The New York herald., 1876-09-11
A POISON MANUFACTURER.
How q German Lager Beer Saloon Keeper
DOct0red His Customers.
A CASE FOR THE BOARD OF HEALTH


nntc-mortem deposition. Tho Coroner proceeded
thithcr with his deputy, Dr. Macwhnnie and after
asking few questions and learning that the lady was
suffering from vegetable hydrocyanc acid poison.
| ing departed without making the ante -mortcm exam
inaton that had boon requested by her attending ply
sician.
A HERALD reporter then made an investigation OF
the case. whicn resulted revelation OF the
alarming facts. He found that the deadliest poison
known TO science is boing extensively used in all
parts of the city, and is bought cheapy eso
factured by persons totally ignorant of its preparation
dangerous qualities 1t is put up In bottles without
label and placed where 1t easily be used by chill
drcn or others incapable OF knowing its effects The
poison referred to vegetable hydrocyanic acid, the
essential principle of OIL of bitter almonds.
The facts IN the OF Mrs Belsky as folows:-
On the night OF September 4 Mr.. Carl Besky, Of No.
423 Fifth street. with his wife. Anna. preparing
to so out to rehearsal held at the headquarters Of
the Bohemian First Brass and Quadrllc Baud" at No.
162 East Fourth street, kept by Anton KoehieE
Mrs. Bclsky complaining Of toothache at the time,
and the pain continued during the performance. After
it was over her husband suggested that she should take
some brandy TO alay the neuralgc aching. Anton
Koehler, the proprietor OF the saloon the bar,
and, when the liquor called for said d:--"Hcrc,
I'll give you something to cure the tooihache." +"
He produced small vial and poured about n table
tiaiy relieved Mrs Bssky took glasses about
the quantity OF the unknown liquid being poured
into each. About halfpast ten she to return
home, but fell down IN At after having gone only
few steps Her husband procured assistance and had
her carried home
Between five and six o'clock tho next day DR.. Ed.
mund H. Moritz, of No. 81 Third street. called
attend the sick lady. On entering the the
at perceived tho peculiar smell OF hydrocyanc
acid He asked Mr. Belsky they had any such article
in the house. the lady must have drank some Of It.
Mr. Bolsky replied that they had not but the doc
tors still insisting, he rscolectcd the liquid that his
wiic had taken at the liquor saloon in Fourth street,
and told the doctor of it. The latter examining the
patient, found all tho symptoms of vegetable hydro
cyanic intoxcaton or cyanosis. Her arms and iaco
dark blue, lips black, aud foam coming out
of her mouth She ieebly moaning ana had paraly
sis Of the CLOTHS, SO that doglutition was very din
cult The doctor prescribed the usual remedies or
ammonia and turpenlino taken In black coffee. The
ladys radal pulse entirely gone Tor nearly three
hours in spite OF continual rubbing Of the hane only
faint beating of the heart giving notice that she
alive The doctor remained several hours at her resi-
dencc. until The beating Of the pulse returned
He thon went with Mr. Besky to Koehler's saloon
and asked to be shown the bottle from which the poi
sonous liquid had been poured. Tho doctor opened
the bottle and smelcd Of It, tho fumos being
strong that he nearly got sick himself Ho
knew that tho poison used in small,
quantities, one or two drops TO gallon in Kirsch
wator, to gvo 1t peculiar bitter flavor much loved by
epicurean Teutons. Calling for glass OF water he
poured drop of tho liquid into it and the whole
sumed milky hue. Tho solution he then exhibited
to the customers in the saloon showing them the
effects Of the liquid and explaining its dangerous prop
critics. The proprietor OF The saloon then took tho
bottle and threw II into the street Mr.. Besky is
friend OF the proprietor Mr. Koehcr, aud wished to
hush up the facts the for fear Of getting him
in trouble. Dr. Moritz refrained from making any
port Of the until yesterday when he felt his duty
TO do So as he considered the womans death certain
within iorty-cight hours. Dr. Hoelger of No.
300 East Fourth street, and Dr. Siebuckle, called
in in the The husband at last agreed
with tho doctor and made further objections the
case being laid reforc the Coroner DR.. Moritz re-
grctted very much that the ante morton statement
had not been taken yesterday, the lady then
to converse anu he feared relapse lie said that tho
posmortcm would not 50 readily reveal all the facts
Of poisoning aud would have TO be by hear
say evidence
The bottle from which the poison was poured had no
label and any might have ed t. The proprietor |
OF the saloon did know the iul strength of The |
liquid he selling 1t is used by great number OF
liquor dealers in this city with different liquors,
principally brandy. One ignorant barkeeper could
poison thousands IN one day with the mixture. A |
small quantity Is sufficient to produce death. Tho |
article can be bought freely at drug stores. Many
saloon Keepers however prefer TO make themselves
buying only the MATERIALS as the cheaper metuod.
They buy the essential oil OF butter amonas and flavor
II with little lemon juice
The attention OF the Board of Health should certainly
be directed to the general use OF this dangerous com
pound in our midst In The present case Mr. Kocher |
only prevented from poisoning hundreds othcrs
by the prompt interference OF Dr. Mori,z VINO ex-
planned TO him tha nature OF the substance. A system
inspection by the Board oi Health would prevent
such occurrences Tor the iu;Ire.
waEKE
Tho frightiu case OF poisoning by hydrocy anic
acid--or rather as II proves nm Imitation of that fatal
drug artificial OIL OF bitter aimonds--convcys fearful
lesson 10 those who habuay take bitters in their
drinks. From the invest cations made by HBxALD
reporters II Is undoubtedly true that in many OF the
lager beer saloons in New York "btlcrs " are manu-
aciured by the propetors the spot and that often
times what purports TO be imported
" KORNsCHSAPPS "
Is but the essential oil OF bitter almonds, poorly dis
tcd ana only III TO flavor perumery and soap and
totally unit the human stomach The poorer
class OF Germans, Poles and Bohemians who drink
what Is known as "kinmel and that an imlnodcr
ate extent in the habit Ut increasing the flavor Of
that peculiar brandy by kornschnapps, both liquors
undoubtedly being combination OF active poisons
which, although not producing immediate paralysis OF
the vital powers, are slowly but surely tho cause Of
DEATH
AT THE SALOON
reporter paid visit last evening to the lager beer
hail OF Anton koclher, No l62 East Fourth street, be-
low First avenue This place is tue headquarters OF
the FIRST Brass and Qusdrle Band and the proprietor
is a Bohemian, aad The man who administered last
Tuesday evening TO Mrs. Anna Belsky liquid 10 stop
the toohachc from which the unfortunate woman was
suffering and which has caused a dreadful result
koeiher was found seated at table drinking with
crsl companions, while small boy dealt out lager In
glasses TO the ta.rsy guests and filed mugs and tin
pans with the liquid ragged little girls who
came To the diney bar Upon the crraId the reporter
| being made known koener arose from the table AMI
takin Out dirty slip OF paper from his pocket COM
menced TO cxplain what he had given Mrs Besky.
"ls tins the recipe from wn.ch the bitiers were
made.n
s'Ya, ya!"
''wi you read what II Is and explain itf
"la! ein quarter, twenty Two cent wort tworth) OF
mrbanc, niieen cent wort bitter pomractn ehl mix
ana make strong mt wassc-n
4 rll
the reader that thc pomraccn eh referred to nothing
moro or less than pomerance oil. or oil OF bitter
oranges, and that the mirbanc The artncii oil OF BIT
ter almonds, tho mode OF making which will be K
planned hereafter.
''Whero did you get this ~ asked the reporter.
1T was given mo by Heinrich Peck. who has now
gone 10 BOhcmia; he mike The bottle full OF which