Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Dr. Henry Riley, 1909
Thursday, 02 October 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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RILEY, HENRY
(17 Feb 1909, Elk City Record, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
Dr. Henry Riley a former resident of this city committed suicide at the
home of Mrs. M. I. Cox in El Reno Tuesday morning, and according to the
daily papers he had nothing to live for, that his wife had threatened to
ruin him and his practice and in a fit of despondency ended his life.
The facts are too well known here to make comment necessary, further than
the trouble between him and his wife was of such a nature as to be well
known by their former neighbors at this place, and those who are well
acquainted with the circumstances are not disposed to believe the report
that Mrs. Riley had anything to do with his late unhapyiness (sic).
Dr. Riley had been a resident of Elk City for several years, had moved
from this place to El Reno several months ago, he leaves a daughter, Mrs.
Boon of Bowie, Texas and a son at Rush Springs, Oklahoma, the body was
shipped to Plattsburg, Missouri, for interment.
(18 Feb 1909, Elk City Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
Dr. Henry Riley ended his life in El Reno Tuesday night by taking carbolic
acid.  For some time Dr. Riley has been melancholy and morbid, and the end
comes as a climax not unexpected by some.
Prior to his death he had confided to his landlady, Mrs. Cox, that life
had become a burden to him and the strain unbearable.  A few months ago,
Dr. Riley moved from Elk City to El Reno, where he opened an office and
started to practice medicine.  His separation from his wife and children
seemed to prey upon his mind, until he came to the point where life
indeed, was a burden.
Dr. Riley was a pioneer of Elk City and well known in Beckham County and
Western Oklahoma, having resided here for many years.
Dr. Riley's remains were taken to Plattsburg, Mo., his old home for
interment.
(18 Feb 1909, Thursday, Sayre Standard, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Dr. Henry Riley, who was for several years a resident of Elk City, and
held the office of coroner of Roger Mills county, committed suicide
Tuesday in El Reno by taking carbolic acid.  He was in his room at a
boarding house when he swallowed the poison which ended his life.
Mrs. Cox stated that the doctor who had roomed at her house in El Reno and
in Elk City for several years, told her repeatedly during the past few
days that he intended to kill himself and yesterday she hid his revolver. 
A few hours before his death he asked her for the revolver, stating that
he intended to "go over the divide."  She tried to quiet him, but before
she left him he swallowed a number of morphine tablets and asked her to
fix his bed, as he desired to sleep.  She prepared the bed and as she was
leaving the room Dr. Riley emptied a bottle of carbolic acid into a teacup
and before Mrs. Cox could prevent it he drank nearly all of it.
The woman ran to the telephone and summoned help, but before she returned
to his bedside the physician had become unconscious and lived but a short
time.
Dr. Riley was 59 years of age.  He went to El Reno from Elk City three or
four months ago.  He had domestic troubles which made him despondent.  His
wife left him about three years ago.  She is now in Denison, Texas.  Dr.
Riley leaves a son at Rush Springs and a daughter, Mrs. Boone in Bowie,
Texas.   The body was shipped to Plattsburg, Missouri for interment.

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