The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-07-01

The veil of mystery that cloude'
the poisoning of Mrs. Felix Cheek,
bride of four days, who arrived herr
Sunday morning on the south bound
train in an unconscious condition. wal
lifted Monday morning at an early
hour when the dying woman Fegainet
consciousness and told to the heart
broken husband, and other relatives
who surrounded her bedside of the
fearful mistake that she had made.
In gasping words she stated that
Sunday morning, in the haste of ieav
ing for Columbia, which was to be hel
new home, she had accidentally pick
ed up bottle of, s Gresoline" patent
preparation. thinking that it was a bot
tie of nerve tonic.
The fatal drug slowly did
it's deadly work, and at gao
o'clock Monday morning Mrs. Cheek
died.
At the request of the bereaved
family statement of Mrs. Cheeks dy-
ing declaration wac made by DR.. J..
L. VOORHEES,, the family physician, and
is practically as follows:
Mrs. Cheek had been unconscious
for many hours, and it was practically
agreed by the number of physicians
who had seen her that death was inev-
liable. All day long her death had
been expected, and none of us thought
she would live longer than sunset.
But she made game fight for life and
late Sunday night began to r9vive.
Gradually she grew warmer, and show
ed signs of returning consciousness.
Her pulse, however, grew no stronger,
the only unfavorable symptom, Final
ly, she began to speak incoherertly,
calling for water, complaining of her
throat and occasionally exclaiming,
Oh. mercy"
Shortly before midnight she call
ed her husband to her bedside.
Felix, I'have poisoned myself" she
said.
Darling, why did you do that?"
Il didn't go to do it, thought was
.aking medicine"
Where did you take it?" !
ION the train"
when brought you the water?" ,
Yes"
This is in substance the statement
# the dying woman, as given By DR..
VOORHEES,. From that time until her
leath she remained conscious, occas-
ionally pleading with her husband
md the physicians not to let her die,
nd showing the strongest inclination
o live.
Corroborating this is the statement
4 Mrs. James Ellis, the step-mother
t Mrs. Cheek, who arrived here at /
clock Monday morning, as related
y DR.. VOORHEES,. Mrs Ellis said that
he family had been troubled last year
18th whooping cough and had used as
disinfectant patent preparation
aled "cresoline." When notified by {
ire of the poisoning of Mrs. Cheek,
[rs. Ellis had made hasty examina- I
on of her house. She found that the a
ottle of Cresoline had been carried b
ito the kitchen and part of its con-
'nts emptied into smaller bottle. b
was her opinion that Mrs. Cheek +
I'D mistaken the bottle for a nerve a
'medy that she was taking, and that n
was this powerful poison that had n
fused death.
There are two Cresoline prepare v
pms sold by druggists. One known Il
apo-Cresoline" IL coal tar prep q
alton, and Is recommended Tor n
hopping cough 1t is also said To be
r more powerful than carbolic acid
a disinfectant. The formula is not W
fnted on the bottle. In odor this 81
medy resembles carbolic acid, creo-
te and kindred preparations. It is 81
It taken internally but is inhaled. r
In the opinion Of DR.. VOORHEES, death m
Is due to creosote poisoning. a
Story Of Poisoning. b.
Sunday morning Mr. and Mrs. Felix W
EEK boarded the through train at l
'shville enroute to Columbia, where M
ey had intended to take dinner with w
R. Cheek. father of the groom, who w
'hes at Riverside. Later on they tn
pected to move to their home six ar
les out on the Bear Creek bike. I
hen they left Nashville Mrs. Cheek tw