With the name "Ida" lingering on his lips, Samuel G. Booth, a retired farmer, 63 years old, whose wife, Mrs. Ida Booth, 28 years his junior, had left him a few days ago, swallowed carbolic acid and died at his home, 2625 Garfield Avenue, about 5:45 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
John Woodson, his attorney, had called at the house to take his deposition in the divorce suit that his wife was about to institute. When the attorney arrived he found the door partly ajar, but his ring received no response. He walked into the house, and finding no one on the lower floor, went to Mr. Booth's bedroom. There lay the man on the bed fully dressed. A vial containing a small quantity of carbolic acid lay by his side. Evidently Mr. Booth had swallowed the acid when he heard the approach of the attorney, for he was able to whisper his wife's name just before he lapsed into unconsciousness.
In one hand was clasped a newspaper who contained the obituary of his mother, who died three years ago at Valley Falls, Kas., and nearby lay two notes, one addressed to his wife and another to his nephew, Rosco Booth, of Valley Falls.
Note to His Wife.
The note left to his wife is believed to explain the cause for his action. It is written in a firm round hand on a piece of white plain stationary. In part it follows:
Ida, I love you and have tried to talk to you and try to adjust our
difficulties, that we may live together and be happy as we once were. But
of the privilege of even seeing you I am denied. I think that you and I
could live happily together, were it not for Laura. She wields a powerful
influence over you, and I am very confident that she ahs been to a degree to
blame for the alienation of your affections from me. This, with your
imaginary wrongs and the intrigue of others had been the cause of the breaking
up of our home that would have otherwise been a happy one.
The other note directs that his body be turned over to Wise & Cassidy, undertakers, and that he be buried by the side of his mother at Valley Falls, Kas., with Masonic rites. It also states that after his debts are paid, which amount to but a small sum, a widow's share be given to his wife, and the residue divided between his niece and nephew.
Table Still Set for Two.
Since her departure Mr. Booth had lived alone in the house. He still kept up the illusion of her presence, however. Last night the dining room table had been set for two, and about this part of the house there was no indication of anything having been disturbed since the departure of Mrs. Booth.
Immediately after her departure, Mrs. Booth took steps toward instituting divorce proceedings and of this Mr. Booth was promptly informed. He decided to file a cross bill, and arrangements had been made for his attorney to take his deposition yesterday afternoon.
Since 1864 Mr. Booth had lived near Valley Falls, moving there with his mother from Kentucky. He had acquired much land in that territory, but had not married until after his mother's death three years ago. The body will probably be taken to Valley Falls this morning for burial.
Last night Mrs. Booth had not called at the morgue to give instructions regarding the disposition of her husband's body. She had been told of his death in the evening, and went to the home, but remained only a few minutes.
A brother of the dead man lives in Oklahoma, and a niece and nephew live in Valley Falls. Telegrams were sent last night to the niece and nephew, but the address of the brother had not been learned.
