Howard, Frederick – Died 1908

HOWARD

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 8/16/2019 at 15:47:06

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Jan. 22, 1909, 2, C3

Dr. Howe, special examiner appointed by Coroner I. G. Newlen to look into the sudden and mysterious death of Dean Frederick Howard of Drake university Thanksgiving day, reported that the professor was a victim of poison. Quantities of morphine were found in the system. Report says that there are marks pointing to asphyxiation. As to who administered the poison or whether it was self-administered, is not known. Dean Howard’s death caused a sensation.
He had been contemplating moving from his apartments and on the eve of the holiday partook of a dinner there in his honor. A short time later he complained of illness and was attended by Dr. D. C. Bice, who lived next door. In the morning a friend called to see him. Knocking and getting no answer, he entered and found the dean dead.
Dean Howard was a noted musician and was popular both with students and the general public. His luxuriant apartments were open house to a coterie of kindred spirits. The dean was on particularly intimate terms with a number of young collegians, proteges of his, several of whom shared his apartments at times. He was known to assist needy students through college with gifts of money. He was considered a scholarly man of singular polish and personality.
The night he died Dean Howard was in a sad state of mind. He sang a song alluding to his mother and was overcome by his emotions. His actions were considered strange. When the guests departed they remarked how changed the dean was. He died that night.
Under Dean Howard’s direction, Drake university conservatory trebled its attendance. He became prominently identified with the leading musical organizations of the West. As a baritone his services were in demand both East and West. He was unmarried.
Sensational testimony developed at the Dean Howard inquest when T. J. Brooks, at whose home the dean died, testified that three additional morphine tablets of one-sixteenth grain each were left by Dr. C. C. Brice to be administered to the dean when he rallied from his stupor. Experts have testified that the previous injection was sufficient to cause the dean’s death. Coroner Newlen censured Dr. Brice for not remaining with Dean Howard after administering the drug, which was to have alleviated the patient’s pain.