WARD, Reuben - 1881 - Putnam

Last Saturday evening our citizens were greatly shocked on learning that Mr. Reuben Ward, a well known painter of this city, had died very suddenly from the effects of an overdose of chloroform. The circumstances as we learn them about as follows:

Mr. Ward has been suffering for some months from the effects of lead poisoning and periodical attacks of neuralgia, and kept laudanum and chloroform at hand that he might be relieved of pain and obtain rest.

On last Saturday morning he arose feeling better than usual, and insisted that his daughter should attend a picnic to be held that day.  Miss Ward finally consented to go and did not return until 5 o'clock p.m. when she found her father, as she supposed, sleeping nicely, and immediately proceeded to prepare the evening meal intending to call him when it ws ready.  When supper was on the table she called him two or three times, and failing to receive an answer, she shoo him that he might wake up then discovered something was wrong. Dr. Knight and the neighbors were summoned, and in the meantime Miss Ward learned that her father had been using the chloroform during the day. When the physician arrived he immediately discovered the true state of the case, and also found that his patient was in a dying condition. 15 minutes after, and about a half hour after the daughter attempted to awaken him, he was dead.  It is supposed, and doubtless with reason, that the deceased had been under the influence of the drug for several  hours. There can be no doubt that the overdose was accidentally taken, and the result is another warning for all to use dangerous drugs with great care and circumspection.  Deceased was a man respected by a large circle of friends, and his sad death is generally mourned   --- kbz