterday afternoon, the door of Ine
room having been forced after re-
peated attempts had been made to
elict a response from the two men.
Death evidently had come to both
men suddenly and without a struggle.
Both were fully dressed. The body
Of Boorman was lying, face down
ward, near the door, against which
his head was resting, while Athay mad
fallen near the bed.
A two ounce bottle about half full
of fluid extract Of Gelsemine was
found in the room, with a giass from
which a portion of the deadly drug
had been drunk, evidenced the cause
of the death Of the two men.
Drs Craig and Slough were imme-
diately called and after an examina-
tion of the bodies gave it as their
opinion that life had been extinct ten
or twelve hours. Both Athay and
Boorman were strangers in Vinita
having procured the room in which
their lives came to such sudden and
tragic end, one week ago last Friday
night They appeared to have no
occupation and talked but little with
those around them-in fact, Athay
seldom left the room and his wants
were looked after by his companion
According to a statement of one OF
the proprietors of the Silver Moon
restaurant, which is connected with
the rooming house, both men had
been drinking heavily almost con-
stantly since securing the room, and
this fact may, in part. account for
their rash act. though evidence of
other reasons is not lacking
Among the effects Of the dead men
was found many letters and papers
establishing their identity
and making the locating of relatives
and friends an easy matter for the
A paper indicating that
Boorman was a registered embalmer
and undertaken was found among his
effects. besides letters of recommend
alton and letters from his wife and
mother, who live at GAINESVILLE, WIS
consin. and Belvedore, Illinois, re-
and who have been notifi-
ed by wire Of the tragic ending Of the
life of their husband and son.
Boorman also had in his possession
a letter from A. j. Athay brother
of w H. Athay, the suicide. lnclosed
in this letter was a recommendation
from the writer who is engaged in
the drug business at klawa, Kansas.
The letter itself contains words of
advice and a request that Boorman
look after Walter" who he ntimates
has something the matter with his
head"
The two suicides appear from evi-
dence at hand to have been boon
and to have wandered
around a great deal together in search
of work or business opportunities,
and both were undoubtedly above the
average in intelligence and of good
families. The clothes worn by both
were better than those worn by the
average skilled workmen, and there
is nothing apparent in the physical
of either to Indicate a rea-
son for desiring to end their lives.
A jury empaneled by Justice Of the
Peace E. f. Foster, after viewing the
remains and hearing the evidence, re-
turned a verdict that Athay and Boor
man came to their death from the