The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-04

of James HamiltOu-The Testimony Of His
Physician, His Wife and q Former Servant.
Yesterday afternoon jury, consisting Of James
Patrick Finlan, Leonard Price, Thomas Hyland,
J. Sturges, John O'Rourke and John Brady, was
empanelled to inquire into the cause OF the death
OF James Hamilton, OF 90 Thompson street, which
occurred on Sunday. the o7th ut after an illness OF
eleven days, from las an autopsy satisfied num-
Der Of physicians), the administration Of some
acid poison, which had been either sold
by the clerk "a mere ad,, Of druggist who has his
dlspensatory in Spring, between SULLIVAN and Thomp
son Streets by mistake for EPSON salts In connec-
ton with SIENNA, or were subsequently substituted
In the house OF deceased by the supposed poison or
else placed there by accident design and without
the knowledge OF the deceased his wife or servants.
On the jury being seated Dr. Hogan, the family
physician, came forward and on taking the usual
affirmation made the following statement as to his
knowledge OF the condition OF the patient before and
subsequent to his dissOlution:-
Dr. Michael Hogan, sworn:-I am q practitioner
OF medicine and reside at 81 Blocker street; was
called on to attend the patient on the nth OF Sep
TENDER, at about four p M. at 80 Thompson street;
found the patient In PROSTATE condition. suffering
from great gastric disturbances; these symptoms
INV first visit that her husband, the deceased, had
taken q dose Of salts and SIENNA on the previous
evening; about three minutes after having taken IT,
she continued that he began to vOmit, having just
said, ut Ii not salts, IL ID something e6e-Pm
mnrdered;" he continued to vomit for scout
thirty minutes, his wife added at the the
and gave II TO him; after having taken the emetic he
began to vomit blood and TO pass 1t through his bow
els, and in this addition continued until mornings
found him depressed when visited him. and he con-
tinued in this condition for the eleven following days
when he died; visited him daily and the symptoms
cont lued: my third visit he complained OF burn
ing sensation In his mouth anu on examining 1t
found that the interior had commenced to get gan
grenous; he died on sunday the 27th ut; the gan
grenous expression OF the mouth was evidently the
result OF some acrld poison he had taken was
present at the autopsy OF the body; the post morem
naiA min hon oul1c ma
to dissolution Drs Hogan, Finnell, Newman and
others present. at the autopsy the mouth of de-
ceased was found to be gangrenous from which when
modification had commenced before dissolution;
OF his tonsils presented dark appearance; his
stomach was also dark and was highly congested; q
considerable portion OF the intestnes from the
stomach downwards presented also a dark and
highly congested appearance; there was innamma-
lion found in ore OF his lungs to the extent OF about
the lower tw0thrds; consider that the state OF the
mouth and OF the entire ntestincs. &c., was caused,
In my opinion, by corrosive poison taken into the
stomach; in my opiaion death was caused by the
condition OF these parts, caused by that dose, what
ever 1t was.
O. How many medical men were present ut the
autopsy? A. There were Drs. savage, Brodden,
Richardson, Merton, Nolan, and Finnell present at
the examination; Drs. Fennel, Richardson AMI
these medical men came to the conclusion that he
would die; our presumption was that death was
brought about by poison.
TO u Juror-For SIX days he did not urinate; l
founded my conclusion rs to the fact OF his having
absorbed some acrid poison, from,his family; tne
state OF his mouth AMI the condition OF the body
Alicia Hamilton sworn-I reside at 90 Thompson
street: the deceased, James Hamilton, was my hus-
band: do not remember when the poison was
bought 1t was about three months ago; had sent
for Roche lie salts but my husband on taking then
said they not strong enough and sent my LITTLE
girl, Katy, for another kind; ] and my little
girl took portions OF the Rochelle sails; they were
no effect; sent the child for salts and senna said
to my husband sNiil you take itf and he answered
Never mind. and then told the girl to put the par.
her to do So but did not see her to put them beside
the clock; am In tho habit Of keeping everything
fee tea saeratus -FOUR &c; the parcel believe was
tied up when brought TO the house; never had IL In
my hands; cannot say that ever saw 1t afterwards
had forgotten about IL; never had 0xallc acid for
cleaning brasses, &c; never bought any poison for
the destruction OF verrnin, not even Paris green;
have two big dogs and two cats; they are always
TO the Coroner-I never opened tho package; the
package was opened by the girl; there were other
was small saw II when Katy brought It home;
positive there never was any poison In my house.
hand Ind touch or the cholera an took some medI
cine; the attacks consisted OF darrh9a and pains IN
the stomach; he called 1t cholera; he had diarrhGa
for about six hours badly; had cramps; did not ar
him complain Of burning sens alton In the stomach;
the cramps were In his legs one or these at one time
was drawn double; had bottle OF cholerine III
the house; OF this | gave thirty drops every ten
mnutes In the course OF the evening he recovered;
on Monday he wanted TO take the salts, but said TO
so active medicine; he was always costive;
on Wednesday evening he took the salts and
SIENNA; he was up to ths time weak; the SIENNA and
salts given to him at nine O'Clock that evening;
he thought they would do him good: was ironing
a shirt at the time and asked him to wait q moment;
he said they would not be cold enough; ! then told
Bridget subsequently, on his asking for gave them
to him; the SIENNA and salts were prepared In the
usual way, with hot water, and then simmeled on
the stove; my husband directed the girl where TO
put the medicine: he pointed out to her where they
were on the shelf; ] saw her make the pre-
cup, which at my request she subsequently placed
in glass: II was strained through straner; there
were SIENNA leaves In the strainer; thought the
dose too much for him, but he Thought not: the girl
took up parcel OF the SIENNA and the salts besides
the SIENNA there was white powder In the package;
she put all that was In the paper In vessel; sup
posed the leaves To be SIENNA by their appearance;
the dose taken al eleven or little past eleven
that night; he had not taken Il over three minutes
TAKEN" answered, Nonsense II must be;'' he re-
piled, no. it T. mott feel burning sensation in
chair and began to throw mp; he COM
planned only of the sensation OF burning being
- the pit Of his stomach; one o. the ooarders came
answered that my husband complained Of burning
sensation: the boarder owned that the medicine was
too strong; we got him up stairs, and then asked
sbouId / 20 for the doctor and he said no. but told
me to get an emetic when this was given him he
commenced vomiting In about three minutes blood;
sat ND with him all night: the emetic was brought in
one powder, but was directed 70 give but onehal,
which operated; he commenced 10 purge blood short
Iy after he vomited; were In the habit OF taxing
SIENNA and salts; II was his fav0rite medicine; since
the demise there have been persons present look
ing for SIENNA and salts; have not seen package
OF senna and salts said 10 have been found IN tue
house or on the shelf since; | have not put
away anything on ulat shelf since the package IN
question was found on that shelf; could not tell on
what part II was found.
TO o Juror did not suppose that he had taken
poison; never occurred TO me- had the idea that
he had taken too powerful dose Of SIENNA and salts,
and when he began to throw up blood got right
ened.
To another Juror had alum In the house for
making gargle tor his throat.
Kate sloan, swom-T live ct 20 Canal street; II Ia
about three months since lived with Mrs. Hamilton;
I helped 70 do housework ! was sent to bring
senna and sals one night 81 this time by Mrs. Ham
iiton; Mr.. Hamilton told her 10; went 70 Mr..
Rogers drug store IN Spring street. between sullivan
aud Thompson Streets asked for i've cents worth
Of SIENNA and salts; got Il from boy he Ia present
here's there was no label on the paper; II was wnte,
the paper, and the words SIENNA and salts were writ
ten on 1t; cant read; there were two words on Il
written with pencil; took II right home; took
and laid u on the shelf, on the top Of the
clock; hrs. Hamilton told me 70 leave there there