The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-13
Neighbors Scent Mystery in
Sudden Death of JIG. Eaton
u. S. NJ, Retired
POLICE AND MEDICAL
OFFICERS ON CASE
They Learn His Adopted Son
Died Under Odd Circum-
stances and Buried
Privately

BOSTON, March 12.-An inquiry is
being made into the death OF Rear
Admiral Joseph Giles Eaton, L. s. N.
tretired), who passed away early last
Saturday morning. after a brief III
ness, at his home in Assinippi. DR..
Gilman Osgood. medical examiner for
the district. had his attention called
to the case by DR.. Joseph Frame, of
Rockland. who saw and prescribed
for the admiral on Friday.
This is the usual procedure in cases
Of sudden death. and as DR. Osgood
was unable to determine the cause ny
a superficial examination, he per
formed an autopsy Saturday after
noon, assisted by DR. Frame and Or.
Wheatley, OF North Arlington. The
yisceTa was removed and sent 10 the
Harvard medical school for chemi-
cal analysis, The State police were
called into the case, as was District
Attorney Barker, of Brockton. but
none of those who are officially in
terested In the inquiry will have any
thing Of moment 10 say, pending the
report from the chemists
Loose Talk of Poison.
The community in which the ad-
nirai lived is considerably stirred up
over his death. and considerable loose
talk about poison was INDUCED in i'm
mediately following his death. On the
other hand, members OF the family
say that death was due to natural
causes, and place the blame upon a
roast fresh pork dinner partaken o.
heartily by the admiral on Wednes-
day
Mrs. Eaton. the widow. said today
ra4 a,
mystery surrounds the death OF Adj
niral Eaton. Mr.. Eaton was taken
suddenly III On Thursday. and wes
attended by Dr. Frame Although
confined to his bed, MIR. Eaton did not
realize that his condition wae serious.
nor did the members Of his family.
We had no idea that the end was SO
near"
Stomach in Bad Shape.
Mrs George Harrison, mother OF
Mrs. Eaton, said: Admiral Eaton
vas not poisoned. Ills stomach was
in bad shape. and he died a perfectly
natural death. He used a good deal
az liquor during his life
Admiral Eaton was unable 10 re-
tain food in his stomach during the
past year or so"
1t VAS reported in Assinlppi today
that Il was Mrs. Eaton who inform ed
Df. Frame that she was not satisfied
as 70 the cause of her husband $
death. Three years ago last August.
Mrs. Eaton accused the admiral al
poisoning their adopted infant son
while the family was staying at Sci
tuata.
Autopsy Performed.
An autopsy was performed and fhe
enid y Vtscera was sent to the Harvard
medical school for examination. Mrs
Eaton remained at Sejtuate. Admiral
Eaton remained in seclusion at his
home at Assinippi, and the estrange-
ment between them was not overcome
when X was reported that the baby
had not died OF poison
Then ii became known that the boy
was not the child OF the Eatons hut
had been secretly adopted by them
few months before. Admiral Eaton
when his secret was discovered. de-
ciared that his longing TO have a son
had led him TO the adoption.
Adopted Father Burics Him.
The admiral was heartbroken over
the boys death, but could ind no min
lister at liberty to perform the funera,
services and SO he himself read q
prayer and with the help OF sexton
lowered the body and filled in the
earth himself.
Mrs, Eaton ia about forty years old
She Is the divorced wife OF p. II. Aims
worth, formerly a clerk in the United
States senate. She is the daughter
OF Mrs George Harrison, and her
father was "a relative of ex-Presideni
Harrison,
The body of the admiral was laid
away in Oakland cemetery near Lowell
this afternoon without religious Oh
military services.
The widow and her young daughter
Dorothy Ainsworth, step-aaughte,
of the dead man, wept bitterly by tht
grave