John Best, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
John Best
On Friday last, John Best, living three miles west of Chesterton, went to Mr. Green's drug store and bought 5 grains of strychnine, for the purpose, he said, of poisoning cats. The same day Dr. Marr was called to Best's house to examine him on charge of insanity, but on his arrival found the patient dead. The coroner was summoned and on the next day held an inquest over the body. No traces of poison were found in the stomach, nor could it be proven that he took any. The conclusion arrived by the jury was that death was the result of an epileptic fit, to which deceased was subject, though it would seem that the poison must have had something to do with the performance, and it is claimed that upon closer test strychnia has been found in his stomach. The family had been disturbed, we are told, several months past by domestic troubles. Best was 40 years old and leaves a wife and family. He was a government pensioner, having lost an arm in the late war.
Newspaper: Porter County Vidette
Date of Publication: May 15, 1879
Volume Number: 23
Issue Number: 20
Page: 3
Column(s): 4
Key to Newspaper Publication Locations:
Newspapers Published in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Chesterton Tribune
The Tribune
Westchester Tribune
Newspapers Published in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Porter County Vidette
Practical Observer
Valparaiso Practical Observer
Vidette and Republic
Western Ranger
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Obituary/death notice transcribed by Steven R. Shook