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MORRILL, Fred S. c1850-1895

MORRILL, BORROWS

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 12/4/2013 at 00:01:14

[Waterloo Courier, Wednesday, May 8, 1895, Waterloo, Iowa]

BY THE MORPHINE ROUTE

Fred. S. Morrill Takes 100 Grains of
the Drug in a Chicago Hotel
Thursday Night.

From Monday's Daily
Late Saturday afternoon G. H. Barrows received a telegram from E. Moffett, the manager of the W. U. Telegraph office at Eockford, Illinois, stating that Fred. Morrill had died in Chicago. Yesterday's Chicago papers brought the news that Fred, had committed suicide. It appears that on Thursday night he went to the Hotel Empress, No. 403 North Clark St., and registered as J. S. Johnson, Huron, S. D. He engaged a room and retired to it at once, telling the landlord that he did not desire to be called in the morning. Nothing was heard from him Friday and at nine o'clock Friday night the room was entered and Fred, was found dead on the bed. There were no signs of violence about the remains, except a tiny stream of blood which trickled from his mouth. The remains were taken to the morgue and the coroner notified. The jury returned a verdict of "Death by some narcotic taken with suicidal intent while despondent."

After the inquest the following letter was found on the floor beneath the bed in the Empress Hotel upon which the body was found:

J. If. Morrill, No. 1108 East State Street, Rockford, Ill.—Dear Father:
Your letter received. It's no use trying farther. You wire Helen, she will be expecting it. I have registered here under a fictitious name, but I think they will have no difficulty in finding out who I am from letters in my pockets. I have taken 100 grains of morphine. I hope that will end my troubles on earth. I begin to feel queer. Your son, Fred. S. Morrill.

This was followed by a postscript which read:
Look in my satchel at home for a letter to you. No, my ticket was not Stolen; it is in my pocket. I tried gas; it would not work good.

A line was drawn across the paper beneath the above and then the following
was written:
Landlord, do not wire the above. Wire my father and all bills will be paid. Just say, "Your son is dead." Address J. H. Morrill, No. 1108 East State Street, Rockford, Ill. Also see D. H. McDonald, Dearborn Avenue, between Kinzie and Michigan Streets. Also J. H. Warren, of J. S. Smith & Co., Kinzie Street, West of La Salle Avenue.

The letter was written with a lead pencil on a sheet of pink paper.

A telegram from Rockford Saturday night stated that the body had been brought there and the funeral would be held tomorrow (Tuesday) under the auspices of the Shriners. It also stated that on Monday last he telegraphed his father at Rockford for money, stating that he had been robbed in Chicago. The sum he asked for was sent him. He had an engagement to meet his sister in Chicago on Thursday, but he failed to keep it.

SOMETHING ABOUT HIS HISTORY.
Fred. Morrill was well known in this city. He is a nephew of A. W. Morrill, the soap manufacturer, and a brother-in-law of G. H. Barrows, the traveling man. He was formerly in partnership with his uncle here, but left Waterloo about 10 or 12 years ago and went to Osceola, Nebraska. He had an uncle living in that section and soon afterwards Fred, and a cousin went into the banking business at Miller, South Dakota. After a time Fred, became sole owner of the bank. He got along nicely and made money until some three years ago when a law was passed that compelled private banks to incorporate or close up. Fred, paid off all his obligations and retired from business. Since that time he has had little to do, although a few months since Mr. Barrows received a letter from him stating that he was in the insurance business with the general agent of the Rockford Insurance Co., at Amboy, Ill. Since then nothing has been heard of him until the news of his death was received.

His wife is at Miller, S. D., and their only son, Jay Morrill, is deputy treasurer of Hand Co., S. D.

Fred was probably about 50 years old. He was a Mason and belonged to the Commandery and also to the Shrine. He was a soldier in the Rebellion, having enlisted shortly before the close of the war. His father lives at Rockford, Ill., and he has one sister there and another at Yankton. During their residence here Mr. and Mrs. Morill lost one child and their first child died at Rockford before they came here. Fred had $7500 insurance in Masonic insurance associations, but it is not known here whether he has kept up the payments on his policies or not.

A. W. Merrill and Geo. Barrows will leave tonight for Rockford to attend the funeral tomorrow. Mrs. Merrill and son started from Miller on the same sad errand this morning.

Fred Morrill's death is sincerely regretted by the many friends here who knew him as a whole-souled, genial gentleman and they will heartily sympathize with the stricken family in their great sorrow.

--------------------------
Burial at Cedar Bluff Cemetery, Rockford, Illinois.Note compiled by the Winnebago Genealogical Society "Inscription 45 years; G. A. R."


 

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