Local newspapers of the day so often provided intriguing and sometimes shocking accounts of daily life. Following is an edited excerpt from the October 21, 1896 issue of the Delaware Gazette:
Sudden Death In Jail: John Hulbert of Stamford was in jail, indicted on burglary 2nd degree and grand larceny 3rd degree charges. The case was brought to trial last Saturday, adjourned to Monday. Saturday night, he was taken very sick, but in a short time appeared to be better. On Monday morning, he was feeling badly again, and the sheriff thought the cause was worry over his case and that he would soon get better. No further attention was given to the matter. Hulbert soon entered his cell and lay down on his cot, and as other prisoners assumed, went to sleep. A short time later, he was found to be breathing heavily and the sheriff was summoned. Drs. Gates and Reynolds were immediately summoned, but before their arrival, Hulbert died. An exam revealed that his death was caused "by some powerful poison..." Upon investigation it was found that one James Maguire of Walton, who had been imprisoned for violation of the excise law, was "short of a quantity of opium which he usually carried on his person and that he had given Hulbert a small amount." The supposition was that Hulbert had then overdosed on the opium. His remains were taken to Jackson & Mason for a post mortem exam and autopsy, done by Drs. Reynolds and Goodrich. Coroner Gates summoned the following jury: J.A. Hunt, J. Fairburn, J. Birdsall, S.F. Adee, David Wight, Edwin Bell, M. Mitchell and J. K. Hood.
The jury met in the evening in the Grand Jury rooms. Witnesses summoned included W. O. Porter, the sheriff and Undersheriff F. Wilbur. Mrs. Hulbert was examined as to the domestic relations with her husband. Upon examination, Jason Maguire testified that he gave Hulbert a small amount of opium, as being an "opium eater", he always carried it with him. On Saturday morning, he found his supply "somewhat smaller than it ought to be", and he believed that Hulbert had taken some on his own.
The verdict was death by overdose of opium administered by his own hand. It was said that Hulbert had told his wife that he would never go to state prison and that she ought to have his grave dug at once, thereby raising the question that he had made the decision to take his own life. Hulbert leaves behind a wife and three children in destitute circumstances. Burial was in Stamford.
