Thomas Lee Rutherford |
| Posted 2018-06-17 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Weekly Journal-Miner, Prescott, Arizona Wednesday, December 8, 1915, page 1, column 3 T. L. Rutherford Suicides At Hotel Is Believed To Have Taken Dose Of Cyanide; Lived Here For About 10 Months (From Tuesday's Daily) T. L. Rutherford of Albuquerque, N.M., who has been a resident of this city for the past ten months, yesterday morning committed suicide in his room at a local hotel, it is said, by taking a dose of cyanide of potassium. The discovery was made by Sam Wallace, proprietor of a local cleaning establishment by whom the suicide had been employed. It had been customary for Rutherford to open up the cleaning store each morning before Wallace's arrival. Yesterday morning after opening the shop Rutherford returned to his room. Wallace on his arrival at the store found his employe absent and immediately went to the hotel to see if he had taken sick. When he opened the door to Rutherford's room he discovered him on his bed, half dressed. Rutherford's face was very pail. Wallace called to him, but he failed to answer. Taking it for granted that Rutherford was dead he called Dr. Southworth. After feeling of the man's pulse Dr. Southworth pronounced him dead. On looking around the room the physician discovered a small piece of wrapping paper taken from the cleaning store which contained a white powder which was afterward pronounced cyanide. In a glass discovered near the washstand was found a number of white specks showing that Rutherford had mixed the power with water before drinking it, if that is how he met his death. Cyanide is used in most cleaning establishments and it is supposed that the suicide took it from the Wallace store. Judge McLane, who was called immediately after the physician pronounced the man dead, subpoenaed a jury of six to view the remains which were later taken to Ruffner's undertaking parlors. The inquest determined the exact cause of death will be held this morning at 10 o'clock. Why Rutherford committed suicide is a mystery. He was single and a member of the Moose lodge of Albuquerque, N.M. Letters found on his person shows that he has parents living in that city. His age is estimated to be 28 or 28 years. He came to work for Wallace last February from Tucson. Transcriber's note: Mr. Rutherford is buried at the Citizens Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona. See Also: Arizona Gravestone Photo Project |
Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.
Questions About This Project?