Victor Alton Hargrove, 58 years of age and founder of the Hargrove Petroleum Company, was discovered dead Monday evening at his Riverside Drive residence by the family housekeeper, Miss Millie Crane, shortly before nine o'clock. Miss Crane, employed at the estate for eleven years, told this reporter she had gone to summon Mr. Hargrove for supper when she found him slumped forward at his study desk. The study door, she stated, was unlocked but pulled shut. Mr. Hargrove had complained for several weeks of gastric distress and fatigue, and his physician, Dr. Clarence Merritt, had been attending him regularly. Tulsa County Sheriff Dale Buckner arrived at the residence at approximately half past nine and has ordered the body removed to the county morgue pending examination. Sheriff Buckner declined to characterize the nature of Mr. Hargrove's death, stating only that the matter is “under review.” Mr. Hargrove is survived by his wife, Mrs. Eleanor Hargrove, 34, and a son from his first marriage, Mr. Clarence Hargrove, 29, of Dallas, Texas. Mrs. Hargrove was reportedly not present at the residence at the time of discovery, having attended a bridge engagement that evening. Victor Hargrove founded Hargrove Petroleum in 1912 with a single lease in Creek County and built the concern into one of the largest independent oil operations in northeastern Oklahoma. He was a prominent figure in Tulsa civic life and served two terms on the Chamber of Commerce.

Tulsa County Sheriff Dale Buckner stated Tuesday that foul play is being considered in connection with the death of oil executive Victor Hargrove, whose body was discovered Monday evening at his Riverside Drive home. “We are not prepared to call this a natural death at this time,” Sheriff Buckner told reporters gathered outside the county courthouse. “We are awaiting the results of Dr. Fenn’s examination before we make any further determination.” Dr. Arthur Fenn, the Tulsa County Medical Examiner, is expected to complete his initial examination by Thursday. Sources at the sheriff’s office who spoke on condition of anonymity indicated that Mr. Hargrove’s physical condition at the time of death was not consistent with a simple cardiac event, as the attending physician had previously suggested. Mrs. Eleanor Hargrove, the deceased’s wife, has retained legal counsel. Thomas Reeves, business partner and co-founder of Hargrove Petroleum, issued a brief statement expressing condolences and pledging full cooperation with authorities. The Hargrove estate on Riverside Drive remained sealed by order of the sheriff throughout Tuesday.

Dr. Arthur Fenn, Tulsa County Medical Examiner, announced Monday that he has ruled the death of oil executive Victor Hargrove a result of natural causes, specifically cardiac failure secondary to gastric illness. The ruling effectively suspends the inquiry opened by Sheriff Dale Buckner following Mr. Hargrove’s discovery on the evening of October 14th at his Riverside Drive residence. “Mr. Hargrove suffered from a chronic and progressive gastric condition which placed considerable strain upon his heart,” Dr. Fenn stated in a written release. “In my medical judgment, his death resulted from this condition.” Attorney Gerald Marsh, representing the Hargrove estate, called the ruling “a just and accurate conclusion” and said the family hoped the matter would now be allowed to rest. Sheriff Buckner, reached by telephone, said his office would defer to the medical examiner’s findings.

The last will and testament of Victor Alton Hargrove, oil executive and founder of Hargrove Petroleum, was filed for probate in Tulsa County District Court on Friday, revealing that his widow, Mrs. Eleanor Hargrove, is the sole beneficiary of an estate valued at approximately $340,000, inclusive of real property, securities, and his controlling interest in Hargrove Petroleum. Of particular note is that the will bears a revision date of October 2nd of this year — a mere twelve days before Mr. Hargrove’s death — in which the previous bequest to his son, Clarence Hargrove of Dallas, was struck entirely and transferred to Mrs. Eleanor Hargrove. Mr. Clarence Hargrove, reached by telephone in Dallas, expressed considerable agitation at the filing. “My father was not well and I believe he was manipulated,” he told this reporter. “I intend to contest.” Attorney Gerald Marsh, representing Mrs. Eleanor Hargrove, declined to comment on the possibility of a contest, but noted that the will had been properly witnessed and notarized according to the laws of the State of Oklahoma.

Millie Crane, housekeeper at the Hargrove estate for eleven years and the woman who discovered the body of oil executive Victor Hargrove last month, has made a statement to this newspaper in which she describes an item seen in the deceased’s study that she believes police have not adequately accounted for. Miss Crane, 52, stated that upon entering the study on the evening of October 14th, she observed a dark green glass bottle, approximately six inches in height, standing on the corner of Mr. Hargrove’s desk near a tumbler of water. She states this bottle was not one she recognized as belonging to Mr. Hargrove’s usual medicines, which she would routinely handle. “It was a dark bottle, small, with no label I could read in the light,” Miss Crane told this reporter. “I noticed it because it wasn’t his usual tonic. When the sheriff’s men came, I didn’t see it any more on the desk.” Miss Crane states she mentioned the bottle to a deputy on the night in question but received no formal response. She was dismissed from the Hargrove household service in late October by Mrs. Eleanor Hargrove. Sheriff Buckner’s office did not respond to a request for comment regarding Miss Crane’s statement.

In a dramatic reversal of his October ruling, Tulsa County Medical Examiner Dr. Arthur Fenn announced Friday that a second chemical analysis of tissue specimens obtained during the original autopsy of Victor Hargrove has revealed the presence of arsenic in quantities consistent with homicidal poisoning. “A thorough review of the histological samples, conducted in consultation with a pathologist at the University of Oklahoma, has led me to revise my original findings,” Dr. Fenn stated. “Mr. Hargrove’s death is now attributed to arsenic poisoning, administered over a period estimated between three and six weeks.” Sheriff Dale Buckner confirmed that the investigation into Mr. Hargrove’s death has been formally reopened as a homicide inquiry. “We will pursue every lead with the full resources of this office,” the sheriff stated. The arsenic compound identified is consistent with Fowler’s Solution, a preparation available commercially and commonly sold through apothecaries for medicinal and household purposes. Dr. Fenn noted that the compound was administered in small doses over an extended period, suggesting deliberate and sustained action. Mrs. Eleanor Hargrove, through her attorney Gerald Marsh, issued a statement expressing shock at the new findings and pledging full cooperation. Thomas Reeves, co-founder of Hargrove Petroleum, also offered his cooperation through a company spokesman.

Sheriff Dale Buckner confirmed Wednesday that both Mrs. Eleanor Hargrove and Mr. Thomas Reeves, business partner of the late Victor Hargrove, have been questioned in connection with the reopened homicide investigation into Mr. Hargrove’s death by arsenic poisoning. Mrs. Hargrove, accompanied by her attorney Gerald Marsh, met with investigators at the Tulsa County Courthouse for approximately two hours on Tuesday. Her alibi for the evening of October 14th — a bridge engagement at the home of Mrs. Dorothy Keyes on South Boulder Avenue — was confirmed by three other women in attendance, according to her attorney. Mr. Reeves appeared voluntarily on Wednesday morning. His whereabouts on the evening in question were confirmed by his secretary, Miss Nadine Oakes. However, investigators are said to be more interested in the weeks preceding Mr. Hargrove’s death than in any single evening. A source within the sheriff’s office, speaking without authorization, told this reporter that deputies had obtained a commercial receipt from a Tulsa apothecary indicating a purchase of arsenic-based rat poison in September, the name on which is being withheld pending investigation. Sheriff Buckner declined to confirm or deny the existence of such a receipt.

Sheriff Dale Buckner announced Thursday that the homicide investigation into the arsenic poisoning death of oil executive Victor Hargrove has been formally closed, with no charges to be filed. “Despite a thorough investigation by this office, we have been unable to gather sufficient evidence to bring a charge against any individual,” Sheriff Buckner stated. “We do not take this determination lightly, but we are bound by the law and by the facts as we have been able to establish them.” The investigation, which consumed more than four months following the December revision of the medical examiner’s ruling, examined numerous individuals connected to Mr. Hargrove, though the sheriff declined to identify them specifically. District Attorney Harold Fitch stated that his office had reviewed the evidence presented by the sheriff and concurred that it did not meet the standard required for prosecution. “A crime has unquestionably been committed,” Mr. Fitch said, “but the evidence before us does not, at this time, permit us to name a responsible party.” Mrs. Eleanor Hargrove, now in sole control of the Hargrove estate and its attendant business interests, declined to comment. Thomas Reeves announced this week that he has completed his purchase of Mrs. Hargrove’s share of Hargrove Petroleum for a reported $180,000. The case is officially closed but not classified as solved.