NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS - 1902
AUGUST
August 1, 1902
Clinton Register
ACCIDENT AND SUICIDE.
TWO DEATHS THAT WERE UNUSUALLY SAD.
A Child Dies From Eating Its Mother's Medicine, and a Young Man Takes His Life.
Saturday afternoon two homes were saddened by the death which came not as it comes when disease invites it. It came without warning and two homes were clouded with sorrow. Near noon on that day in the home of H. E. MONTGOMERY on East Woodlawn Avenue, their little daughter, Anna Lucile, not two years old was playing about the house happy as it was innocent. Mrs. MONTGOMERY was busy in the kitchen preparing dinner and sent her little boy to see where his little sister was. Soon he ran back, saying she was eating the medicine. The mother hastened to the dining room and found her on the table and all but three of the tablets gone. Mrs. Montgomery did not know there was poison in the tablets and had placed them on the table that she would not forget to take them. Dr. DOWDALL, who prescribed the tablets, was not at his office, and could not be found until about one o'clock. The little girl had been playing as usual. When Dr. Dowdall was told that she had taken several of the tablets, he said it would be impossible to save her life. He at once did all he could for her, but death came about three o'clock. She had taken twenty-two tablets.
The mother was almost prostrated by the death of her child, which was unusually bright and of sweet disposition.
Funeral services were held Monday at ten o'clock at the home, conducted by Rev. E. A. GILLILAND. Interment in Woodlawn cemetery.
Saturday evening about 6:30 McHenry BEAN, son of Celia BEAN, shot himself with a 22-caliber rifle at his home about two miles east of Birkbeck. He was working for John TUGGLE on the farm and had been there on Saturday. He went to his mother's before noon and nothing unusual was noticed in his actions. His brother, James Bean, asked him to go to DeWitt with him, but he refused, saying he was going hunting. During the afternoon he took the rifle and left the house three times, the last time soon after 6 o'clock. Soon after he left, a shot was heard. The family heard the shot and found him unconscious about 100 yards from the house. The bullet entered his head. Coroner JONES was notified about 7 o'clock and went to the Bean home, arriving there about two hours before the young man died, as he lived until about 11 o'clock. The following jury was selected and the inquest held: Chas. CARDIFF, L. R. AGEE, A. J. DAVIS, G. W. DAVENPORT, Robert SAMUELS, and T. F. BERRY.
The evidence showed that the young man was found lying in a pasture with the rifle at his side. Also that the fact that he had the smallpox last spring which left his face badly pitted seemed to discourage him, and he, at times, was melancholy and seemed to think his friends did not like him as much as they did. He left a note which expressed this feeling and that there was nothing in life for him. He requested that his relatives should not grieve over his death and stated where he desired to be buried.
Deceased was born near DeWitt, a son of James and Celia BEAN, and was 23 years, 8 months and 12 days old. His father died when he was one year old. He was regarded as one of the best young men in his neighborhood and his untimely death brought sorrow to all who knew him. He was unmarried and lived with his mother when not working for others. While Sheriff SHUE lived on the farm, he worked three years for him, and Mr. Shue speaks highly of him, as do all others who knew him. His mother, two sisters, Mrs. NALLY, of Harp township, and Mrs. D. REICHELDERFER, near Kenney, and two brothers, James and Newton, both near DeWitt, survive him.
Funeral services were held at the residence Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. R. THRASHER. Burial in the Griffith cemetery.
DECEMBER
December 20, 1902
Clinton Public
Clinton, Illinois
A HAPPY SURPRISE.
Until Tuesday evening A.E. HILL had never been able to give his wife a complete surprise for her birthday. He decided to have the Christian Reapers society, of which she is a member, and their families call on her that evening in a body. He has told her they would go see "Romeo and Juliet" and when the surprisers arrive she was ready to go to the opera house, and when she heard the knock on the door she thought that is was Mrs. COOPER, who was to accompany her. When she saw the room filled with a jolly crowd asking of she thought that she would enjoy the play, she was so embarrassed that she could not laugh naturally and no one enjoyed her surprise any more than Mr. HILL.
Surprise No. 2 to Mrs. HILL was when the refreshments came. Mr. HILL had ordered ice cream and cake, but when she suggested that he get refreshments, he told her that he thought that apples would be enough, and they were passed. After a time of social enjoyment the ice cream and cake arrived. The third surprise to the victim was when she received nice presents from her husband and the Reapers. The time was full of enjoyment from the arrival of the surprisers until they departed.