THE IDA SCHUSTER TRAGEDY Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by T. D. Hudson, 8/2001 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================= THE IDA SCHUSTER TRAGEDY ++ originally researched and compiled by T. D. Hudson in 2001 ++ revised in 2005 with the addition of the "Ouachita Telegraph" newspaper article submitted by Lora Peppers ================================================================================== INTRODUCTION: The story: sixteen year-old unwed Ida Schuster becomes pregnant, her twenty-seven year old boyfriend S. S. Kirkpatrick refuses to marry her, so the two of them want an abortion. The tragedy: when the young woman was in about her fifth or sixth month of pregnancy, after a local doctor refused to examine Ida and perform an abortion, Kirkpatrick left town early one Thursday morning. Soon after learning of his departure, Ida died of poisoning, either from the effects of an attempted abortion or suicide. The surprise: although it may sound like a modern-day soap-opera plot set in some fictional town of the latter 1900s that prohibits abortions, these events are quite real and occurred in Farmerville, Union Parish Louisiana, between April and September 1885. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== FAMILY BACKGROUND: Ida's father was Isaac Schuster, a Jewish man born 8 July 1827 in Bavaria (now Germany); her mother was Sarah, born about 1840, also in Bavaria (Judge Lewis of the "Advocate" spelled the surname "Shuster", but Isaac's tombstone in the Farmerville Cemetery has it as "Schuster"; I have used the spelling on the tombstone, thinking that it was erected by his widow or children and is probably the German spelling). The Schusters moved to North America by the latter 1850s, for their eldest child Samuel W. Schuster was born in Illinois about 1857. They were in Louisiana by 1859, when their second child Benjamin was born. Four other children followed in the 1860s: daughters Jenett (1861) and Helen (1863), son Marion (1867), and Ida (1869). In the 1860s Isaac Schuster settled his family in Union Parish and joined the substantial Jewish community in Farmerville. Between 1870 and 1880, another four children followed: Celestine (1871), Joseph (1874), and daughters Carrie (1876) and Rosetta (April 1880). The 1870 census listed Isaac Schuster as a peddler, but by 1880 he had become Farmerville's postmaster. In 1885, he also served as Farmerville's town clerk. Isaac Schuster died on 17 April 1903 and was buried in the Farmerville Cemetery. I have found no record of his wife's death or remarriage. Save for the articles published in the "Home Advocate", "Ouachita Telegraph", and "The Shreveport Daily Times" newspapers, Ida Schuster's sad story would likely be lost, for there is no marker for her in the Farmerville Cemetery nor any other record of her death in Farmerville. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== THE ARTICLES: The newspaper articles describe Ida's story in graphic detail for that era. Today, I think her name would be withheld to protect her privacy, given that she was a minor. The Farmerville "Home Advocate" and "The Shreveport Daily Times" newspapers carried information on this story; all of these articles are transcribed below exactly as they were printed in the original papers. The Farmerville "Gazette" also printed articles about it, although the original "Gazette" issue containing Ida's story does not exist. The "Ouachita Telegraph" reprinted the article published by the "Gazette". The articles begin by describing the tragedy of Ida's supposed suicide and portraying Kirkpatrick as a seducing villain who caused her death. Farmerville attorney John E. Everett, a correspondent for the "Times-Democrat", penned the first article, a piece that cast the blame for Miss Schuster's death entirely upon Kirkpatrick. Judge Thomas C. Lewis wrote a similar article for the "Home Advocate", one of Farmerville's local papers, immediately after her death. Everett's special was submitted, without his knowledge or consent, to and published in "The Shreveport Daily Times", then one of the newspapers with the highest circulation in Louisiana. Furious at this denunciation of his character, Kirkpatrick attempted to get Everett to retract, but Everett refused. After Kirkpatrick testified before a coroner's jury charged with investigating Ida's death, Everett did submit another article to the "Times", but it was in no sense a retraction. Everett merely published testimony made before the jury, material that made Kirkpatrick appear even more culpable than he already did. I have found no further newspaper articles on this matter after Everett's final piece. After 1885, the Schuster family remained in Farmerville until Isaac's death in 1903. Everett and his brother operated a thriving law practice in Farmerville, but he died in St. Louis in 1898 of yellow fever. I do not know what became of Kirkpatrick after 1885. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== The Shreveport Daily Times Tuesday, 15 September 1885, page 1 [Note: The author of this article was not given when this article was originally published, but as the later ones indicate, it was penned by Farmerville attorney and newspaper correspondent John Edgar Everett.] ================================================================================== FROM FARMERVILLE. A Beautiful Jewess, Treacherously Betrayed, Poisons Herself. Special to the Shreveport Times Farmerville, La., Sept. 14 - Miss Ida Shuster, a beautiful Jewess in our town, about fifteen years of age, ended her own life last Saturday night by taking strychnine. She sat in pleasant conversation with the family and company until about 10 o'clock, at which hour the family retired, all healthy and nonsuspecting. In about one hour the severe convulsions of Ida aroused her sister, who retired with her, and who immediately aroused the family. A physician was called and reached the bedside in but a few moments. Ida ordered him to neither approach or touch her, and before medical aid could be rendered, another convulsion seized upon her, and she passed away. Sunday morning Coroner C. H. Jemson [sic - Jameson] empanelled a jury of inquest, and after viewing the body of deceased, and hearing the testimony of Dr. Barnes, the attendant physician, and Mr. and Mrs. Shuster, the parents, the jury returned the following verdict: "That Ida Schuster came to her death on the night of September 12th produced by taking strychnine, supposed to have been administered by herself, procured from sources unknown to the jury." No reason could be assigned why the beautiful little girl should take her life, until the following facts had been elicited: About one year ago S. S. Kirkpatrick, a young man about 27 years of age, came to Farmerville and secured employment as a druggist in the drug store at this place, securing board in the family of this young lady. It was but a short time until he had won by his gentlemanly conduct the confidence of the family and made vows of love to this young girl. By his constant wooing he became the possessor of her ardent and most earnest devotions. Her promise to be his wife, and the central figure of her every young hope, confident of the persuasive power of his influence, over here, from his traitor's heart and lying lips fell his unfaithful promises of their certain and early union, thus persuading her to yield herself, her purity and her virtue to his brutal desires. Living in this satisfaction and her confiding submission until it was evident that the facts would become publicly known, he forfeited his honor and his vows to her by fleeing to parts unknown, leaving her in her shame and disgrace. Learning of his flight she took the fatal strychnine to relieve her troubles by ending the life thus blighted. Our town has mingled feelings of surprise, sadness and indignation. Many good citizens are frantic, and almost bloodthirsty for the villain, the betrayer of this young confidence, and her murderer. It is believed by many that he prepared the fatal dose for her. Further investigations are being made by the coroner and his jury. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Home Advocate Friday, 18 September 1885, page 2 ================================================================================== SUPPOSED SUICIDE. Perhaps a Murder. Sunday morning last intense excitement was caused at this place by the news that Miss Ida Shuster, a beautiful young Jewess, sixteen years of age, daughter of postmaster Isaac Shuster, had put an end to her own existence by taking strychnine. Miss Ida was a native of Farmerville and had been reared in our midst. She possessed an active mind and being of a studious nature she was generally foremost in her classes at school. Saturday night she was seemingly in her ordinary cheerful frame of mind, and was engaged in pleasant conversation with the family and a young gentleman visitor until about 10 o'clock, at which hour the family retired. In about an hour afterward the severe convulsions of Ida awakened an elder sister who occupied the bed with her, and who immediately aroused the family. Dr. W. W. Barnes, the family physician who lived near was called and he reached the bedside in a few minutes. This convulsion passed off and the young lady was rational for a few seconds but did not seem to realize her dangerous condition. She refused to take the medicines prescribed by the physician, and before further medical aid could be rendered another paroxysm seized her which resulted in her death. Sunday morning Dr. C. H. Jameson, Coroner, empanel[l]ed a jury of inquest, and "after viewing the body of dec'd, and after hearing the evidence of W. W. Barnes, M. D. and Mrs. Shuster, and the statement of Isaac Shuster" returned the following verdict: That Ida Shuster came to her death on the night of Sept. 12th, produced by taking strychnine, supposed to have been administered herself, procured from sources unknown to the jury. No reason could be assigned why the young lady should take her own life until the following facts were elicited: About one year ago, S. S. Kirkpatrick, a young man about twenty seven years of age, came to Farmerville and secured employment as druggist, he also secured board in the family of this young lady. The belief exists that by his assumed gentlemanly conduct, he won the confidence of the family; made vows of love to the young lady, and, by promise of an early matrimonial union, persuaded her to yield to his lecherous desires. On the other hand, it is asserted that no engagement of marriage ever existed between the parties, and that no satisfactory evidence of it has been produced. The truth or fallacy of these reports and assertions may, perhaps, be confirmed by future developments. It is certain, however, that Kirkpatrick left here early Thursday morning, and that the young lady died from the effects of strychnine soon after learning of his departure. This leads to the conclusion that his flight caused her to take the fatal drug to hid her shame and end her blighted life. The unfortunate young lady was interred in the Jewish cemetery at this place, at 4:30 p. m., Sunday. A large number of citizens attended her funeral, and had it not been for a misunderstanding as to the hour of burial there would have been a more general attendance. ================ The following telegram from Mr. W. S. B. Michiner, of Monroe, brother-in-law of Mr. S. S. Kirkpatrick - was received here, on Tuesday: "Has anything new developed? Give author of special to Shreveport Times of to-day. Notify blood thirsty citizens they can find Kirkpatrick. He has not fled as reported." There are no "blood-thirsty" citizens here, and any intimation to that effect is entirely gratuitous and unjust. Mr. Kirkpatrick's name is connected to some extent with the recent scandal. Abhorrence and some indignation was felt and expressed here at the bare thought of Miss Ida Shuster's death having resulted from wrong doing, but our people are law-abiding and, for the present, are deposed to accept the verdict rendered by the Coroner's jury as to the cause of her death. In case further developments make it apparent that the law has been violated, our citizens will aid in its speedy vindication. But we beg leave to assure Mr. Michiner that our people are not "blood thirsty." All the facts proper to publish, on connection with this unfortunate affair that we may be able to obtain will be given to the public through the columns of the HOME ADVOCATE; but our citizens are not blood thirsty. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== (page 3) The Kirkpatrick -Shuster scandal has created some little excitement in our otherwise quiet town, but we trust that differences of opinion will not lead to personal ill feeling. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== The Ouachita Telegraph Saturday, September 19, 1885 Page 3, Column 3 ================================================================================== The Famerville Scandal. Many of our citizens read on last Tuesday, a telegraphic dispatch in the Shreveport Times, coming from Farmerville, which sent a shudder of horror through them and kindled a flame of interest at the same time. The principals that figured in the subject were known to a majority of our people. The Shuster family were at one time residents of Monroe and S.S. Kirkpatrick had gone from this place when he took up his residence at Farmerville. The special to the Times was of a more daming a nature to Mr. Kirkpatrick than the account contained in the Farmerville gazette of the 16th, which we have felt called upon to reproduce, a careful perusal of which will give, according to what we have been led to believe by personal inquiry, a true insight to the circumstances connected with the scandal with its sad sequel. Ida Shuster was a young Jewess in her seventeenth year. She had been raised and educated in our town and was well known to be a girl retiring in her manner, but possessing a quick and active mind. As a pupil in our schools she was noted for her studious habits. Her teacher placed her among the best scholars in the several schools attended. She was not beautiful, but her attractive manners rendered her popular. At an early age she was permitted to receive calls from young gentlemen, and accompany them to dancing parties and other amusements. During last winter she was frequently attended by Mr. S. S. Kirkpatrick, a popular young druggist of our town. He was a boarder in the family and consequently the two young people saw each other daily. A mutual affection for each other was apparently fostered, and developed, on the part of the unfortunate girl, into a strong love. Last Thursday morning Mr. Kirkpatrick left our town. On Saturday evening Ida Shuster learned that his departure was permanent. After learning this fact she was in the company of her sister and a young gentleman who was calling, until about 10 o’clock p.m. There was no apparent depression of spirit on the part of Ida although she complained of a slight headache. Shortly after 10, she retired to her room, occupied by herself and older sister. When the elder sister went to her room to retire for the night she found Ida sleeping or apparently asleep, in bed. About 11 o’clock the older sister was awakened by Ida who was striking with her arms. She thought Ida had a spasm and called her mother who was sleeping in an adjoining room. Dr. Barnes, living one block away from the residence of Mr. Shuster, was called at once. As soon as he got to the bedside of the unfortunate girl he said to her mother, “Where did she get strychnine.” He found her in a convulsion the body bent in a bow like form, being arched on the back and resting on the head and heels. He quickly asked for warm water. The convulsion passed off and the girl was rational but refused to take any medicine from her attending physician. Before warm water could be procured another convulsion succeeded the first. The tetanic symptoms produced by strychnine were apparent in this convulsion. It was her last; she never recovered from it. Death had claimed her whether as a suicide or a victim of murder can not be determined at this time. On Sunday morning the citizens were startled, when the death of Ida Shuster was announced. On Main street, men in groups were discussing her death and the probable cause which led to it. Her associations with Mr. S.S. Kirkpatrick seemed to be generally known, and the suspicion that her relations with him, when she found that he had deserted her, had prompted her to commit suicide was freely expressed by several persons. Others thought her incapable of voluntarily destroying herself, and that the fatal drug had been given to her under representations that it would have the effect to shield her from shame. This last suspicion prompted the coroner, Dr. Jameson, to summon a jury and hold an inquest over the body of the dead girl. The following citizens were selected by the coroner: W.W. Barnes, M.D., W.N. Grace, M.D., Saxon Dillard, M.D., J.M. Rabun and J. F. Trimble. They, with the coroner, proceeded to the residence of Mr. Isaac Shuster and after making as thorough an investigation as possible of the causes of death, rendered a verdict that Ida Shuster came to her death by poison administered to herself and procured from parties unknown. On Monday the coroner furnished additional evidence for the jury to consider. The purport of this evidence has not been made public. A further investigation, it is believed, will be made before the case is finally disposed of by the coroner. When looking upon her dead body last Sunday morning we could only repeat Hood’s well known verses: One more unfortunate Weary of breath, Rashly importunate Gone to her death. Touch her not scornfully, Think of her mournfully, Gently and humanely, All that remains of her Now is pure, womanly. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Home Advocate Friday, 16 October 1885 page 3 ================================================================================== Mr. Jas. Rabun, Capt. Jno. M. Rabun and Mr. S. S. Kirkpatrick arrived in town from Monroe Wednesday evening. The latter comes for the purpose of appearing before the coroner's jury in regard to the Ida Shuster suicide. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Home Advocate Friday, 23 October 1885, page 2 ================================================================================== THE IDA SHUSTER SUICIDE. Coroner's Jury again in Session. The original verdict not changed. Synopsis of S. S. Kirkpatrick's Testimony. The Coroner's jury was again convened on Monday last for the purpose of further investigating the mystery connected with the death of Miss Ida Shuster at this place, on the 12th September. While the evidence adduced fails to criminate any one as accessory to her death, and, therefore, does not justify the jury in changing the verdict they had rendered, it tends to confirm the opinion that the suicide was not the result of a voluntary, matured determination on the part of the young lady to put an end to her existence. Mr. S. S. Kirkpatrick, whose name has been mentioned in connection with this sad affair, promptly appeared before the jury and testified in a straight-forward, explicit manner as to the facts within his knowledge. Our space will not permit the publication of the entire evidence, neither do we deem it important that we should do so; but, in justice to Mr. Kirkpatrick and others concerned, we append the substance of his - Mr. K's - testimony: "S. S. Kirkpatrick sworn, says: I was acquainted with Miss Ida Shuster. I do not know of her having any poison administered. She never asked me to prepare poison for her. She expressed no desire to end her life after becoming aware of her condition. I knew her condition for three or four months; during this time I believe she asked me to prepare, or procure her medicine to produce an abortion. I procured none to have that effect. When she made these requests she did not threaten to end her life in case I did not procure the medicine. I do not know of my own knowledge or from any source what caused her death. I never promised to marry Miss Ida. I had conversations with Ida the latter part of April or the first of May, and she informed me of her condition. I then asked her if her mother knew it and she said not. I told her to notify her mother and that I would do all I could to shield her shame. She notified me the night following that she had so informed her mother. I never advised her to have an abortion produced. I left that entirely with her. I was the druggist in this town. Ida, nor any member of the Shuster family, ever procured of my knowledge any extract of cotton root or ergot from my drugstore. I did not carry a vial of extract of cotton root to Ida. A few days before I left here I prepared it at her instance. She stated that she wanted it to try to produce an abortion. I sat the vial on a table in my room in the drug-store, and I think Jas. Underwood emptied it in the original bottle. She asked me to bring it but I declined to do so. I do not know nor have I any way of accounting for Ida's knowledge of the effects of this medicine except that her mother had some Medical works in the house. The night before I left here I said to some one to let me know if anything happened at Shuster's. I requested this because I naturally inferred and believed that her mother would make an effort to produce an abortion. I inferred this from no real cause further than that Mrs. Shuster had a knowledge of her daughter's condition, and that she attempted to force me to a marriage contract with her daughter. I had carried no medicine to the Shuster family a few days before I left; it might be that I carried a box of pills or magnesia. I have not the slightest idea what caused Ida's death. =================== page 3 Having purchased the Drugs of the late firm of S. S. Kirkpatrick & Co., I am now prepared to fill all orders in this line. JACOB STEIN ================================================================================== ================================================================================== The Shreveport Daily Times Tuesday, 15 September 1885, page 4 ================================================================================== THE SHUSTER AFFAIR. A Card From Mr. S. S. Kirkpatrick. To the Times. Monroe, La. Oct. 12, 1885 - A special dispatch from Farmerville to the Shreveport Times, which appeared in the daily issue of that journal on the 15th of September last, and which made against me such wanton and malicious charges, was so unjust and untruthful that I immediately wrote the following letter to the editor of that paper: Monroe, La., September 16, 1885 - Editor Shreveport Times, Shreveport, La. - Dear Sir: A special to your paper from Farmerville, La, which appeared in your issue of the 15th inst., is most flagrantly unjust, and from its tenor is calculated to do me serious harm. I deny the truthfulness of said special and request that by return mail you communicate to me the name of its author. I am most respectfully, your obedient servant, S. S. KIRKPATRICK. The courteous editor, C. McD. Puckette, at once responded as follows: Shreveport, La., Sept. 17, 1885 - S. S. Kirkpatrick, Monroe, La. - My Dear Sir: Your letter of 16th to hand. It is our custom to give the names of special correspondents in case any wrong has been done. The special from Farmerville was signed J. E. Everette [sic]. I do not know the gentleman personally, though presume he is now in Farmerville. If he has done you an injury I feel assured he will rectify it as far as possible and any corrections he my make shall appear in our columns if forwarded to us. Yours, etc., C. McD. Puckette Editor Shreveport Times On receipt of this letter I wrote Mr. J. E. Everette [sic] under cover to my friend D. M. Ramsey, Esq, for personal delivery the following letter: Monroe, La., September 26, 1885 - Mr. J. E. Everette, Farmerville, La. - Sir: An exceedingly grave charge and unwarranted injustice having been made against and done me in a special to the Shreveport Times which appeared in the daily issue of that paper, on the 15th inst., I at once wrote to the editor of that journal and requested the name of the author of said special. C. McD. Puckette, Esq., editor, promptly replied and in a communication dated 17th September, gave me your name as the author of the special referred to. I cannot think that you would have intentionally done me so grave a wrong; yet you did it through the public press and in papers of the widest circulation in our State. Through the same papers, therefore, and in a similar special, I demand that the wrong be repaired and that over your signature justice be done me. I would respectfully call your attention to the parts of said special which is without foundation in fact and which tended to influence the popular mind against me, and was calculated, without denial, to do me serious harm. 1. You state in substance that it was but a short while until he, I, secured the confidence of the family and made vows of love to the young girl and obtained her promise to be his, my, wife, etc., and thus from his, my, traitor heart and lying, etc., induced her to yield herself, etc., to his, my brutal desire. 2. He, I, forfeited his, my, honor and vows to her, and fleeing to parts unknown he, I, let her to her shame and disgrace. 3. It is believed by many that he prepared the fatal dose for his, my, victim. The above assertions and inferences deducible therefrom I pronounce unqualifiably false and untrue and I further assert that the various investigations of the sad occurrence by the coroner's jury of Union parish shows that said special on the subjects referred to is without foundation in fact or truth. You being the author of the special referred to, I call upon you in this way to do me the justice, in the same public channels and over your signature. I shall expect an immediate reply. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant. S. S. KIRKPATRICK. P. S. - My personal friend, D. M. Ramsey, is authorized to the event of your retraction, to examine the special, which you may prepare. I shall expect that you accord to him this privilege, K. Mr. Ramsey informed me in a communication dated 29th of September that he had delivered my letter to Mr. J. E. Everette in person who declined to respond in writing, though requested Mr. Ramsey to communicate to me certain verbal messages as follows: "I refuse to send special as dictated by him, though think it advisable for him to come up and clear up by evidence before the coroner's jury the reports that have been published against him, as he has the right to vindicate himself before the jury and dispel any charges against him. I further state that I will not be forced to retract any statement that I have made. I claim to report for the Times-Democrat only, and disclaim having authorized the special sent to the Shreveport Times as my report to that paper." As one of these messages seemed an apparent denial of his (Everette's) having authorized the publication of the special referred to in the Shreveport Times, I again wrote Mr. Ramsey as follows. Monroe, La., Oct. 2, 1885 - My Dear Ramsey: Your favor of 29th ultimate was received yesterday evening. I have carefully noted its contents. Mr. J. E. Everette in his verbal assertions to you seems to deny his responsibility for the special which appeared in the Shreveport Times on the 15th of September last. This he must do in writing in a communication addressed to me denying that he was the author of the special referred to. Mr. Everette's suggestions that I appear before the coroner's jury and exculpate myself with reference to the grave charges made against me by him, if he be author of the special referred to, is entirely gratuitous on his part. I disclaim his right to prefer such calumnious charges and leave them to the arbitrament of any tribunal. If the coroner's jury had deemed my testimony of importance in the sad affair which they were called together to investigate, they would have summoned me. They doubtless knew my whereabouts. I have not concealed myself, as you and many of my friends know. My voluntary appearance before them would necessarily appear not only to them but to others an intrusion on my part, and lead to the inference that by my own testimony I was seeking a verdict at their hands on subjects entirely beyond and outside the matter which they had been called together to investigate, to wit: The cause of death, etc. I cannot conceive that upon any testimony the coroner's jury would have consented outside and beyond their duties to have made a report exculpating myself or any individual from the grave assertion against my good name, which dears (?) in such approbrious [sic - opprobrious] epithets as liar, traitor, villain, brute, etc. I here say that had the coroner's jury deemed my evidence of importance in their investigation of the cause of the death of Miss Ida Shuster, I would unhesitatingly have responded to their summons to appear before them and testify. Mr. Everett having refused to refute the slanderous charges preferred against me by him if he be the author of the special in question, which I infer from your letter he denies, I simply ask that he in writing in a communication addressed to me will make a positive and unequivocal denial that he was the author of the special which appeared in the Shreveport Times on the 15th of September last. Will you as my friend please present this, my ultimatum, to him? You can readily conceive why I cannot again address Mr. J. E. Everette directly. Your friend sincerely, S. S. KIRKPATRICK. And received from him the following reply: Farmerville, La., Oct, 1885. - Mr. S. S. Kirkpatrick, Monroe, La., - Dear Kirk: Your underdate of 2nd instant to hand. I called on Mr. Everette to-day and submitted same to him. After reading your letter he simply replied that he had said all that he had to say with this exception. He requested me to say to you that he wrote the piece as appeared in the Shreveport Times, though wrote it expressly for the Times-Democrat, and disclaims having instructed it sent to any other paper. I have been quite unwell for the past few days; else should have attended to this matter earlier. As ever. D. M. RAMSEY. I think that my foregoing communications will evidence the fact to all fair-minded people that I have endeavored by all honorable means to clear my name from the calumnious charges preferred against me in said special and that this communication for the public is forced upon me. I would not tax the public on a subject so sad as the death of Miss Ida Shuster which has so frequently appeared in the papers throughout the State and the connection of my name therewith by means of the special above referred to, had not serious injustice and willful misrepresentation been done and made against me. It is deeply regretted by me that I am thus forced to perhaps wound the feelings of friend and family by reference to this sad occurrence, but the good name which I have always borne demands that in justice to myself and those allied to me by ties of affection and relationship, that I should in this public way denounce the untruthfulness of the slanderous charges preferred against me. That I may have committed errors in my associations with Miss Shuster, I do not deny; at the same time I solemnly assert that I am absolutely guiltless of having seduced the girl or robbed her of her virtue. I never at any time gave her a promise of marriage, or by any engagement led her to believe that she would become my wife. Whilst I cannot, as a gentleman claim that in this matter I have been more sinned against than sinning, yet I do emphatically say that the character of the intimate relations existing between the young lady and myself was not a secret to more than one or those connected with her by kindred ties. As to the circumstances of her death, a coroner's jury composed of as reputable men and of good citizens as there are in Union parish have passed and acted. My name, so far as I am able to ascertain, was not connected in any wise therewith. Their report, however, will speak for itself. At the same time of being in any manner the cause of her untimely death, I hold myself absolutely guiltless. I beg pardon of the people for being thus forced in vindication of myself to speak of or allude to this sad occurrence. In conclusion, I assert that Mr. John E. Everette, the author of said special, and I so brand him, is a willful and malicious calumniator, a falsifier and a liar. And I further denounce him by reason of his not having responded to my written communication, as being utterly devoid of all gentlemanly instincts, a coward and a poltroon, and I, in this public way, so denounce and brand him. I further charge that when he in his said special referred to the young lady as a girl of 14 or 15, when in truth she was near 17 years old, that he knew he was uttering a willful and malicious falsehood, and did so with the intent only of influencing the popular mind against me. No further newspaper correspondence will be noticed by me. I am ready, however, to hold myself responsible for all assertions contained in this card. S. S. KIRKPATRICK. Monroe, La., Nov. 6, 1885. - My above card was prepared and ready for publication when I received a letter from Dr. C. H. Jameson, the coroner of Union parish, requested that I appear as a witness before the coroner's jury. I immediately went to Farmerville and testified before the jury. While there Mr. Everette solicited an interview with me. I granted his request, and he in presence of Capt. John Rabin [sic - Captain John M. Rabun, then the Mayor of Farmerville], promised that in a special to the Times-Democrat he would, over his own signature, correct the original special and place me in a proper light before the public. He has failed to do so. I therefore reiterate the assertion contained in my card, and at the same time state that my residence is now in Homer, La., where any communication will reach me. S. S. KIRKPATRICK. ================================================================================== ================================================================================== Home Advocate Friday, 4 December 1885 page 3 ================================================================================== THE SHUSTER AFFAIR. [Article copied from:] (Shreveport Times) FARMERVILLE. Nov. 18, 1885. I notice a card headed "The Shuster Affair," appearing in your columns on the 15th inst., in which the pretended author attempts to justify himself in his connection with the betrayal, seduction and death of Ida Shuster solely by public denunciation of me, and without relying upon the facts for his mitigation. I have no objection whatever to Kirkpatrick explaining away, if possible for him, the circumstances which point to his criminal guilt, nor to his convincing the public of his innocence of this black disgrace he has brought upon himself. In justice to myself, that the public may properly judge whether I have acted honorable or dishonorable, I am now forced to give at least a few of the convincing facts connected with this affair, and upon which the special of September 15 was based. At the autopsy the jury, with four physicians, returned the verdict, "that Ida Shuster came to her death by strychnine procured from sources unknown." Following is a short extract from the evidence of some of the witnesses before the investigating jury: Mrs. Shuster sworn: Ida could not get strychnine at home. We had a bottle but was always very cautious in keeping it locked from the children. The night Ida died she sat with the family and company in her usual pleasant conversation until 10 o'clock, then retired as usual. Nothing unusual was noticed. (Corroborated by other witnesses) Jas. M. Underwood, clerk in drug store, sworn: Kirkpatrick told me some four or five months ago that he had intercourse with Ida. Said he would always go in disguise. He told me of her pregnancy and that he had caused it. Kirk was working up some medicine some two or three months ago; I asked him what it was for, and he said it was pills for Ida. I saw a bottle of fluid extract of cotton root on Kirk's table and I emptied it in the bottle in drug store. I heard Kirkpatrick say he wanted to get a physician to procure an abortion on Ida. I have seen him send medicine to Shuster's but don't know what for. He told me he had made arrangements with Ida to go out of town and have a physician examine her, and he said Ida said she had told her mother and she objected. Kirkpatrick told me, when about leaving, to let him know if anything happened at Shuster's. Abe Stein (K's partner in drug store) sworn: Kirkpatrick told me of Ida's pregnancy. He told me he did not want it known that he was going to leave (The witness bought out K's business.) Dr. Dillard sworn: I saw Kirkpatrick fixing up medicine; don't know what it was, but believe it to be medicine to bring about abortion. Dr. Barnes sworn: I was called in the night Ida died; she died of strychnine is my opinion; Kirkpatrick had previously told me she was pregnant, and asked me the effects of certain drugs; he said he promised to protect her; he asked my assistance some two or three months ago; he reiterated this request the night before he left; he consulted me about secretly meeting him and Ida out of town some evening, and while out to cause her to abort; I refused; I saw a note some time ago in Kirkpatrick's possession of about this purport. "Mr. Kirkpatrick: The medicine you sent me did not have the desired effect; please send me something to relieve my trouble or end my life." (signed) IDA SHUSTER. The above are a few of the facts and circumstances too [?] and too indecent to be mentioned. Ida was dead in less than forty eight hours after Kirkpatrick left. It must be remembered, too, that Kirkpatrick left in the night after 21 [sic] o'clock. With these facts, and hearing of the slanderous report coming from his own lips that his efforts of outrage was not confined to that one who fell his victim, and knowing, too, that he had left this place, and would impose himself upon some other community, perhaps other innocent young girls, I wrote the special and correctly branded him as a robber of maiden virtue. It was due the public and society in which he might chance to impose himself that ample warning be given to prevent any undue advantage of intrusions he might attempt. I gave his name and character to the public - not through personal animosity - but for public good and the protection of other innocent young girls, for such was truly the facts borne out by evidence, which paints his character blacker than hell itself, all of which would be given herewith if not too indecent for public print. It is sufficient for me to convince the public that I was borne out by facts. The special was submitted to some of the jury before it was sent, and I had their assurance that it was correct and borne out by facts. It was the opinion of every good citizen we have, without an exception, and received their approval. I did not send the special to the Shreveport TIMES and can account for its going to that paper over my signature in this way: E. S. Harris, the TIMES correspondent, asked my permission to copy my report to the Times-Democrat as his report for the Shreveport TIMES. In copying the report he signed my name instead of his own. Kirkpatrick, failing in his efforts to force me to retract, secured a guarantee that he could return to Farmerville and show the true facts before the jury. I agreed that if he would return and show up the matter I would report it to the Times-Democrat exactly as the facts warranted me, refusing to retract, but agreeing to correct my previous report to conform with the further facts. This I have done in as favorable light to him as could possibly be done and be truthful. If Ida's relatives knew of their intimacy it is strange also that he should visit her in disguise, and desire to secretly carry her from home for an examination. I am willing for the public to say whether or not the facts sustain me, and am willing for the facts to brand Kirkpatrick with such names as he deserves. It is a fact that I refused to communicate with him, and it was because I could not equalize myself with him. I deny seeking an interview with him. I seek better company. This I give for the public, in justice to myself. Kirkpatrick being beneath my notice. All the facts in this matter can be learned at this place. My standing can be learned wherever I am known. Hoping this is sufficient, I am respectfully, JOHN E. EVERETT. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FARMERVILLE. Nov. 21, 1885 - To the Times: We the undersigned citizens of Farmerville, Union parish, La., having noticed in the Shreveport TIMES of date Novembe4 15, 1885, a card signed by S. S. Kirkpatrick, in which he attacks the character of Mr. John Everett, of Farmerville, and indulges in bitter denunciations against him, and fearing that possibly where Mr. Everett is not known said card may have a tendency to injure him, we deem it our duty to say that Mr. Everett is a young man a native of this parish, whose character for honesty and integrity is above reproach, and whose veracity is unimpeachable; a more honorable, worthy young man is not in our parish, and we further state that we believe in writing the special that was published in the Shreveport TIMES of September 15, in regard to the Shuster scandal, he was actuated by laudable motives. We make this statement without any solicitation on the part of Mr. Everett: W. W. Heard, Representative J. M. Smith, Clerk court B. F. Pleasant, Sheriff B. Honeycutt J. A. Manning J. A. Ramsey, at'ty at law R. Haas, J. O. F. Johnson T. C. Lewis John Donley C. H. Jameson, M.D. W. N. Grace, M.D. D. Patton B. B. Heller D. Arent M. Haas E. S. Harris W. A. McFarland J. F. Ramsey F. Selig I. Newhouser T. J. Heath R. B. Dawkins S. Marx J. K. Atkinson J. C. Montgomery, Dpt'y Sheriff M. I. Levy Jas. W. McFarland H. Ludwig W. P. Chandler Jas. W. Pickel Jno. M. Lee, Sr. M. Guehring G. A. Killgore, Jr., attorney W. J. Turnage M. Pearson W. J. Pickel O. C. Dawkins Wm. Turnage Julius Arent J. P. Fenton J. M. Lee, Jr., assessor George Fenton S. D. Rosenfield W. W. Barnes, M.D. [Note: The above names include most of the elected officials of Union Parish and Farmerville, the local doctors, lawyers, judges, store owners, etc.] # # #