The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-10-24
Fatal Mistake of a Drug Clerk

+ Coroner Smith held an inquest yester-
day afternoon ON the body of Mrs. Malta
Webster, who died on Saturday last from
the effects of an overdose of morphine
given as sleeping powder by Robert NJ.
Kennedy, drug clerk. The deco ased;
who resided in Eleventh street, Gowanus,
had been afflicted with the dumb ague
and sent her daughter to the druggist to
get her a sleeping powder Kennedy,
who was the clerk in the store of Mr..
Boyd, in Third avenue, put Up two grains
OF morphine, intending they should b.
taken in two doses but he neglected to
send.any directions. The powder W; TAX
en- in one dose, and Mrs. Webster died
several hours after. The testimoney elicit
Cd is as follows:
Jane Armstrong, daughter of the de-
ceased, testified that her mother had been
complaining about three weeks with the
dumb ague, and part of that time was
confined to her bed witness went for tie
medicine about eight o'clock on Friday
evening, to the drug store where Kennedy
was clerk her mother told her to get a
powder to make her sleep, as she had not
slept any for several nights Kennedy
gave her but one powder and said moth
ing she asked him how it should be Civ
en-, and he said in little molasses or
sweetmeais he did not say what it was,
or that it should be divided witness went
home, mixed the powder in a little mo-
Ilasses, and her mother took it without in
auiry she followed Mr.. Kennedy's or
ders, aud after her mother took it, she
said, ''Thank God for this I'll try and
get asleep" her father retired about quar-
terpast ten and tried to wake her mother
up, but could not do SO about half past
: two A. NJ her father awoke her and told
her that something was the matter with
her mother; her mother opened her eyes,
but could not speak DR.. Buell. clne
about seven O'Clock and said he thought
she was under the infuenc of the powder,
and if she did not get out of it before
twelve o'clock they had better send for
him again he prescribed for her and
then left he came the second time, and
on being shown the envelope containing
= the powedr he said she was poisoned
woman her mother died at 20 minutes to-
twelve \. Nj.
Thomas Webster, the husband Of de-
ceased, testified that his daughter told.
: him she had given her mother sleeping
powder which she had procured at the.
! drug store he eudeavored to awake his
| wife, but she said 'don't bother me-" the
= deceased had been suffering from dumb
ague for some time past.
2 Margaret jerks testified that she was
sister of the deceased, and was sent for
on Saturday to see her; DR.. Buell. came,
} aud in reply to 4 question said that the
deceased could not live; the doctor call
5 ed upon Kennedy, the druggist, and be
; told the doctor that he had sent morphine,
and that the quantity was two grains (; de-
e ceased seemed to suffer considerably be-
fore death.
DR.. Buell testified that he was called
to see the deceased about seven o'clock
, on Saturday morning, and found her suf-
: fering from the effects Of some narcotic
j poison he Immediately administered the.
usual antidoteS, belladonna and coffee, al,
e so ordered mustard drafts, all however,
e to DO effect the deceased had the appear
a ance of person suffering from dose Of
poison.
Dr. Shepard testified that he resided
at No. III Willoughby street, and was -
+ practising physician; was called to make
a post mortem examination on the de-
ceased on the morning of October II ;.
4 found all the organs of the deceased in
perfectly healthy condition the contents
D of the stomach were not subjected TO an
: analysis, as this would have put the coun-
r ty to an expense of from four hundred to
five hundred dollars eyiCe-ce of tie ma
terial administered and its quantity had
t been otherwise ascert, inc |.
!, Coroner Smith called the attention of
e the jury to the fact that this Was the Sc
d cond case which had occurred in Brook
lyn recently from this mistake of drug
clerks in putting up medicine. Before
rendering their verdict he hoped they
d would go over the testimony, in this case
t carefully. After an absence of an hour
= the jury returned the following verdict:
q "We find that the said Matilda Web
d ster came to her death on Saturday, the
}. 18th day of October, 1867, from au over
y dose of morphine sold to her daughter
Jane Armstrong, the same having been
ignorantly or carelessly prescribed by RO-
! bert NJ. Kennedy, druggist
j Kennedy was then committed TO Jail
v by Coroner Smith to await the action of
e the grand jury-[New York Herald,
5 October 16.
VI An immense iron an1 stool fnrpaca