The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-06
THE ELEVENTH STREET POISONING CASE.

HE ELEVENTH. STREET POISONING CASE.
Inquest Yesterdny-The Verdict Exonerates
the Druggist and Declares 1t Not
Suicide-Mr. Spicer's Death n. Mystery.
On Monday morning, Goth ultimo, the public was
startled with the announcement that reputable
and wealthy gentleman Mr.. John Spicer of No. rs
West Eleventh street, had on the previous day sent
for Seiditz powder to the drug store OF j. b. Frees
on Sixth avenue, and died in great agony few
minutes after taking it. The clerk, Mr.. Simmons,
who sold the powder, was arrested on the statement
OF the family physician, DR.. f. G.. Bartlett who de-
cared that deceased had taken from twenty to
twenty five grains OF strychnine, but on the assem-
bling OF the Coroners jury he was promptly released
the evidence showing that he not responsible
for the death Of Mr.. Spicer.
further hearing took place on Thursday last
when Mrs. Elizabeth Spicer, wife OF deceased, was
examined, as well as the clerk, Simmons, and an
adjournment taken by Coroner Rollins until
yesterday. Simmons evidence given on Thursday
as well as that Of Mr.. Bennett given yesterday
clearly shows that there was no poison in the powder
when 1t left the store in the hands Of Mr.. Spicers
servant James Adkins Adkins evidence, given
yesterday, declares that the powder was given by
him to Mrs. Spicer In the same manner he
received It, without having been opened.
His evidence In this particular is confirmed
by Mrs. S., who in her examination states
l
noticed the careful manner In which 1t was put up"
This would seem to exonerate the servant from the
f e M % e hands Of m scer s
the same manner in which 1t was given to the SER
want by the clerk; and If strychnine was introduced
into the powder II must have been alter II had left
the servants hands by some interested party. Con-
sidering the evidence as a whole, 1t does seem re-
markable that the jury have not held somebody
accountable for Mr. Spicer's sudden taking Off.
They eXOnerate the druggist and declare there
no poison in the powder when it left his establish
nlpu y.
suicide; but they go no further Ii seems
strange that they should not be able to
servant and fix the responsibility somewhere II
Mr.. Spcer and the druggist are bameess, as the
No other conclusions can be arrived at by the public.
But to the evidence given yesterday, summary OF
which will be found below:
The first witness called was James Adkins, the
servant who corroborates the evidence OF Mrs.
al well as incidents occurring in the house. lie
swears positively that the powder was delivered to
Mrs. spicer without having been opened and that it
| INFANT Of any difficulties between Mr.. and Mrs.
Spcer.
Andrew T. Benefits evidence cOrroborated the
clerk simmons to the purity OF the powders when
they left the store. He Is the senior clerk and de-
tailed the conversation had with the family physi-
cian (BartlctD few minutes after spicer's death,
which agreed with the doctors testimony. lie stated
that the drawer contained about 'one hundred pow
ders all compounded at one time from the same
teral, and that twO-thirds of the contents of the
drawer had been sold before and since his death
without any injurious effects having been reported.
Charles w. Fairfield, an officer of the Fifteenth po-
lice precinct, was sworn and detailed the circum-
stances attending the arrest OF Simmons by him.
The family physician, DIR. +. G. Bartlett was eX-
amined. His evidence as to the particulars OF the
death Of Mr.. Spicer i'll the main confirmed that OF
Mrs. Spicer 1t clearly showed that the deceased
was alarmed al the prospect OF death and implored
him to save his lile The doctor proceeds:-l then
took Mrs. Spcer aside, she was lamentng over
the terrible mistake, and asked her II she did not
think it possible for the poison to have been intro
piled, mo, doctor, 1t would have been impossible
the envelope was qnbroken and perfectly seaed;n
| again asked, "ls there any reason TO think
that Mr.. Splcer would have put strychnine into
that seidtz powder before mixing It, for the
bewidered, scarcely knowing what she said she
replied, II don't know, don't know-Mr. Spcer
had been melancholy all day. speaking to no one,
| family, and yesterday he wished he was dead,n but
upon this remark Mrs. Spicer laid no particular
| stress; now called for an envelope, and enclosing
the whole seidlitz papers with its envelope kept
them under lock and key until handed them TO DR..
| Doremus; in a subsequent conversation with Mrs.
Spcer she said, "Docor, Mr.. Spcer never took that
| poison OF his own free wll; replied, "IIe certainly
seemed very anxious to ve;" she said, "He loved life
| too well to have done this himself; he was accus-
toned TO talk of his future life happy one indeed
he had everything to live or; but said "From the
manner OF the preparation OF these powders by the
| druggist the chance Of his putting 80 much srych-
nine in one OF these by mistake Is very small;r she
distinctly replied, ''were there but one chance in a.
| million OF poison, that chance came to my husband.u
The evidence OF George Spicer, brother OF deceased
merely corloborated that Of his ssterin-law he
oil the existence OF any Ill 1eeng between
deceased and his wife, he never had any wish to die:
was In comfortable circumstances and had no cases
| to prey upon his mind.
Dir. John Beach was sworn and gave the results OF
the post norton examination, that indicated that
deceased had taken poison.
Professor Doremus, who made the ANALYSIS OF the
stomach gave q detailed report upon the subject.
His ana ysis OF the paper containing the powder
showed unmstakable signs OF srychnine. The test
OF other powders taken from the same drawer ex-
hbited no traces OF strychnne. The post norton
contents Of the stomach on an analysis also showed
that IL contained strychnine but none was found In
the ante norton contents OF the stomach. The Pro-
lessor concludes:-'l therefore testify that have
discovered unmistakabe evidences OF strychna In
the papers received from DIR. Bartlett; In the one
and half ounces OF contents Of the stomach wash
ngs OF the stomach and few ounces of contents OF
ntesnes.'
Dr. Bartlett was recalled and stated that after
hearing the evidence In the he had still the
same opinion-viz, that deceased came to his death
by strychnne.
This closed the evidence, and Coroner Rollins,
after briefly addressing the jury at two O'Clock gave
the case to them for verdict
The Jury returned verdict that deceased came to
his death by taking strychnine contained in q Sed.
lHz powder on July is, 1865 and In our opinion said
poison not taken for the purpose Of sedestruc-
ton. From the evidence before us we fully exoner-
ate J. B. Frees, druggist, OF No 119 sixth avenue as
well as his assistants from any act Of carelessness
compromising or prescribing the Seidlitz powder sold
James ADKINS, and we further believe said powder 10
have been free from any poisonous ingredients when
Ii was taken from the store.