 MORE OBITUARIES AND ARTICLES  TRAGIC DEATH NEAR FLIPPEN The Mountain Echo-April 15, 1920 HOWARD DEASON On Friday of last week, Mrs. Will Marberry, who lives 5 miles northeast of Flippin received through the mail an envelope containing a hand embroidered bag in which were six pieces of homemade candy and a ladies handkerchief. When she opened the bag she passed the candy around to all present, among whom was Howard Deason, a young man about 19 years of age who was working for Mr. Marberry. He took a piece of candy and ate it, making a remark at the time about it being bitter. One of the other children gave him a piece of his candy, stating it was not bitter and that it would take the bitter taste out of his mouth. He then went to the garden and pulled a few onion blades which he ate to relieve the bitter taste. A few minutes later he came back to the house and he and Mr. Marberry started to the barn to feed and young Deason said he was getting sick and that he was turning blind. Mr. Marberry told him to go back to the house if he was sick. He went back and sat down on the porch. Mrs. Marberry noticed that he was getting in a bad condition and sent to the barn for Mr. Marberry and as soon as he got to the house he sent to Cotter for Dr. Morrow. But before the doctor arrived, the young man was dead, having had five convulsions before he died. Word was sent to Yellville and to Cotter at once, and Sheriff Flippen, Esquire Noe, Judge Black and Dr. Weast left Yellville at once for Mr. Marberry's home. Dr. Baldwin and a number of other parties also came out from Cotter. An inquest was conducted by Esq. Noe, the verdict being that death resulted from poison contained in the piece of candy he had eaten. It was the general opinon of all the doctors present, founded upon the symptoms as related by Mr. and Mrs. Marberry, that the poison was strychnine. But not being satisfied without having the facts, an autopsy was held by Drs. Weast and Baldwin. The envelope in which the candy was mailed was one that had been made at home. Around the edge was a scroll made with pen and ink, and on several places on the outside was written "April Fool". Not having any suspicions in regard to the package, when it was unwrapped the paper was thrown into the fire and burned, therefore this very important bit of evidence is destroyed. The package was mailed at Cotter and it is our understanding that the postmaster at that place says it was mailed in the box outside the office when the office was closed. There are probably some suspicions in regard to who sent this package to Mrs. Marberry, but up to the present time there is no substantial evidence on which to base any definite action by the authorities. When the report on the autopsy is received some steps will probably be taken to ascertain if possible the perpetrator of the deed. ( MY NOTE: In a later article, Mr. Marberry offered a reward for information of this crime. On Jan. 25th, 1921, Mrs. Mary Kreeger, former wife of William Marberry, was tried and acquitted of murder in the first degree, by the court of Marion Co., AR.) BACK TO DEASONS   |
