The Daily Gazette Davenport, Iowa Tuesday Morning May 20, 1862 Local Matters Vandalism.-Nicholas Krambech, sexton of the city cemetery, informs us that he detected a couple of young women, on Sunday, robbing the graves in the inclosure (sic) of the flowers that friends had placed over the remains of the cherished dead. He contented himself with taking the bouquet from them, and reprimanding them for their conduct, but says if it is repeated he will be under the necessity of prosecuting the parties guilty of such outrage. Returned.-Lieut. Henne, accompanied by his wife and Mr. Holm, arrived yesterday afternoon on the Sucker State from St. Louis. Lt. H.'s wound is healed up, but he is unable to walk, being destitute of both left arm and left leg, and has not yet obtained an artificial substitute. On his arrival, the cannon was got out, and a salute fired in honor of the return of the gallant officer to his home, for the first time since his departure with Capt. Wentz's company last spring. Seduction and Suicide.-One of the most melancholy cases of death by suicide it has ever been our duty to record, occurred last Sunday afternoon in this city. The deceased,--Jennett Dutton, was a native of Scotland, and had been in this city two or three years, during which time she had been living with different families in town, and for some time previous to her death had been employed at the Burtis House. The circumstances leading to her death are related in the testimony as taken before the Coroner's Jury on Sunday evening nearly all of which we publish elsewhere. She first tried to kill herself with laudanum, but took an over-dose, which caused nausea and vomiting, destroying the effects of the poison. Sunday morning she procured some strychnine, with which she succeeding in accomplishing her object, death ensuing at about 5 1/2 o'clock in the evening. She appears to have been suffering very much in her mind from the stories which had been set afloat about her, and these! eventually, no doubt, led her to commit suicide. The jury in the coroner's inquest found that the deceased died from the effects of strychnine, and that Frank Collins was guilty of a criminal misdemeanor on her person, which prompted her t commit suicide. On the rendition of this verdict, Coroner Tomson issued his warrant for the apprehension of Collins; and last evening constable Teagarden, assisted by Mr. Dermody, and by Justice Swander, of Rock Island, arrested him on the other side of the river, brought him over, and locked him up in jail. The ferry boat had lain up for the night, but Capt. Robinson promptly got up steam, and brought over the party, declining to receive any pay for it. Collins will probably be examined this morning. Testimony In the Case of Jennett Dutton who committed suicide, Sunday, May 18. Examination of witness, produced, sworn and examined before me, J. J. Tomson, Coroner of said County, and Israel Hall, J. Ruch, G. H. Mosier, lawful men of the said county, duly sworn upon their oaths to inquire when, how, and by what means Jennett Dutton came to her death. Dr. J. C. Parker, sworn: I know the person lying dead. I saw her some 8 months ago. She was apparently sane at that time. Some 4 or 5 days ago she came to my office, saying that she was in trouble-wished to know what to do. I saw her to-day about 11 o'clock. I found her suffering from spasms. She informed me that she had taken strychnine with the intention of killing herself. Said she got the poison in Rock Island. I think that her death was caused by strychnine. She said she had been dishonored, and wished to die. I remained from 11 till 3 o'clock. Dr. Adler, sworn: I saw her, the person here lying dead, for the first time this afternoon. Found her lying on the floor, on her back. Found her quite rational, with frequent pulse. Face flushed-head turned to the left, and vomiting at intervals. She had a slight convulsion of her limbs soon after I saw her. I had been informed that she had taken strychnine. She told me herself that she had taken strychnine. I remained until she died. I am satisfied that she died from the effects of strychnine. J. J. Burtis, sworn: I know the person here lying dead; have known her about four months; she has been in my employ; I considered her a girl of sound mind; I did not know of her troubles; for the last two or three weeks she has not done as well in my service as previous; she has due her from me $4.65, which I have paid to Mr. Daniel Moore; I believe her to be a girl of good moral character; she lost no time by reason of sickness during the time she was in my employ. Daniel Moore, sworn: I know the person here lying dead; her man (sic) is Jennett Dutton; she worked for me in 1860, three months, also three months in 1861; she said that she had been married in Scotland, and her husband was lost on the ocean; so far as I know she was woman of good moral character; she came to my house last night about nine o'clock, a good deal excited; she said that Frank Collins had started reports about her at the Burtis House, and that she had taken laudanum on his account; she laid down and slept all night; this morning she appeared to be rational, but somewhat excited; she left my house about 10 o'clock to go to her sister's in Coal Valley, Rock Island county, Illinois; I went to East Davenport and between ten and eleven o'clock I was sent for, saying that Jennett had returned to my house and had taken strychnine; when I got home Dr. Parker was with her; a little time before she died, she seemed to be sorry that she had taken the strychnine; she seemed! to be anxious to get well; the balance of my testimony corroborates that of Drs. Parker and Adler. Mrs. Rachel Keating, sworn: I have known the person here lying dead about two years.; she told me that she was a widow; she had been at the Burtis House nearly six months; she came to my house yesterday and asked me if I had heard any reports about her; I said that I had, but had paid no attention to them; I then asked her what her trouble was; she said that Frank Collins had raised a bad report about her; she said that she had been to him on Thursday night last, and urged him to clear her of it, or she would throw herself into the river; the next morning she heard what she said to him from the girls in the Burtis House, she told me that she had taken laudanum, and did not wish to live; I gave her mustard and alt, which vomited her; she told me yesterday that she was determined to kill herself; I saw her this morning, soon after she returned to Mr. Moore's; she was very much excited; I put my hand into her pocket, and found a paper with what I supposed to be strychnine; the! paper was still wet, as though she had had her tongue to it; she told me that she had taken some of the powder which I found in her pocket; she said that she got the powder, which she said was strychnine, in Rock Island; she said that she had tried the laudanum from Tuesday and had not succeeded in taking her life, and she thought that she would try strychnine. Sudden Death of Henry Y. Slaymaker It is with deep regret that we this morning announce the sudden death of Mr. Henry Y. Slaymaker, which occurred between 10 and 11 o'clock Sunday evening, at the residence of Mr. Chas. Ruthrauff, his son-in-law, on Brady street, opposite the college Grounds. Mr. Slaymaker had attended church in the morning, and seemed to be in his usual health all day. At night he retiredquite early, apparently well. About 10 o'clock he was taken alarmingly ill, and Dr. Adler was immediately summoned, but before he could arrive the sufferer was dead. He lived only about twenty minutes after he was taken ill. Mr. Slaymaker was a native of Lancaster, Pa., and was sixty-seven years of age at the time of his death. About ten years ago he removed to this city, since which time he has been on of our most respected citizens. During the last administration, Mr. S. held the position of agent for Government on rock Island. Mr. Slaymaker leave no offspring except Mrs. Ruthrauff; and his wife has been d! ead some years. The late Capt. Slaymaker was a nephew of the deceased. Died In this city, on Sabbath evening, May 18th, suddenly of disease of the heart, Henry Slaymaker, aged 64 years. The funeral will take place from his late residence on Brady street, this (Tuesday) afternoon at 2 1/2 o'clock. In Littleton, N. H., at the residence of her father, Mrs. Altheram, wife of Milo K. Parks, of this city, aged 34 years. A Case for the Charitable Mr. Editor: I desire to call the attention of the public to the case of Mrs. Adolphus Knocke, corner of Rock Island and Second streets. Her husband and two sons have been in the army of the U. S. as volunteers since January, 1862, and have not yet been paid off by the U. S. The family are actually suffering for food. Some generous persons whoa re able, should provide her the means of living until her husband and sons are paid off.~~G. E. Hurbell. We had thought there was a committee appointed in our city, to see that the families here of those fighting the battles of our country did not suffer in their absence. It seems that we were mistaken. It should be done in all haste, as it seems the least we can do. ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann Assist. CC: Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm. for: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES