A transcription of an article from the June 1st, 1882 Weekly Herald, Silver Cliff, Colorado, and two handwritten letters, one from Mr. Truax to Mrs. Truax, and one From Mrs. Truax to her sister announcing the death.
Weekly Herald, June 1, 1882- This morning it was rumored that one of our citizens by the name of John C. Truax had died of an overdose of morphine, and a Herald reporter at once visited the home of the above named man, on first street below Hudson, and found the awful reality. There he lay on a bed in the back part of the house stiff and cold in death. On making inquiry of some of the neighbors that lived in that vicinity, we found that Mr. Truax has been in poor health and had taken that morphine to soothe his pain which had caused his end about nine o’clock this morning.
The deceased had been in the habit of taking chloroform for some time past, and the evidence was to the effect that he had taken it last fall and occasionally since. G.A. Truax stated that at that time she took part of a bottle from him while he was under its influence, and also he did the same thing several times since.
Mrs. Ada Truax, wife of deceased, stated that at times while in pain, as he suffered from rheumatism, he would saturate his pocket handkerchief with chloroform and lay down and go to sleep. He worked hard and was out late at nights and thought he used it to produce sleep. Had noticed how it worked on him and began to be alarmed, and had forbidden the druggists to sell it to him, but by some means or other he had it and she believes got it from other parties whom he would furnish money to bring it to him. Mrs. Truax said he has taken as high as six grains of morphine before.
As to the cause of his immediate death and the manner we only know that Tuesday night he went to the city drug store with a prescription for his wife, given by Dr. Shoemaker, and while their[sic] asked for some chloroform, and received it on the strength of his wife’s sickness and on stating it was for her. He kept this quiet at home and on the sly -as he knew she would object- took part and slept some. When he awoke yesterday, he asked his wife and another lady to go the store for morphine, but both positively refused. When in this semi-crazy state he would get angry, so much so that Mrs. Truax, being ill herself went to another house for a time, and afterwards sent a note by a boy for 2 grain powders of morphine. Mrs. Truax said she made a mistake and should have asked for half grain powders. A note was returned with the drug cautioning her on the size.
Mr. Truax, last night took half a powder and went to bed. Mrs. Truax also talking about one-half the balance of the same powder and also went to bed sleeping at the front side so as to be sure as to watch him. However in the night, she awoke and saw him up at the stand, by the bedside and spoke to him, asking him what he was doing. He got into bed again and about five o’clock this morning and he was there the second time taking something. She (Mrs. T) said, “John, what are you taking? be careful and not take too much.” Deceased laughed and replied “if he took too much she had money enough to bury him” and went to bed.
Mrs. Truax was awakened shortly after by hearing his heart beating loudly, and the dreadful thought then broke upon her. She immediately got up and gave him some liquor and aroused the neighbors, and Dr. Shoemaker was sent for, but at his arriving there about 6:30, there was no hope. He was in too weak a state to take an emetic and consequently breathed his last a few moments before nine this morning. The coroner empaneled a jury of six men and an inquest was held at 11:30 today. Several witnesses were examined and from the evidence that was there brought out, the only verdict that could be given was that death was caused by his own hands and mistaken judgment.
The deceased has been a citizen of Silver Cliff for some time, and at one time was in business as a blacksmith on Main street, near Dirigo stables, but of late has been working at his trade for Mr. Stewart. He leaves a wife and one little child to mourn his loss.
Letter from Mr. Truax to Mrs. Truax, Sept. 25, 188(1?), Written on His Business Letterhead-
My dear Wife I am now able to write a little am considered better had my things fairly well settled up and was going to-start-east-soon when I was taken very sick the fact is I cannot stand this climate Mrs Fay wrote to you she lived close to wheir[sic] I was sick I ____ good care and shall from now on pain in strength and just as soon as ____ able to travel well go east I have been all day writing this and will write you in a day as soon ____ I would like a letter so well think of ____ J.C. Truax
Letter from Mrs. Truax to Florence Green, Swanton Falls, Vermont, June 2, 1882-
Dear Sister ____ I tell you that I am a lone widow John died yesterday morning at half past 8 oclock the ____ followed him to his last resting place this afternoon at two oclock pray for me Florence for my home is so dessolate[sic] good by your afflicted Sister AE Truax
The Rosita Museum 