The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1920-01-02
MYSTERY SURROUNDS
THE DEATH OF A
ROYALTON FARMER
After Accompanying Woman to
New York State Dies From
Overdose of Catholic Acid.
Relatives Not Notified.
CARRIED $4,000 WHICH
HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED

at his best and which may call for the
fiction creators hero to solve, was
Unfolded this week through an appeal
for assistance made to the Red Cross
order.
On Nov. Is, this year, Mr.. Halli-
day, for rs years a resident of the
little town Of Royalton, across the
county line from Brunswick, died at
Rome, N. Y. He had gone there but
three weeks before, ostensibly for the
purpose of purchasing land, the buy
ing and selling of which was hobby.
Accompanying him on this trip was a
Mrs. Gross who had lved in the Roy
alton neighborhood for some time
past. She also professed to be inter-
ested in buying a farm and it was for
this stated reason that she went
along. Halliday has a wife living on
the home farm at Royalton, but as
her husband had frequently made
similar trips no suspicion was
aroused.
Arriving at Rome the couple Wis
tied several prospects in the vicinity,
finally deciding upon a piece of land
owned by people by the name of
Layenders. While negotiating for the
sale Halliday met an old friend from
Royalton and asked that he super
wise the drawing up of the deed, for
Halliday could neither read nor write,
being a foreigner by birth. He told
the friend that Mrs. Gross and him
self had decided to buy the farm to-
gether, each paying $4,000, with the
understanding that she was to cook
and provide for him as long as he re-
manned on the premises. After the
interview Mrs. Gross overlook the
friend as he was leaving the house
and stated that she wanted the deed
drawn up without the name of Mr..
Halliday appearing in the document,
according to relatives. This aroused
suspicion which resulted in deepening
the mystery. -
waiter making the sale Halliday
and Mrs. Gross took immediate pos
session Of the premises, living with
the former owners only until the lat
ter could get their goods moved
Three weeks later Halliday was dead
a victim of carbolic acid,his death oc-
curing on Nov. Is. He was i'm
mediately buried at Rome, Mrs.
Gross experimenting the arrange
ments, and neglecting to notify the
dead mans widow or any other men,
ber of his family. The coroner viewed
the body before it was inferred, and
after listening to Mrs. Gross story
pronounced death by suicide.
An attorney, who had formerly
known Halliday, heard the rumors
current. He Immediately got in touch
with the family at Royalton and ap-
prised them of their husbands and
fathers death. This notice was re-
ceived on Nov. 27, nearly two weeks
after Mr.. Halliday's death. The law
yer also advised them of more sus-
picious circumstances in that imme-
diately following the funeral Mrs.
Gross telephoned to her husband in
Kansas City, after having passed for
years as being a divorcee. The hus-
band took the first train East, follow
ing receipt of the message, and took
up residence and cultivation of the
Rome farm.
Upon receipt of news of their faith
er's death one of the three sons de-
cided to go to Rome and start an in
vestigation. He was accompanied by
his brother-in-la Mr.. C. C. But
tolph, of Brunswick. Arriving at
Rome the two men interviewed the
coroner who had performed an
autopsy but could get little if any
this official stating that
death had been the result of an over
dose of carbolic acid, self-adminis-
tered. Police officials were also ap-
pealed to but appeared unwilling to
prod too deeply into the affair, ac-
cording to Mr.. Buttolph.
Failing to uncover enough evidence
to warrant an arrest the son had the
body disinterred and exhumed. That
death had been the result of carbolic
acid was proved beyond doubt.
Burial was made at Royalton two
weeks ago last Sunday.
After the funeral the investigation
was continued with the result that
developments showed that Halliday
had no interest in the farm, as far as
being shown in the deed.
Relatives stated that he paid $4,000
down, and when questioned Mrs.
Gross admitted same, but claims Hal
liday gave the money to her and told
her to buy it for herself.
Here the Red Cross Chapter at
Cleveland was appealed to, but the
family was turned over to the legal
aid department.
Mr.. Halliday was SO years of age,
and while educated in shrewd busi-
ness methods, could neither read nor
write. For the past 25 years or
more he had been resident of Roy
alton, going on long trips frequently,
enjoying the recreation which he ap-
parently derived from dabbling in the
real. estate business. He was quite
prosperous and owned a large farm
in Royalton where he made his home.
Besides a widow, Mr.. Halliday had
three sons and one daughter.
"Wednesday T11oTnfnC Il was re-