Smith - Rolbert - 1896 - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Coroner Barcus was summoned to Waynetown Wednesday to hold an inquest on the body of Robert Smith, of that place, who committed suicide that morning. Mr. Smith resided just on the edge of town and was fifty five years of age. He was worth about $10,000, owning a good farm.

He had been in rather feeble health for some time and remarked a year ago that he would rather die than go through another case of sickness. Still he was able to be out a few days ago and being an ardent Democrat, worked on Election Day, being deeply grieved by the result. The last of the week, however, he was taken sick and complained a great deal. Wednesday about 7 o’clock his wife arose and leaving him in bed went out to feed her chickens. When she left the room he got up and emptying a bottle of carbolic acid into a tin cup he drained the noxious dose. He then concealed the tin cup under his pillow, locked the door and returned to die. His wife soon returned and finding the door locked at once feared the worst. She ran into the yard and opening the window to the room, crawled in only to find her husband unconscious and sinking rapidly. He lived only an hour after he swallowed the poison.  Insanity caused by ill health is ascribed as the cause of the rash act and it is a coincidence that Mr. Smith’s father committed suicide by hanging at Waynetown twenty two years ago. The deceased leaves his wife and one son, Charles. He was a highly esteemed citizen and his death shocks the entire community.  Mr. Smith was a brother of Mrs. George Hardee residing north of Crawfordsville. – s