the door, warning: "Do not open door. Poison gas. Call police." He sealed the door from the inside, then killed himself by dropping cyanide into a glass of acid and inhaling the poison fumes. Notes and references Further reading 1884 births 1940 deaths 1940 suicides 20th-century American memoirists American escapees Criminals from Missouri Escapees from United States federal government detention Fugitives Inmates of Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary Military personnel from Missouri People from Trenton, Missouri Suicides by cyanide poisoning Suicides in California Writers from Missouri