Daily national Democrat., 1858-09-14
Death from POlsOn-Msyterious Case.

Death from PoisOn-Msyterious Case
The following from yesterdays Sacramento
Union will be of interest to many of our
readers:
man named James Murdoch, and his sis
ter, Julia A. Mason, (wife of A. f. Mason.
who resides in or about Marysville,) arrived
in the city about nine o'clock on Saturday
evening, accompanied by five children of
Mrs. Mason, and put up ct the Ben Franklin
Hotel, ON street, between Eleventh and
Twelfth streets. They had recently been
living on the Mokelumne, between this city
and Stockton and Mrs. Mason was en- route
to join her husband at Marysville. Receiving
information that her husband would Join her
here, she leased small frame building on the
south side of j street, between Tenth and
Eleventh streets, ar moved into it with her
family and brother, yesterday The brother
relates that, just before sundown yesterday
they partook of a watermelon and in short
time afterwards ate supper. After supper he
and Mrs Mason's eldest son went down street
end on their return, he (Murdoch) brought
three peaches, which he had purchased at
stand near the Father Rnine House. opposte
the public square. He divided two of the
peaches equally between four of the smallest
children. vi the other peach he gave one
half to Mrs. Mason, dividing the other half
equally between herself and her eldest daug.
t.r. All ate the portions given them. in
about ten or fifteen minutes afterwards Mrs
Mason complained of siekness-nause ea-but
Kept stirring about-made up the beds on
the floor and put the children to bed. Muir.
doch laid down on one of the beds and soon
after complained of being sick-said that his
tongue was dry, etc. Shortly afterwards
Mrs. Mason called to him urgently from the
porch for assistance. He went out inmedi.
ately, and she told him she was going to die
and wished him to gN for a doctor. He re-
turned and dressed himself, and starting out
met Mrs. Masons eldest daughter, who had
meantime been to the National Hotel, ada.
cent, returning with several ladies from that
house. DR.. Oatman, who was called, arrived
there at eight o'clock, precisely. When he
arrived, or Immediately afterwards Mrs Ma
son was taken with spasm, and exhibited
other symptoms clearly indicating that she
had been poisoned by strychnine. Every
thing that was possible was done for her,
without success-death resulting in thirty
minutes. just before her decease, Murdoch
complained Of excessive gripping of the bow
els AID Nausea, and ran out several times to
vomit, but did not succeed Immediately on
her decease, a powerful emetic was admins
tered to him, followed by large doses of warm
lard which finally caused him to vomit. AT
this time, DIR. Nixon was also in attendance
and the same treatment adopted as in the
case of the deceased At IL l.2 o'clock p. NJ.
(at which time the body was removed. bv
direction of Coroner Counts, to the rooms of
Mr.. Reeves, undertaken, on Fourth street
Murdoch was much better-considered
wholly out of danger. 1t was rumored that
the poisoning was caused by the eating of the
peaches; but the fact that neither of the
children was affected thereby, anu Murdoch
but slightly (f at all), and the symptoms in
Mrs. Mason's case were clearly Indicative of
strychnine is sufficient to warrant an entire
ly different conclusion We understand that
Murdoch came to this city in 1858, arriving
on the day of the burial of Mrs Mason's first
husband; that he and the deceased opened a
hotel or boarding house on l. street but being
unsuccessful, removed soon afterwards to the
Mokelumne, where she purchased property.
She married subsequently,, and for some rea-
son became estranged from her husband
Latterly they have been in correspondence,
and reunion being agreed to, she disposed
of her property, and was on her way to Join
him, as above. This is certainly case that
calls for close and rigid investigation,
which We hope it will receive at the hands
of the Coroner. a post mortem examination
will be necessary to this end and doubtless
will be ordered. The inquest, we understand.
will be held at half past eight o'clock this
morning, at the rooms Of Mr.. Reeves, as
above.