Obituary

Kansan, Monday, June 12, 1933

Thomas Sheldon Collins passed away this morning at 4:30 o'clock at his residence at 407 Boyd avenue, the result of self administered arsenic, which he took on Sunday morning at his place of business.

According to investigation of County Coroner Martin, Mr. Collins mixed the arsenic, which had been kept at the place to poison rats, in a graduated mixer and swallowed the liquid. He later became very sick at his stomach, and finally was taken to his home. He received the ministration of his wife until noon, when he asked that the children be sent from the room and he told her that he had taken poison. He would not let her send for a physician until about an hour later. The physician did all that could be done, but the poison had already begun its deadly work and the unfortunate man suffered intensely until death came to relieve him.

Mr. Collins was known to have said on a number of occasions that he was afraid he would take his own life. He was highly nervous, melancholy and had never been well since he was accidentally overcome with gas about eight years ago.

For two months he had been in partnership with D. H. Hensley in the Newton Bottling works, which enterprise was flourishing nicely and which relationship was amicable. His home life was all that was to be desired, he being known as a devoted husband and father. Ill health was attributed as the cause of his act.

He married on Oct. 2, 1918 at Winterslow, England to Margaret Sadler. They had four sons,Harold, Robert, Fred and Tom.