John F. Miller, a moulder by occupation, took poison some time Sunday evening with suicidal intent, and despite the efforts of the physicians, the dose proved fatal. Miller expired at 12:30 this morning at his home on Clark Avenue. Miller was 37 years old and a native of this city. For the past seven years he worked at Rockford and returned to Freeport three months ago. He had been out of work for some time and grew despondent and discouraged, which no doubt led to his committing the rash act. He parted from his wife about a week ago, as he could not support her. Her maiden name was sadie shirk and they were married ten years ago. A girl seven years of age is the result of the union.

This morning Coroner Dietrich was informed of Miller's death and he empaneled the following jury for the purpose of holding and inquest; H.F. Rockey, J.W. Geib, Henry F. Lawson, Chas. Beck,Orrin Crocker and Wilbur Crocker. Mrs. Miller was the first witness to testify. She the first she noticed anything wrong with her husband was between 7 and 8 o'clock Sunday evening. He spit blood and seemed to be suffering terribly. I asked him what he took and he replied quinine, and said he got the quinine in Rockford. We tried to coax him to tell us the truth about what he had taken but he would not. Just before the holidays e threatened to take his life. I had left him at Rockford and came to Freeport and he said if I did not live with him he would kill himself. He had purchased poison and showed it to me. I went back to him and left him again lat Tuesday.

Dr. E.J. Torey, who was called to see Miller, testified as follows; I was called about 7:30 last evening to see Miller. I found him lying on a sofa and he complained of feeling chilly, but would not talk a great deal. He said on the previous night he had taken quinine about 16 grains, but had frequently taken as higha s 20 grains. Believe his death was due ot poison as there were no indications of quinine from the start. Dr. Mease testified that he called to see Miller at 12 o'clock last night and did what he could for the patient, but he was then beyond medical aid and died soon afterwards. The doctor gave it as his opinion that death wa due to poison. Dr. Stoskopf, who conducted the post mortem examination testified that he found poison in the system and thought Miller might have taken "rough on rats". After listening to the testimony the jury returned a verdict of death by poison with suicidal intent.
Contributed by Al Morgan - From the Freeport Daily Journal 19 February 1894