Leeper, George T. – d. 1882

LEEPER

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:27

Death From Strychnine
Geo. T. Leeper, aged nearly 42 years, a farmer living in Des Moines township, near Prairie City, died last Wednesday at his residence, from strychnine administered by himself and with suicidal intent. Coroner Newell was notified and held an inquest. Among the witnesses was Dr. Kramer, who testified that Leeper had told him he had taken strychnine and produced the bottle from which it was taken. His wife testified as follows:
My name is Mary Leeper; I live in Des Moines Township, Jasper county, Iowa. I am the wife of the deceased, G. T. Leeper. I have at different times heard my husband, G. T. Leeper, threaten to kill himself; he was always under the influence of liquor when he made these threats. I have not heard him threaten to kill himself for some time. The only reason he ever gave for wanting to kill himself was on account of his drinking so much. On the 19th day of April, 1882, about three o’clock in the afternoon, my husband came in from the barn and appeared to be partially under the influence of liquor, he went to the cupboard and got something to eat, and I came into the room and he said he was done with this world, that he had taken poison; he then went and laid down on the bed. I asked him if he took it out of the bottle that set on the clock shelf, and he said that he had. I asked him why he had taken the poison but he gave no reason. His mind has not been right for several years, and he has not been the same as he used to be. Mary Leeper.
The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence.
The Prairie City News gives the following additional particulars:
Mr. Leeper leaves a very nice family. He was a good man in every respect except his drinking. For some time he has been in the habit of getting intoxicated when he came to town. Our saloon men and druggists knew this very well. When drunk he often threatened to kill himself. The person, who sold liquor to G. T. Leeper, Wednesday, is the one who caused Leeper to take his own life, and he stands guilty in the eyes of God and the citizens of this community.
Source: The Journal (Newton, IA); Wednesday, April 26, 1882