The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-10-11
A WHOLE FAMILY POISONED.

A WHOLE FAMILY POISONED.
Melancholy Death of Miss Lizzie Ora
ham and Servant--Eight Other.
Still Seriously Ill.
From Me Nc,us and Courier, Oct. 9Th,
For day or two it has been known
that members of prominent family in
this city were suffering severely from the
effects of some poison, but the NATURE Of
which and the--lneans by which it Was
taken were both unknown. The natural
dislike of those Involved 10 publicity ha;
shielded them from it, but the matter has
now assumed such grave proportions that
further suppression of the facts is both
useless and inexpedient.
The family referred to is that of the
late Judge Graham, consisting of Mrs
Graham and her children, who reside al
the corner of Rutledge avenue and Spring
street. Several of its members have been
absent in the country during the summer
Miss Lizzie Graham, the eldest unmar.
ried daughter, has been on visit to her
aunt, Mrs. Mccall, of Rockingham, N,
G., with her brother James, ayoung man
about 16 years old. She and her brother
returned on Monday night bringing with
them their cousin, Miss Mccall. They
brought with them basket of delicacies
of various sorts sent by Mrs. Mccall to
Mrs. Graham, including several roasted
chickens. At Marion the party was
joined by Mrs. Ford, of that place, and
her son, and they came to the city TO-
gether, all going to Mrs. .Graham's resi-
dence, arriving there about half-past.1O
o'clock at night. Being tired and hungry
from the elong Journey, Miss Mccall, Miss
Lizzie, her brother and Mrs. Ford par
took of a lunch, including a portion of
one of the roasted chickens. All then
retired.
In the morning it was discovered that
all four of them were i'll, none of them
being able to leave their rooms. The
remainder of tue family, however, con-
sisting of Mrs. Graham and her children
Robert, Harllee and May-took break
fast, eating freely of the roasted chickens.
Mr.. Ford eat breakfast with the others,
but eat none of the chicken. After the
family had breakfasted, the two colored
female servants-an old cook and the
house girl, Elvira Summers--also break
tasted, like the others partaking of the
chicken. By,12 o'clock that day every
one in the house, except Mr.. Ford, was
sick, and showing unmistable symptoms
of poisoning.
DR.. Porcherl was summoned, and at
once commenced using every means in
the resources ofmedical. science to coun-
teract the effects of the poison. He
brought to his aid several of the best
physicians in the city, and since then
their efforts have been unremitting and
unceasing. The colored girl, Elvira
Summers, had gone to her home in Nor
ris street, near King. Here she had
been without medical aid, her family
probably not supposing her sickness to be
serious. yesterday she had two convul-
sions, and about II o'clock she died.
Coroner Collins Immediately visited
the body, land requested Drs. Michel and
Buist to aid him in making post-mortem
q A careful investigation
was made, and the result is best told by
the following letter:
CHARLESTON, Oct. 4, 1877.
To the Coroner of Charleston County, DR..
IT. II. Collins;
DEAR. SIR-At your request we have
examined the body Of Elvira Summers,
who died this day, October 4, and find
the mucous membrane of the stomach
strikingly congested, in many places ex-
hibiting patches ofvascularity, no ulcer.
alton or other organic lesion, and the
whole surface covered with tenacious
mucous highly colored of a reddish yel-
low hue. We are under the impression
that the above appearances indicate the
presence of some corrosive or irritating
substance having been the cause of the
gastric symptoms which preceded her
DEATH; We recommend the analysis of
the contents of the stomach, which have
been removed, by competent chemist.
ar, MIDDLETON MICHEL, NJ. d.
j. 8. BUIsT, NJ. D.
The stomach of the deceased and its
were carefully preserved, and
submitted to Professor G. U. Shepard, an
accomplished chemist, for analysis. For
personal reasons he at first declined max
ing the, examination, but finally con-
sented, the case being one of especial in
terest and importance, and he will prob.
ably begin to-day. .
It may be explained that the word
"vascularity," in the letter given above,
means in effect that, in places there was
a great enlargement of the cells which
formed the lining inside of. the stomach,
indicating irritation. The coroner will
probably empanel jury and begin the
inquest to-day. M
At about z o'clock last evening, despite
the efforts of.the physicians, Miss Lizzie
Graham breathed her last. The news of
her daughters death was great shock
to Mrs. Graham, and will doubtless affect
her unfavorably, but her case is by no
means desperate one.
The other persons affected by the poi
son are very i'll, but no particularly un-
favorable symptoms had shown them
selves up to late last night, and the doc
tors hope to restore them, although b their
return 10 neaitn musG necessarily DC SLOW
and painful.
1t is idle, in the face of q catastrophe
30 horrible, to attempt the utterance of
any tribute to the memory of the de-
ceased young lady, or the proffer of SYM
pathy. Such an event is unprecedented
in the annals of the city, and must come
with stunning effect upon the many
who knew and loved her so well. The
family to which she belonged is SO gen
orally and favorably known throughout
the State that the sorrow for her untimely
death will be universal. 1t is only nee
essary to say that the heartfelt sympathy
which finds no expression in words will
be given by the people, not only of
Charleston, but of the whole State, to
her afflicted relatives and friends. Miss
Graham was about 18 years of age, and
the affection and esteem with which she
was regarded by all who knew her is the
hest testimony of her worth,