The Mankato free press., 1922-01-20
POISON HIS POTION
YOUTH WAS SAVED
Police Chief Ben Davis
Nipped The Act
NOTE TO SCHOOL HEAD
This Is What Led To Discovery
Of What Had Taken
Place

This Was one OF the dramatic dec
larations sent to a girl in Lake Cry
stal yesterday by George G. K. Wood
ruff, aged fourteen, the son Of Mrs.
Martha Woodruff of that city, while
the lad apparently was brQoding
over disappointment in love-. The
boy was brought to the Mankato
police station last night by Chief Of
Police Ben Davis, and Mayor Evan
J. Davis of Lake Crystal, after he
had attempted suicide by poisoning.
Woodruff in answer to the question,
what had led him to attempt suicide,
the boy answered that he had written
OF the rooms OF the Lake Crystal
school about two Of the students,
which dispIeased Miss Peterson, one
of the teachers. He stated that he
had been reprlmanded for this writ
ing by Miss Peterson, whom he fear
Ell would report the affair 10 Profes-
sur J. M. Snyder, principal OF the
Lake Crystal high school, who had
befriended him in great many
ways.
Il was afraid that Professor Sny
der would not like it, and would
never help me again. l regarded his
esteem and friendship above almost
anything that / know. / got to feel
ing awful sorry aboIt the writing
and decided to put An end to it. |
went into the chemical laboratory OF
the high school and found five or six
different kinds of stuff which took
and thought it was poison, but it did
not work. Then | Went and tried to
purchase rat poison but they would
not sell 1t to me.
Mother Always Kind.
Yes, my mother was always kind
to me, and she is not at fault in
this. She teaches school in district
No. 36 south of Lake Crystal. My
father left us about sever: years ago,
and since that time my mother secur-
ed a divorce.
What did / write on the black
board? Oh it was only this:
when Charles Bartlett gets
money enough he will buy a brass
ring and marry---- -
WAS this girl your sweetheart"
was asked. To this young Woodruff
answered in hesitating way as he
turned his face away and smiled,
mo"
II always worked in summer and
helped my mother. ! had reached the
eighth grade in school; and then
through the kind aid of Professor j..
NJ. Snyder l managed to get in the
first year high. Mr.. Snyder is fine
fellow and l like him"
Letter To The Professor.
The following letter sent to Pro
fessor J. NJ Snyder, was the first
intimation anyone in Lake Crystal
had of the boys intention to take his
"Dear Mr.. Snyder: The burdens Of
school life have become too heavy
for me to stand. / am now leaving
you for good. thank you from the
kindness you have bestowed upon me.
Mother will settle for all that l owe
you.
| shall see you in the great bye
and bye, if our heavenly father sees
fit. Yours to the end, George W."
Note To Young Lady.
The following is a copy of letter
which young Woodruff wrote to
young lady of Lake Crystal.
you because you are the only
- person to whom | can trust such
mission. ! have sickened of the
world to such an extent OF the
take measure to put myself out of
it. Everybody with the exeep-
ton Of a very few, have made
life so miserable for me that l
could endure the fire of hell Il /
could but get out OF it. If
yond and unknown by the time
you get this, would like to speak
to you. If have hopes to renew
our friendship, in the world to
come. I came to look for you
after school, but you were not
there: May God guide your foot
steps and undertakings for ever.
You alone ! am trusting to give
the news to Miss Ross. You may
show her this if you Wish. Miss
Peterson may tell Snyder if she
wishes, but for my part / am
cancelling all relationship with
the world and its way. This has
been one blow. too much.
You may also, il mother comes
to you and asks you fo- this let
ter give it to her.
I thoroughly believe that in
committing this act that no one
will miss or cause another
thought about me. could write
all night, but am not in a position
to do so.
Again in a last adieu, may the
world be kinder and juster to
you than it has been to me. l
must close forever, George G. R.
Woodruff
Police and Mayor Notified.
Immediately upon receiving the
letter from young George. Professor
j. M. Snyder notified Chief of Police
Ben Davis and Mayor Evan J. Davis
so that the boy could be picked up
before he had ended his life. He
was soon found and admitted taking
several kinds of dope, all of which
he thought was poison, which he had
found in the laboratory or the high
school. He then said that it did not
make him sick and he went to the
drug store OF William Deutsch where
he tried to buy rat poison but Mr.
Deutsch would not sell It to him.
Mayor Davis in statement to The
Free Press this morning said that he
had gone to the 'Deutsch drug store
and had verified the statements OF
young Woodruff. Mayor Davis said
that he feared that if the boy were
left by himself that he might try In
some other manner to end his life.
For that reason he and Chief Of Po-
lice Ben Davis took the last night
to the Mankato police station for safe
keeping.
Young Woodruff, according to the
statement of E. ]. Davis, is a very
bright lad in school, and he is sur