FAMILY DIVIDED ON CASE-L. L. DeLong-1905

DELONG, LAWRENCE, ARMSTRONG, DOUTHETT

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 9/17/2019 at 23:42:14

Ottumwa Semi-Weekly Courier, Tuesday, Jan 17, 1905, Ottumwa, IA, and Page: 2

FAMILY DIVIDED ON CASE
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Children of Osceola Man Refused to
Cooperate With One Son
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Osceola, Jan 14 – It develops here that the children of late L. L. DeLong have been divided on the question of carrying to the extreme the investigation into the cause of his death. Homer C. DeLong, the eldest son has had to bear practically all the burdens of the investigations for several years past.

At the time of the death of Mr. DeLong, on September 8, 1904, H. C. DeLong was anxious to have a thorough investigation made. Mr. DeLong died within an hour after he showed the first signs of illness. He was taken into J. C, Harrison’s store and physicians were summoned. Dr. G. T. Armstrong said at once the symptoms indicated strychnine poisoning. An inquest was suggested to the family but the majority of the members opposed it, and none was held.

Several weeks later, upon the request of H. C. DeLong the body was exhumed under the supervisions of Drs. Douthett, Armstrong and Lawrence and the stomach was sent to the state chemist. When the report showed that strychnine had been found, there was a demand that the liver and other vital organs be examined. These, too, were then sent to the chemist, and the examination also showed that they contained considerable quantities.

No arrests have been made.