Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-05-22
Sudden and Mysterious Death of two
2SS1Rra.

Sudden and Mysterious Death of two
Sisters.
From the Boston Traveller, May 18th.
The people of Weymouth have re-
Gently been thrown into great excitement
by the sudden death, at 10 o'clock p. NJ.
on the evening of May Sd, of Betsey
Frances Tirrell, oldest daughter of Mr..
Wilson Tirrel, merchant of this city,
whose residence is at South Weymouth,
near Weymouth landing. An invest'-
gatlqa, ybiah vhtaUa, f8l'aMed, hfhstd kaHsatshs
attending her disease with that of a
younger sister, who died four months
and one day previously, have increased
the excitement, and given rise to nu-
merous speculations in regard to the
cause.
Mary Tirrel, the younger daughter,
was very beautiful and we'll educated
girl, of about eighteen years of age.
She had been complaining OF i'll health
for brief period, when she was sudden
ly taken with what was supposed to be
fit, and died in short time. There
was nothing in the case that excited
suspicion at the time, and she was
buried without post mortem exami-
nation.
Previous to her death she was to be
married to George G. Hersey, a young
man whose wife died suddenly about
two years previously. He was much
esteemed by the father of the de-
ceased girl, and as he was in poor health,
Mr.. Tirrell invited him to his house,
where he has remained till quite recent
ly, as friend and guest.
On Thursday afternoon last, Frances,
who is about twenty-four years of age,
went to the South Parish, short dis
lance from her fathers house, aud re-
turned about eight O'Clock.
At about nine o'clock she retired to
bed. A younger sister who slept with
her had previously retired, but was
awake when Frances joined her. At
about halt past nine o'clock she was at
tracted by the repeated twitchings of
her sisters body, and asked her what
the matter was. She replied that she
was dying, and at her request her father
was called. A physician was called,
bnt she died at ten minutes past ten
o'clock.
Her friends supposed that she also
died in tit, but desiring to know if she |
had any organic disease, decided to have
an inquest.
One session has been held, and some
live or six witnesses examined; among
them the yonng sister of the deceased,
her father and mother, Geo. G. Hersey,
and DR.. Appleton Howe, the family |
physician, who had performed an au-
Iopsy.
The session was, however, a private
'ne, and the jury voted to have their
proceedings kept secret until the termi
'atlon OF their investigation, which will
lot be for several weeks.
DR.. Howe performed an autopsy in
his case, which resulted in the Coroner
directing DR.. Howe to have the con-
en,s of the stomach analysed by Bos-
on chemist. The stomach was accord
ngly taken to Dr.. A. A. Hayes, State
Assayer, of this city.
Dr. Hayes has made the desired analy.
is OF the contents of the stomach, and
discovered unmistakeable evidence of the
presence OF strychnine in sufficient guam
ity to cause death.
This morning spoon was sent him
y the family, upon which he found
trychnine, and from this it 10 supposed
he poison was taken.
There are, Of course, a thousand ru-
aors IN circulation in regard to the at
a'r, many pointing towards certain
arty as the seducer of the deceased, but
5 nothing has yet been legallydeveloped
him in the matter, We re-
ram from publishing these statements
mn. tney shall have been legally iuves.