Typed as spelled and written
Lena Stone Criswell
THE MARLIN DEMOCRAT
Thirteenth Year - Number 21
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, July 24, 1902
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O. STUART DEAD.
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Driven to Self Destruction By
Ill Health.
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Left Note for His Mother.
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Monday morning in a
sleeping room over Tom Stuart's place of business Oscar Stuart was found in a
dying condition.
As quickly as possible two physicians were
summoned, but when they reached him he was beyond all human aid and soon died
with all the agonies of morphine poisoning.
Mr. Stuart was about 24 years old. He
resided in Groesbeck and came here Saturday afternoon for the purpose of taking
the baths and recieving (sic) other medical attention. The young man has
been in wretched health since his return from the Spanish-American war where he
acquitted himself with much credit. In fact, he had been in poor health
almost all his life.
According to the testimony of Geo. Erwin,
colored bootblack, whose stand is in front of the Stuart place of business,
young Stuart on Sunday afternoon made threats of taking his life.
This talk was made to the negro and Charlie
Garrett a friend of the deceased. He said: "Boys I am going to kill
myself. I have the stuff here to do it with and have written a note to my
mother." Mr. Garrett remonstrated with him, making light of his threat.
He also told him to cheer up. That he was now being treated by a good
doctor and would soon be well. As he was to leave on the 3:54 train for
Waco Garrett shook hands with Oscar and left. The witness also went to the
depot and on returning met young Stuart at the Arcade who wanted Erwin to go up
the street with him, this George did. On returning they separated at the
Marlin bank. George said to Mr. Stuart: "You are not going to kill
yourself are you" The answer was: "No, that stuff was only for my pains.
I was only joking." The boy went and told his father about the
circumstances, but they decided that he was, as he last said, "only joking," so
they thought no more of the matter, until Monday morning. Then it was said
that while I was shining a pair of shoes that "it just struck me that maybe he
did kill himself and as soon as I finished the job I told Mr. Yowell about what
he said, and Mr. Yowell rushed upstairs and found him almost dead."
It was learned that late Sunday Mr. Stuart
bought some morphine from Mr. Rogers at Peterson's drug store.
A part of this was found in the room.
A note addressed to the mother of young Stuart was also found. It was not
opened here because it contained the last message of a loving son to a fond
mother and it was mete that hers should be the first eye to read what to her was
indeed be a sad message whatever it may contain.
After the remains had been viewed by
Justice Bartlett, they were removed to the undertaking establishment where they
were prepared for shipment to Groesbeeck where the interment will take place.
The father of young Stuart, Mr. J. W. Stuart, and a number of friends came over
on the one o'clock train to return with the corpse:
Oscar Stuart was a young man of good
business qualifications and was prominently connected here and at Reagan.
His and their many friends regret very much that his continued ill health so
preyed upon his mind that he felt impelled to snuff out his bright young life.
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Copyright permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for
printing
by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas