Person:Ora Eldred (2)

1900 Coffey Co., KS, census, p.143A, Pleasant Twp., June 18, 1900, Alvin Chatterton: ORA ELDRED, servant, W M, Feb. 1878, 22, single, KS IL IL, farm laborer; with 144/150, George Weber, head, W M, July 1876, 23, md. 1 yr., OH Germany Germany, farmer; Ella, wife, W F, Apr. 1878, 22, mother of no children, KS NY OH; Margaret Merritt, moth-in-law, W F, May 1838, 62, widow, OH OH OH.

ANOTHER SUICIDE / BY ACID ROUTE

 Ora Eldred was found dead in his bed at the Taylor hack barn this morning when Charlie Taylor came down to go to the train.  Eldred had taken carbolic acid.  Last night he wrote a letter to Hazel Keck but its contents have not been made known.  An inquest will be held this afternoon at the undertakers.  Eldred was a single man and worked at the Taylor barn.

ORA ELDRED INQUEST / IS HELD THURSDAY

 An inquest was held over the body of Ora Eldred at the Hanna & Stone undertaking establishment Thursday afternoon, conducted by Justice H. E. Rapier in place of Coronor [sic] Douglass, who was unable to be out in such stormy weather.  The jury returned a verdict that Eldred came to his death by his own hand, by poison.
 There was no question of the facts in the matter, but the inquest was held at the request of Mr. Taylor in order that no false reports might get started later, a very sensible proceeding.  Only three witnesses were examined:  Chas. Taylor, W. J. Briggs and H. E. Rapier.  Mr. Taylor testified that on Wednesday evening Eldred was at the hack barn as usual but seemed a little more quiet than usual, but that he thought nothing special of it.  He found him lying dead on the bed, fully dressed, Thursday morning at 4:45 when he went to get the hack to meet the morning train.  A bottle containing some carbolic acid was lying on the bed beside him and a letter addressed to Hazel Keck, also was on the bed.  Mr. Taylor at once phoned the coroner, who referred him to Justice Rapier.
 W. J. Briggs testified that he sold two ounces of carbolic acid to Eldred Wednesday afternoon to be used in washing his hands, and that there was nothing unusual in his actions at that time.  Eldred signed the poison record.
 Justice Rapier told of the condition of the body and the bottle etc., when he in company with Dr. A. K. Berry entered the room, and said that Dr. Berry said that Eldred was dead and had been dead for some time then death being due to carbolic acid poisoning.
 The jury was composed of Fred Newcomb foreman, Victor King, Fred L. Epting, Walter H. Sanders, R. L. Patterson and W. O. Hair.  County Attorney Frazier conducted the examination.
 Funeral Saturday morning at 9 o'clock at the home of Mr. and Mr[s]. Wm. Lovett with interment at Wharton cemetery on Big creek.  Eldred's only relatives now living here are his sister Mrs. Lovett and his brother, Roy.