The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-06-22
PARSONs's SUICIDE.

| PARSONS'S SUICIDE.
The CorOner's Inquest Yesterday.
PARTICULARS OF DECEAsED's TROBBLEs-
HOW HE CAME TO TAKE PoIsON-PECU-'
/ NIARYKMBARRAssMEN PROBABLY THE,
CAUsE-AN UNBELIEvING SET OF PEo-
PLE-MIsERABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR,
SICK AT THE JAIL=Ne PHYSICIAN REGU-
| LARLY ON HAND-yERDlCT OF THE COR
oNER's JURY.
An inquest was held at the Medical Col
lege yesterday evening upon the body of
Daniel Parsons, who on Tuesday morning
took arsenic, intending to commit suicide.
No post-mOrtem examination was made, as
| il is not required in cases where no suspi-
cions of murder exist. Coroner Taylor,
however, went down to Harris's store, where
Parsons took poison, and upon examining
specks of the drug found on the floor and
on the washstand ascertained that it was
arsenic, and so told the jury. ......i.,a
AS Coroner Taylor was witness in the
case, the investigation was conducted by
his deputy Or Christopher Tompkinsl who
very rigidly cross-examined all the wit
nesses. He was largely instrumental in
bringing out the prominent facts, which go
to show that the city Jail is no better ar
ranged to care for sick prisoners now than
when Sycles miserably perished there, and
that suitable hospital rooms and resident
physician are greatly needed. .s7r ~
The first person examined was
A. S. LLOYD.
He said: I saw Mr.. Daniel Parsons
June Goth at my place OF business, 1884
east Main street. He was brought there
by Mr.. Harris. MIR. Harris asked me
to get in the wagon and go to look for
clocks that he had carried out to sell
for Mr.. Harris. I got into the wagon,
and while there Mr.. Cullingsworth, the dri-
yer, told Mr.. Harris that he Parsons) had
taken poison. Mr.. Harris picked up an
envelope labelled arsenfc," and asked
envelope. Parsons replied that he had, and
if it did not kill he would take his life in
some other way. We all then drove down
to Mr.. Judson Cunningham's drugstore, Mr..
Harris having gotten into the wagon with us,
and by his Harris' 's) instructions we drove up
to DR.. Taylor's office. Iwoke up DR.. Taylor,
and told him we had man there who had
taken arsenic. DR.. Taylor replied that he
was not practicing physician, but that l
must take him at once to some practicing
physician. ! carried him to DR.. Tabb's Of
fee, within sight-about half a square Off
At DR.. Taylor's Mr.. Gayle Joined Us, who saw
DR.. Tabb, who instructed him to administer
some sweet oil or buttermilk. Carried Par
sons back to Mr.. Harris's store. Mr.. Har-
ris went after another physician, and found
DR.. Woodson. Parsons went with us to
ltBodeker's, and there took the medicine
prescribed by DIR, WOodson against his
(Parson's) will. / then carried Parsons
back to the store and went about
town about business. DR.. Tabb's advice
was not carried out because of having found
another physician at the drugstore. From
Parsons manner was led to suppose that
he was drinky, though to the best of my
knowledge and belief it was not his habit to
drink to excess until recently. l did not
believe that he had taken poison. Have
heard that Ire had threatened to take his life
before, believe. l believe that the doctors
mentioned in my evidence did for him all
that could reasonably have been expected OF
them under the circumstances.
MR.. THOMAS Il. HARRIS
testified: Mr.. Parsons sold goods for me on
found no fault with him. Then he was
short in his account, and had been drink
! ing. He subsequently satisfied me, and
worked again satisfactorily until about two
weeks ago, when he commenced drinking
again. Having failed in my efforts to get
him to come to me / went to him, arriving
at his house about 5 A. NJ. the goth. His
wife told ME that he was not in, and that he
came home late the night before dead
! drunk. She showed me an envelope Labelled
+" "Arscnic-Poison the contents Of which
he told her he was going to take, but she
.Ltook it from him. I then went to look for
4 him, and finally found him at Mary Gibbs's,
i near the corner OF Twenty-ffth and Main
streets. l thought he had been drinking.
He went with me to- my store. Both
\ of us then went back to the corner to
\ get drink OF water! Leaving Parsons in
! the back of the store / went to the front.
In about minute afterwards Mr.. Cuttings
worth, my driver, told Inc that he saw him
taking something. Going back to the cooler
I found an envelope labelled D." "Arscnic--
Poison" ,.,...,... .-.'..r...,.n,...
I asked Parsons if he had taken this
poison. He replied that he had. 70 see II
he had told the truth l put him in the wagon
| with others before mentioned, and drove to
| Judson Cunnfngham's drugstore, who told
| me that he. had sold him half ounce OF arse
mic shortly before my arrival. On his adj
vice had him sent to DR.. Taylor's office.
Eprocured the envelope before mentioned,
gave it to Mr.. Gayle, and told him to follow
the wagon, and giYeit the envelope) to DR..
Taylor. On their return to the store went
in search Of a doctor, and found Dr.. Nv ood-
son, who, prescribed for him. Being in
doubt as to whether or not he had taken
poison, thought best to turn him over to
the city authorities, and procured the SER
vices OF Officer Whitlock, who took charge
Of hun. So far as my knowledge goes, up
to the time ,Whitlock, took charge OF hun
Parsons had had every attention that his
circumstances could reasonably demand.
-,..,.,,a. WILLIAM cvLLINGswORTH ~,
4 swore that he saw Parsons take something
out of a mug, Picking up the same mug to
drink myself, l. saw medicine in it that
looked like white powder. l called Mr.
Harris, who asked him Parsons) if ne had
taken poison. Parsons replied that he had.
/ thought Parsons had been drinking. He
acted [howeverl as q man who had his
senses about him. So
R. A. GAYLE i-..
deposed lin addition to what was. said by
other witnesses): I went to Dr.. STahb's
office, who told me that Parsons did not
have the appearance of man who had taken
arsenic; but if he had, to make him Yomit
and give him dose OF sweet oil OF plenty
OF buttermilk DR.. Tabb was not dressed,
but came TO; the doors; Then reported to
Mr. Harris as related by Mr.. Harris, &c.