Submitted by
Loyd Bishop

Funeral Thursday For Poison Draft Suicide

Funeral services for Roy Earl Loper, 54 whose death by poison occurred early Tuesday, will be held at Porter’s funeral home at 2 p.m., Thursday, with Rev, Bert Williams, pastor of the United Brethren Church, officiating.
Burial will be in the I.O.O.F cemetery.
Death by poison administered by his own hand was the verdict of the coroner’s jury conducted by Charles Buhrman, justice of the peace.
This jury was composed of Guy Larkland, Art Bringham and R. F. Crotts, Blackwell, Lyle Noll and D.M. Lemarr of Braman, and Harry Bain of Newkirk.
Acting Chief Ed Jewsbury, first arrived on the scene after Loper’s body was discovered at this room, 501 ½ North Main; was the only witness and testified concerning notes left and displayed the bottle of poison found at the bedside.
Loper left notes giving instructions as to the disposal of this body, and to wind up his business affairs.
He had lived in Blackwell for a number of years, and previously had been employed on farms in the Nardin and Round Grove communities.
His wife is Mrs. Florence Loper, the only known survivor.