Updated: 07 Sep 2009
The Oklahoma City Times
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
March 9, 1908
Tired of Life, He Takes Acid
Dr. S. N. Earp, Wealthy Physician of Foss, Oklahoma
Loses Money in Gambling House and then Ends His Career
Had Divorced Wife
"I am tired of life and have just taken some carbolic acid."
Such was the matter-of-fact announcement of Dr. S. N. Earp, prominent and
wealthy physician of Foss, Oklahoma, who committed suicide at 11:30 o'clock last
night in Tom & Joe's restaurant, 16 South Broadway.
He had been in Oklahoma City since yesterday morning en route from form a
business trip to Amarillo and had lost a small amount of money at a local
gambling house. He had also been drinking to a considerable extent during the
day.
Just what prompted the act cannot be ascertained, but it is thought that
domestic tribulations augmented by a genuine disgust because of his drinking and
gambling propensities caused him to commit the deed. He had been in the
association of William Boyer since his arrival here. At the Southern Club, he
had gambled away a small amount of money and left for a lunch at Tom & Joe's
restaurant. Upon entrance, he called for a glass of milk and quietly emptied one
ounce of the deadly fluid into it. He then drank the death-producing draught and
died before medical assistance could arrive.
Justice William H. Zwick, acting coroner, who was summoned immediately after Dr.
W. M. Hubbard pronounced the physician dead, ordered the body removed to the
Marshall undertaking establishment where it will remain pending advices (sic)
from relatives in Foss. An inquest was considered unnecessary.
Dr. Earp, according to J. H. Earp, the real estate dealer of Oklahoma City, and
a distant relative of the dead man, came to Oklahoma from Texas. He is about 35
years old and has a divorced wife and three children residing in Ardmore.
His present wife is living in Foss, but has not been advised of her husband's
death.
The dead man is not over 35 years of age and was admitted to practice medicine
in Corsicana, Texas. He removed to Oklahoma and has resided in various cities,
accumulating a large practice and considerable wealth. In height he was about 6
feet, smooth shaven, brown-eyed and rather handsome.
[note by submitter of obit - S. N. Earp, MD was my great-grandfather, Shedrick
Newton Earp. He was the last child of John Wesley and Linna White Earp and was
born on October 25, 1868, in Polk County, Arkansas. As far as the family knows,
he never lived in Foss. His father was living in Foss at this time. S. N. was
buried in the Berwin Cemetery, Carter County, Oklahoma.]
Source: OKBits
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