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The following account from tho Sunday Chicago Tribune of the sad ending ot the life of a former Galva boy will be read wiih deep regret by all who knew tho family of Dr. .T. F. Todd. ForreBt was a young physician oi much more than ordinary promise who seemed to inherit much of tho mental ability of his gifted father:Dr. Forrest G. Todd, son of City Physician J. F. Todd, was found dead in his bed at noon yesterday at his olllce, Thirty-ninth street and Indiana Avenue. According to tho statement of the dead man’s friend, Georgo J. Raymer, No. 38 Thirtieth street, Dr. Todd some hours before his death had mado a statement he had taken enough morphine by injection to kill any man. Tho Coroner’s jury, however, brought in a verdict of death from angina pectoris.Dr. Todd last Friday evening took dinner with Air. Raymer, and the two spent a great portion of the night together.It is said both drank considerable liquor although Mr. Raymer denies cither he or Dr. Todd indulged to exccBB. They re-turned towards morning to Dr. Todd’s olllce, and about 5 o’clock in the morning Dr. Todd left hiB room and upon his return informed his friend that ho had just injected a sufficient quantity of morphine into his arm to kill any man. Mr. Raymer paid no attention to tho remark as he said he thought young Todd was joking. They went to bed shortly afterward .When Mr. Raymer awoko at 11 o’clock his friend lay dead beside him. Dr. Todd, it is said, was in good spirts previous to his death, but tho relations existing between him and his wife were known to have been far from pleasant. As a matter ot fact a divorco suit is now pending in the courts.City Physician Todd was immediately notified of his son’s death, and at 2 o’clock the affair was reported to tho Coroner.Deputy Coroner George McHalo conducted the inquest. Tho dead man’s father requested that Dr. Mitchell be summoned to hold a post mortem examination. lie declared his son’s death was not a case of suicide; that it was due tho family and the dead man’s memory tho taint which a vordict ot suicide would occasion should bo removed, unless it could be proved absolutely that suicide had been committed Dr. Mitchell, after making a post mortem examination, testified that Dr. Todd came to his death from angina pectoris. From this disease Dr. Todd Sr. declared bis son had been a sufferer for three years. With the exception of Dr. Mitchell’s examination, Dr. J. F. Todd was tho only witness placed on the stand, although Mr. Raymer, who found the body, was present and ready to testify.A few questions were asked the father relative to liio son’s birthplace, ago, etc., but questions which would tend to throw light upon the cause of death wero not asked. Dr. Todd said his son had been troubled with heart disease and that when severely attacked had been in the habit oi taking morphine and other stimulants. He also said the young man had been in poor health about four weeks. This was the substance of his testimony, and when written'out on one of the Coroner’s blanks occupied about half a page.“I guess that is sufficient,’’ remarked tho Coroner, as he handed tho document to the witness for his signature. “Every 'bouy bunKe-jary-~-l niB»«Aretire.’’As tho outsiders present wero au^ leave tho room one of the jurors demanded to know if anyone wbb in attendance when Dr. Todd died.“O, yes, replied Mr. Todd indicating Mr. Raymer, “this young man was with my son, but was sleeping at tho time of his death.”“Wero you with tho deceased when he died f” asked tho Deputy Coroner. “And did ho retire in good health ?’’“Yes,” was the reply.“Did he ever complain to you of heart disease?“Not at the time he took tho morphine, but the day previous he had made some remark to tho effect ho was troubled thatTin will tratesToincluiToclusiiToretur:Havia Pall pi and iMiniTexato all Fallslimitupon1Adcin pfor ibuttHailanttlut'etrea47a:tionhomaboiIssuapp:PasioadIt Coe to c Lot Oni mecSollt;Ilt;Puithe25cNo1*1asNabuiCh:at tbeleaNoothwlis IoffChticto mi ha all«r.T blt;Ulway.”Tho witness had not been sworn previous to making his answers and further testimony from him waB cut off by the Deputy Coroner’s dismissing him.Nothing was aBkcd concerning the statement made by the deceased that be had taken morphino and no effort was made to inquire into his family relations. Tho jury then brought in a verdict of death from heart disease.I.dc
Newspaper Details
Galva Weekly News
Galva, Illinois, US
Thu, Sep 06, 1894
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Cynthia R.
USA 21 Aug 2024
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