, 1873-11-01
DEATH IN THE BOTTLE,
A Dondly Poison Mistaken for Sherry
Wfnca-TWo Nlcn Killed and Ono In
PERIL

"A DOHA1T EO18On m1AGhAen 1OF SnGfFy
Winc.-Two Nlcn Killed and Ono In
From tho Nt,o port Sun, Oct. 90.
Gilos TAYLOR, agod about 81, and John Dono-
hue, agel 80. both laborers on tho North River
piers, and both unmarried. were boardorR at 101
Donoh,lo went to their couchos. Taylor drew on
his clothoB md won't to the closet to hang them
up. In looking through tho upper eholvos ho
M 70
cd 1t 10 Donohuo, who also pronounced It sherry
vino. They wero IN high glee over their disooy.
cry, suppoHng 1t to bo the private property Of
aome othor boardcr. They conceived It good
At tho black bottle, and tdon called in Magnor,
another boardor, and friend, Michael Copies, Of
Washington and Watts street. Thoro was but
little Of The etnn left in tho bottle, and they got
Tho company separated, and Taylor md Dono-
,huo went to bed. Soon after Taylor said,
That's mighty bad rum, John" Donohue
roplied Oh, it's good enough" They soon
tlonB in their stomachs. It nctod directly on
their, bowels, and they grew very sick. They
purgod and vomitod. They wore mp and down
and In aud out Of tlle1r room nll night, and con-
great quantities. But their stomaohs would not
retain 1t. They shouted that they wero burning
NIagnor, in the adjoining room, suffered almost
Hb befbEe4y 1S kHoY u1u 4uo iRutu0Tu E0k up
onco, md after fussing about 8 short timo with
out doing tho1n any good, retired to his drowsy
couch again. No attention waa given tho men-
nothing was done to prevent tho purging or Ito
relieve tho pain. Although they woro absolute
ly dying. no physician sent for until o'clock
On Monday afternoon. Then diBpeusarY prac-
titionor went to tho house. He gave them no re-
llof. Their pulHoa weic weak aud fast declining.
They had had no .stimulanta Of any sort. Tic
diBponsary physician went his way, and troubled
himself no moro with the caHes.
At 8 p. m. DR.. Van Kleeck, Of 1850 Franklin
street, ,was sont for. Ho found Taylor and Dono-
hue rolling in agony. ..
The pulses Of tho sufferers wore scarcely per-
coptible; their Dyes were aunken their akin had
assumed tho lvid hue OF poisoned men they
suffered from intense thirst and fever, aud both
had dry tongues with u brown coating. Tho
membrane from mouth to stomach was DESTROY
Cd; their orromition were cold. II short, taylor
and Donohue woro dying. It was thon twenty
four hours after thoy drank tho liquid from tho
black bottle, and they woro entirely helpless.
M ers It to fi tho ios amd wth ao
agnoua drinks to rolieve their pain.
Tho physician procured the mysterious black
bottle and examined 1t. As ho turned 1t up quan-
titioa Of colchicum seed rau from 1t. Shaking
pound of tho seed. Ho asked the sick men
whothor they did not notice tho seed when they
drank tho liquid from tho bottle. Thoy said
they did, but "Bupposod 1t to be lios." Tho
rheumatism. aud, boaring an odor similar to
sherry wine, was easily mistaken for it.. Tho
quantity which thoy took was enough to kill
four mon. At II o'clock on Monday evening DR..
Van luoeck made another visit to the dying mon.
Tho house was dark, aud tho landlord was COM
fortably in bed. Three dying men wero within
twenty foot OF him. To tho physician, who
nroused him, ho said he must havo his sleep, as
ho could not loso his next day's work. Or. Van
KloocA wns satisfied that no remedies or alton
tion could snve Taylor Or Donohuo, and his
aged tho sick mon as much as he could, but told
tue landlord that preparations must DO made for
their death that If they wished religious minis
tratious priest Hlould bo sent for soon. Thls
wns donc.
Taylor and Donohue fingered until yesterday
at noon, when they died within n few minutes
of each other. Magner still lived up to late
hour last night, and tue prospects or recovery
wore favorable.
Caples, who drank but sup Of tho liquid
mixed with water, went home. He soon COM
plained to his wife Of gripos in bis stomach, but
next morning he went to his work al usual, aud
has felt no inconyonienco sfnoo.