MILLE LACS COUNTY TIMES MILLE LACS COUNTY, MINNESOTA, THURSDAY,

SEPTEMBER 10,1903

DEATH CAME QUICKLY.

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L. Baxter Falls in Convulsions and Dies Suddenly in His Saloon.

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Exact Cause of His Death in Doubt and Rumor of Poisoning Current.

L. Baxter stepped to the door of his saloon Monday afternoon about 5:30 o'clock and asked Charles Kisler, who happened to be passing by on the sidewalk to come in and attend to the bar. Without saying another word he turned around and as he started back into the building he suddenly fell to the floor in convulsions.

Dr. Bacon was summoned and found that the man was in a very serious condition, and that medicine could do very little for him. One convulsion followed another, each becoming more violent until nearly 7 P.M. when with a final convulsion, the patient biting his tongue in two, he suddenly expired.

It is said that Mr. Baxter was subject to falling in fits, and the attending physician is of the opinion that his death was caused by a repetition of fits he was subject to. But various rumors were put into circulation to the effect that the deceased died of poisoning, either administered by himself or somebody else.

Dr. Bacon says that while the symptoms resembles the effects of strychnine poisoning, still there was no doubt in his mind of the man's death being caused by apoplectic fits, as the symptoms would be the same. Coroner H. C. Cooney phoned up Princeton, Tuesday, concerning the need of an inquest, or post mortem examination, and none was held.

The funeral occurred at the M. E. church Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. D. P. Olin officiating, and the remains were interred in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

The deceased came to Milaca about ten years ago and located on a farm southwest of town. A year ago he disposed of his farm for a good figure and moved into town, engaging subsequently in the saloon business. He was aged 74 years and leaves a wife and two children to mourn his loss.

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FORGERY AND THEFT.
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George Howard, of Princeton, Arrested for Forging a Check Against E. Mark Live Stock Co ---------

He is Also Charged With Stealing a Gold Watch From the L. Baxter Residence.

Something of a sensation was created here Tuesday morning by the issuance of a warrant for the arrest of George Howard, charging him with stealing a gold watch from the residence of L. Baxter, who died suddenly in convulsions the evening before.

Howard volunteered to sit up with the corpse Monday evening as one of the watchers in company with Jeff Orton. Early Tuesday morning Mrs. Baxter noted that her husband's watch, which had been removed from the body and placed in a bureau drawer, was missing. Howard had left the house, and the next seen of him was coming down the street near the Milaca House, but noticing Mrs. Baxter in consultation with Marshal Shockley and Victor Nelson in front of the Baxter residence, he swerved across the street and disappeared over the hill near the flour mill. Marshal Shockley endeavored to apprehend him but could find no trace of his whereabouts for an hour or two. Howard went down through the mill yards to the wagon road near the creamery, and solicited a ride with Conrad Kallstrom, who was driving home in a sulky.

Kallstrom suspected that he was the man wanted in town and attempted to turn back, when Howard jumped out and seized a rock threatened to brain him if he didn't drive on home, after which he disappeared in the brush. The officers were notified and Marshal Shockley headed a posse in pursuit.

Meanwhile it was discovered that a check for $65 which Howard had passed at the Baxter saloon last Saturday evening was a forgery, and this circumstance aroused some suspicion that Howard had poisoned Baxter in a vain attempt to get hold of the check and destroy it. He was advanced $25 and some trade at the saloon, amounting in all to $33, on the check which bore the signature of E. Mark. Howard hung around the saloon all day Monday and was in there part of the time with Baxter alone and it was thought he may have doped the old man in order to destroy evidences of the forgery. Anyway the sudden death of Baxter following the forgery is a peculiar coincidence to say the least.

On receiving word of the forgery E. Mark swore out a warrant for Howard and placed it in the hands of Sheriff Claggett, who started up through the country and joined in the hunt.

Traces of Howard were found and he was seen once or twice but evaded capture all day Tuesday. Wednesday morning he was traced to a farm house in Wyanette where the sheriff found him hidden under a bed. He was dragged out and taken to Princeton for a hearing. The watch not being found on his body was subsequently found hid under the bed at the farm house where he had placed it. At the hearing before Justice Norton at Princeton the defendant plead not guilty to the forgery charge, and asked for a continuance until today to secure an attorney, which was given. If the case is dismissed or he gets bail then it is probable that the warrant for stealing the watch will be served on him.