The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-08-02

swered if she's the little woman
think she is, she'll bear it nobly, and no
matter what the result, she won't think
less of you. Now, then, what was then
ture of your mistake ?'
"Oh dear cousin Rob, very bad
one !! | put in three grains Of atropia for
three grains of assaf9tida, and you know
that one-sixth of a grain of atropia is
a large dose. knew it was a strange
prescription but, as it came from DR..
Barton Brewster, who knows what he's
about, and is a regular customer of our
shop, | put it up, and gave it to the mes
senger. | was so glad to get bed again,
that | didn't think about anything until
about half an hour afterwards, when the
doctor himself walked in, and asked to
see the prescription. hadn't put it in
the book yet, so | handed it'back, saying
very harshly:
" Young man, read that prescription
again"
Z" did as he babe me, thoroughly
awake by this time, and to my horror,
read three grains of assaf@tida, instead of
three grains of atropia'
DR.. Brewster looked fercely at me for
moment, and went off, leaving me with
the prescription in my hand. and saying
You've killed woman by your care
lessness you'll have to settle it with the
coroner in the morning
We'll and they arrested you this
morning?"
Yes, about seven O'Clock. The Off
Ger says it was good in DR.. Brewster not
to give information against me until after
daylight, since | might have got away in
the meantime, if | had been of mind to
do so which, no doubt, was the DOCTOR
idea. But, bless you, Cousin Rob /! didn't
think of running away | couldn't run
away. if it was only for Nellie's sake
Nellie was dear little girl, to whom
Charley had been engaged for year or
two, and was likely to be for few years
more, as he was waiting until he could
get in business for himself and marry
her.
Il cast over the whole thing in my
hiiiIu, anu 'Ht uIst iuci WiltH StIuch me
was that Charley ought to have lawyer
present to watch the proceedings, and see
that he had at least legal rights, where
all would be preiudiced against him. No
sooner thought, than | remembered that
| had been able to do considerable pro-
fessional service in the family of young
lawyer by the name of Sanford; in fact
| had been fortunate enough to snatch a
favorite child of his almost out of the
grip of death. Sanford was, like myself,
unable to make both ends meet, and tell.
ing me his inability to pay me then,
hoped that l. Or some ofmy friends, would
endeavor to make professional use ofhim
This was just the time, and, before the
inquest opened, | had Sanford on the spot
anxions to be Of use
1.-The evidence was very simple. The
deceased boarded in the house where she
died. Was young girl about nineteen.
Had no relatives, and only one or two
friends in Boston. Nobody visited her
HAD not been very well for a dav or ,ro
DR.. Brewster had prescribed, late the
night before, and sent a boy to Marcein 5
drugstore for the prescription. Pre-
scription-book produced by Marcclin, the
proprietor of the drugstore. prescrip.
tion read.
R. llydrag. choromite,
Ext. rhei IA Scrupc,
.Assaf@t. or. ii.
Pillules vi"
" 1t was written with a hard lead-pcn-
ell on an ordinary bit of white unrulcd
writing paper
"Then came Brewstcr's evidence He
identified the prescription. When he
/ found there was something wrong with
Miss Selby, the deceased he went to Mar
cclin's. and saw Drake, who admitted to
having put three grains of atropia in the
prescription, instead of the same quantity
of assafetida.
Then came medical evidences as to
the effect of airopia, and the amount that
should be given in dose which made
half a grain to each pill, when onc-sixth
of grain should be enough
" 1t all looked very bad for poor
Charley, and saw plainly that, in the
present state of the case Sanford could
not help him any. There was only one
question he asked Dr. Brewster, which
seemed rather to bother the doctor, anil
was suggestive to me.
| -" Doctor he said, how was it that.
when you suspected something wrong
with Miss Selby, you left her for nearly
half an hour with the ignorant people Of
this house, and went yourself down to
Marceln's, instead of trying something
to relieve the deceased, and sending -
messenger to Marcelin's?
DIR. Brewster said he wanted to be
personally satisfied
And how was it, doctor, that when
you were personally satisfied you con-
tented yourself with using only simple
remedies, such as sulphate of zine, and
did not call in other aid until Miss Selhy
was past all hope?'
! DIR. Brewster answered that he had
acted to the best of his judgment, and
was not responsible to anybody, even it
he erred, which he did not, and so closed
the inquest, and Charley was committed
to stand his trial for mansaughter, his
bail having been placed at ten thousand
dollars. OF course, bail was impossible
and Charley went to prison cheered into
little hope by Sanford and myself, but
still nearly heart-broken. Then either
little Nellie Wilson, Sanford or myself,
visited him daily, and did our best to
cheer him but the prospect was dark,
and the State Prison loomed up before
him. The day of his trial was approach
ing, and there was not bit of evidence
to submit in defence, save good character
and recommendations from former en-
ployers and from Marcein, all of which
was poor hope.
"One day business led me by the house
where Miss Sclby had died. and do not