Bennett, Donald 1916 - 1918

BENNETT

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 7/30/2013 at 17:30:24

Elgin Echo, and re-printed in the Postville Herald, Friday, 25 October 1918.

This (Thursday) morning a terrible tragedy occurred at the home of Harold Bennett, a short distance south of town. It seems that the family had been in town the previous day and purchased a bottle of laxative, which was intended for the children. That evening a horse was taken sick and a veterinary called, and he left medicine for the horse with the instruction that the animal should be given a dose during the night. This Mr. Bennett did. When he came in he set the bottle where he supposed that it would not be touched.

When his wife arose she went to give the children their medicine and by mistake got the bottle that contained the horse medicine which was composed of a large percentage of strychnine.

The daughter, Edith, a little over four years old, and the son, Donald, about two, were each given a spoonful of the horse medicine. When the mistake was discovered the mother and father were almost overcome, but they put the children in their car and telephoned Dr. Hadsel and quickly brought the patients to the Hadsel home in Elgin. When they arrived the children were in convulsions but everything possible was done to save their lives.

The little boy died about 11:30 but the girl rallied and at last report was doing nicely with fair chances for recovery.

The mother and father are prostrated with grief over the terrible mistake and the sad affair is a shock to the whole community. All hope that the little girl's life will be spared to the heartbroken parents.- Elgin Echo.

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Donald is buried in Elgin cemetery. See a photo of his gravestone on the IGPP.

Submitter is not related.

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