New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-07
POISONED BY MISTAKE.
CHLoRoFoRM DRUNK FOR GIN.

CHLOROFORM DRUNK FOR GIN.
TWO INMATFs or BLACKwELEs ISLAND LUNATIC
ASYLUM DIE FROM CHLORoFORM- THE DRUG
STOLEN by ANOTHER INMATE AND DRANK by
ALL IN HEIR ALE.
Two women died from the effects of poison,
In the Lunatic Asylum BlaCkwel's Island, one
sunday, the other yesterday morning. Another woman
who caused these deaths, Is now In prccarous cOnd
ton hut IL Is thought that she will recover Those
nected with the asylum that certain privileges
given to patients who have partially or almost wholly
recovered Some OF them are assigned to assist rs God
VIM the matrOu IN keeping the institution clean. They
are termed helpers When the patients have reached GER
tain stage in their disease the physicians consider 1t
es,ary TO prescribe tonic for them. This tonic is
ally bottle of ale Every day about fifty or sixty bot
ties Of ale arc given out The custom is to send the bot
tie to the patients roOm but occasionally when patient
calls at the drug store where the bottles are kept the
druggist provides her with bottle.
Annie Hanuahan, who is q helper and is engaged In
scrubbing floors and washing windows called Saturday
ON the druggist and asked for her bottle number OF
them that had been distributed the door at
the time He complied with her request, aud then
moved behind the counter 10 mix prescrip
ton. while his back was turned Annie Han.
nahan took from the counter bottle OF
chlorofOrm containing 10 ounces, placed II under
color Of the liquid that II was gin. she mixed portion
with her ale she then invited Mary Bracken, another
innate to her room and the two women drank freely
from the bottle subsequently she discovered, In the
bathroom, Julia Hogan former inmate OF the work
house but lately employed awarcSs by Mr. JerOauon,
steward of the asylum. To her also the bottle was
offered In the afternoon Julia Hogan was found sick
I'm her rOOm On investigation, Dr. Bowen dlscOv-
cred that she had been taking chorofprn. Every
Inmate OF the institution was examined It was found
that the other two suffering from the same
cause. Proper medical treatment was promptly given
them. On Sunday morning, at o'clock Jula Hogan
died Mary continued under the effects OF the
poison until 1870 a me- yesterday when she also died
Annie Hanuuhnn IL is thought, Will recover Dr. W. W.
sIrow, superintendent OF the asylum, IN speak
| ing Of the deaths, yesterday. said The hrst
indication Of anything wrong was noticed IN Julla
Hogan About o'clock; wien u. ai was oeins
tite and left the table. She went to her room and lay
ON the bed under the full power OF the ohorofom, unt
| 3 O'clock Nothing known of her condition until
workhOuse who Is waitress In the institution,
| discovered that sha was iusenslble. Dr. Hnckey was
| ar.t called 10 her. ana afterward DR.. Bowen"
| DIR, Bowen, taking up the narrative, said: " The
| wOman's breath smelled OF chOrOiOrm, but | was
| at a loss TO know how she could get It. 1
| sont for Hugh HRgan, the druggist, and
| found that he had missed the bottle OF
chlOrofom. In making further investigation
ordered that Annie Hauuahan should searched. She
had became the object Of suspicion, because Ann