Gardner was well-known in South Omaha, having worked for two or three druggists, and also the Allbery Printing Company. For the last few months he has been in the habit of sniffing chloroform when he went to bed in order to make him sleep. He stated to friends that he did this in order to relieve him of pain caused by a rupture. By using the drug he found that sleep came easily. It is supposed that he fell asleep before he had time to place the vial on the stand next to his bed. When found young Gardner had an empty vial tightly clasped in his right hand with the mouth of the vial close against his nose. The idea of suicide is scouted by the friends of Gardner. Mrs. Allbery has known for a number of months that her son was in the habit of using chloroform. Besides the vial held in his hand, there was a three ounce bottle labeled chloroform on the dresser in the room. When Dr. Slabaugh arrived he stated that Gardner had been dead for several hours. It was only a day or two ago that Gardner made arrangements with Dr. Slabaugh for an operation.

The deceased carried $300 insurance in the Prudential company, but the policy was not fully paid up. Funeral services will be held at the family residence at noon on Tuesday, Rev. Dr. R.L. Wheeler officiating. The body will then be taken to Blair for interment.--Monday's Bee

Harry Gardner, son of Mrs. Denna Allbery, was found dead in bed at their home in South Omaha last Sunday morning and was brought up here on Tuesday afternoon for burial in the Blair Cemetery. It seems the young man, 19 years of age, was in the habit of taking a few whiffs of chloroform on retiring to help him go to sleep, but this time he got too much and when found, the chloroform bottle was still pressed to his nostrils.

#2-13 Aug., 1903 - The Pilot - Harry L. Gardner

Harry L. Gardner, the 19 year old son of Mrs. Denna Allbery, 2409 G. street, South Omaha, was found dead in his bed by his mother about 10 o’clock Sunday morning. When Mrs. Allbery went to her son’s room to wake him there was no response for her call and she found that he was dead. Mr. Allbery, who was in the yard at the time, was called and doctors telephoned for. An investigation showed that Gardenr had inhaled chloroform. There will be an inquest at Brewer’s morgue today. The remains will be taken to Blair on Tuesday for interment. Gardner was well known in South Omaha, having worked for two or three druggists, and also the Allbery Printing company. For the last few months he has been in the habit of sniffing chloroform when he went to bed in order to make him sleep. He stated to friends that he did this in order to relieve him of pain caused by a rupture. By using the drug he found that sleep came easily. It is supposed that he fell asleep before he had time to place the vial on the stand next to his bed. When found young Gardner had an empty vial tightly clasped in his right hand with the mouth of the vial close against his nose. The idea of suicide is scouted by the friends of Gardner. Mrs. Allbery has known for a number of months that her son was in the habit of using chloroform. Besides the vial held in his hand, there was a three ounce bottle labeled chloroform on the dresser in the room. When Dr. Slabaugh arrived he stated that Gardner had been dead for several hours. It was only a day or two ago that Gardner made arrangements with Dr. Slabaugh for an operation for rupture. The deceased carried $300 insurance in the Prudential company, but the policy was not fully paid up. Funeral services will be held at the family residence at noon on Tuesday, Rev. Dr. R. L. Wheeler officiating. The body will then be taken to Blair for interment.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library~~~

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