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