Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-03-10
DAILY EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

va. held at the Jail before Coroner Woodward,
where me jury reassemblcd at 10 o'clock a, m.
The FIRST witnesses examined were ID. Daniel
Breed. of the United States Patent Office, and
DR. Lewis H. Steiner of the National Medical
College. who had conformity made the analysis
Their testimony was given In writing. of which
the following is a copy, dated from the labar-
story Of the United States Patent Office:
Having, in conformity with your instruc-
ions. instituted a careful chemical inyestiga-
tion Of the contents Of the stomach of the late
Dr. George A. Gardiner. and also of the pow
der found in his pocket. both submitted to US
by you on the 4th inst, we hereby report TINT
il the stomach We have detected substances
sfOrding the chemical reactions characters
tic of strychnine and brucin, and from the
large portion Of the contents of the stomach
not yet completely analy zed, we are convinced
that these virulent poisons are present in
quantity more than sufficient to have produced
death.
The powder found in the pocket of the de-
ceased, has proved to be commercial strych-
Zine, Or chemically, MIXTURE cf that poison
with bruein according 10 the tests for these
slkaloids. as given by the most eminent toxicol-
ogists The weight Of this powder is 95 milo
grammes. -
We would also mention that v have found
in the stomach several pieces of paper, one of
which was f0IQeu dI the margin the manner
that druggists wrap powders. r.H
Signed. DANIEL BREED, M D.
LEWIS III. STEINER, NJ. ~
DR.. Tyler, of the National Medical College,
being presnt, addressed the Jury, corrobor-
atins his former testimony.
Here some little delay arose from the
presence of the counsel of the deceased being
required, and on the arrival of Messrs. Brad,
ley and Carlisle, the above testimony was
handed to them for their inspection, but, after
reading it, they declined putting any questions
10 the witnesses
DR.. Semmes stated that he had seen expert
ments made upon dogs at Paris with strych
nine. which had all the appearances. before
and after death, as in the case of the deceased
Mr.. Evan Hughes was examined. and said
that he had never heard Dr.. Gardiner saw til at
he would take poison. but some Mexican had
stated about town that DIR. Gardiner would
take poison rather than go to prison.
This closed the examination and the Jury.
room having been cleared, the following verdict
was returned
We are of the opinion that Dr. George A.
Gardiner came TO his death from strychnine
and Bruein, voluntarily taken after conviction
and sentence"
SMITHSONIAN 1NSTITU rIoN.-The last num-
Der of the Scientific American contains an
article upon the Smith oman Institution. in
which, it is claimed - that if Smithson were to
rise from the dead his first object would be to
try and get the funds he bequeashed to ouI
nation, for the increase and diffusion OF
knowledge among men, removed from the
guardianship OF our Government ut Washing
ton. Against such doctrine we must make
decided exception, from the simple reason
that no better place could have been selected
tor the site of such an Institution as the scat OF
Government The fact is, that the writer OF
the article in question, has taken an erroneous
view of the matter altogether. and has, unin.
tentlonally, no doubt, perverted the meaning
of the founder. His intention being as Pro.
fessor Henry has already explained in a lee
ture delivered some months ago, to encourage
and promote the increase of knowledge among
mankind Professor Henry has so far sue.
c'mbed to popular opinion, as to furnish the
public Of Washington with gratuitous courses
OF lectures. three times a week to which all
who feel inclined can go. As a matter OF
course. there lectures, in order to be popular
are stripped of all technicalities, and brought
down 10 TIL level of the most unscientifc.
Jhey are no doubt excellent and do very much
good II their way, but it may be doubted how
far the intention of the founders will is car
ned nut by expanding the funds for such q
purpose Smithson was an eminently scien-
thc man. and it was evidently his intention to
found an Institution hat mi ht hereafter take
place by the side Of the Royal Society of
London. and those other scientific bodies.
where pure science is alone cultivated. Pro-
lessor Henry. TO his credit it must be said. has
as far as he has been able, followed out this
purpose, and by various methods which he
enumerated in his lecture has assisted science
material J. Many investigations that could
not have been otherwise carried on, from want
OF pecuniary aud other resources. have beer
aided In their difficulties by the executive OF
this Institution, and We have no doubt. that il
left alone. the Smithsonian Institution wouId
soon renk among the great scientific societies
OF the world But if the doors are to be thus
thrown open to popular clamor, and the funds
applied to other purposes, to crafty popular
Whlms, and to hire favorite lecturers. we have
little doubt that the affair will soon dwindle
into littleness. Against the adoption of any
such plan we should loudly protest We re-
qu1re some corporate body, supported by Gov
eminent influence, to raise the standard of
science, and what is more to cause science to
be respected. The objection already to Americ a
Is that we are too much materialists, too prac-
teal, If yeu will. Let US then, for science
sake. nave at least somebody raised above the
popular level, which may be looked up to rs a
standard at home and referred to with pride
abroad
UNION HOTEL CONpASY.-Tfe stockholders
OF the Union Hotel Company, in Georgetown,
held meeting on Tuesday evening last, when
lnanclat report was read by the Trustees 1t
appears from this, that the company are out
OF debt, with surplus in the treasury They
expect to be able TO pay per cent per annum
dividend On the stock, (uniess something unfor-
seen should occur) commencing the semi
annual dividend on the first of July next
The proceedings concluded with a supper
at which all enjoyed themselves, several
speeches being made, one of the speakers. DIR.
Graflon Tyler, facetiously remarking that If
the July dividend filed their pockets as well
as the present dividend did their persons, the
shareholders would have no reason 10 COMPLAIN
ERROR CoRRECTED.-Seyeral journals are
circulating rumor that the attorney of the
nited states for this District, and one of their
other counsel In the cases against the late
George A Gardiner, have taken out letters OF
administration Oh his estate This rumor is
we learn on good authority, untrue -Un,on
The report arose from the circumstance OF
the District Attorney, MI, Key, having fled a
caUeat to prevent any improper person from
administering to the estate of the decea sed
which was ma fed into the fact that the
Government had taken out letters Of admins
tratiOa, which, as stated above in an article
copied from the ''Union, = is not the case.
4 CRYING EyIL.-A correspondent residing
In the First Ward complains of the noises OF
a night in his ward caused by assemblases of
idle persons. He says: For some time the
corners of our streets in the First Ward, even
the middle Of squares, after night fall have
been crnwdaH bxy IF balf h,,-,