National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1878-02-08
SUICIDE ON A RAILROAD TRAIN.
Tho Death Of Mrs. d. ,. Behrepd-vacts
Drought Out at the Inquest Yesterday.

Tho Death Of Mrs. u. J. Behrepd-Tact,
Drought Out at the Inquest Yesterday.
The sudden death OF Mrs. Emma Behrend, on
train on the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad, q
short distance out Of the city last Wednesday amor
noon. was noted I'm yesterdays REPUBLICAN,. Their,
wero circumstances which led to the belief tina
Mrs. Behrend committed suicide. Coroner Patter
son held an inquest yesterday afternoon at the res
idencc OF DR.. A. Behrend, brothcrin.law OF the de
ceased, OH II street.
1tappeared from statements made before the jur,
that Mrs. Behrcnd had been sick and her mind de
ranged ever since her mothers death, which oc
Cured last August. Seven weeks ago she was sent
to Mo- Mount HOPE Asylum Bal,imors upon the adyic,
the physician In charge OF the asylum wrote tn Mr.
Behrend that she was improving aud she also
wrote saying that she wanted TO come home to sec
her children. She was brought home last sunday
night; Monday morning she lef the house, saying
that she was going to the dressmakers, and stayed
finally decided to send her back to the asylum
again. Mr.. Behrend and his wife, In com pany with
her sister took the one o'clock train for baltimore
over the baltimore and Potomac road last wedneS.
day While passing through the tunnel at the
Nayy.Iard. Mrs Bchrend complained that Il wa,
the tunnel she died. She was sitting with her
sister at the time, and Mr. Behrend occupied seat
behind her. Mr.. Behrcnd stated to the jury yestcr.
done II
WHILE PASSING THROUGH THE TUNNEL.
The body was brought back to the city rs soon as
possible. Mr.. Themes II. Nansant, foreman OF car
inspectors on the road soon amer the death found
an ounce bottle, one. fourth full Of pr,iSsic acid
under the scat that Mr.. Behrcnd occupied. DR..
johnson Elliott, IN his deposition read before the
iary, stated that he was reNuested by Mn sau,.ag,
months ago. Ho had called upon Mrs Behrcnd
several times and had found her mentally de
apprchcnsive Of approaching calam ~ or trouble.
He begged the sister TO watch her movements rs
he feared she might destroy her own lie. and he
friends preferred Mt Hope Asylum, baltimore lie
had no doubt OF her insanity. Or. Behrend testi-
icd that Mrs. Behrend had been ~ for six months.
being afflicted with insanity. which has been in.
cFcasng from time TO time, until about two months
ago. when he was obliged TO order her removal 10
a asylum " ior sate keeping Her condition was
bodily harm. Within the last two weeks he had
received letter frou the physician Of the asylum
saying that she was somewhat better. Her symr.
toms, while there were several COMPOSITIONS OF the
brain, at which times she became completely un.
controilable. Last Monday night he heard that she
In condition tolcrably quiet hut far from satlsac.
tory lie saw her aguin Tuesday evening when
she was suffering from severe congestion of the
bra In aud beyond control. He prescribed for her
and advised that she be watched all night as he
had reason IN believe that she had made efforts to
obtain poison. lie ordered her return to the asy.
inh, and did not see her again until she was dead.
lie was present ut the autopsy. and detected slight
odor 81 bitter almonds, and he thought that that
N.
the opinion that she might have dropped dead at
any time without poison
II was evident from the testimony that Mrs. Bch.
rchd had made most persistent and
DETERMINED EFFORT To DESTROY her LIFE.
Mr.. \. NJ KloczewSki, druggist i9S Ninth street
northwest testified that she rnmc to his place last
Tuesday morning and kcd the properties OF yarors
poisonS particularly Paris green she said that some
woman had taken half a spoonful of II by mistake
and she wanted To know ifthcy had some antidolc
she also asked if thses was any stronger poison
that would XIII instantly but the witness advised
her to 90 10 tho woman as soon possible Half
an hour amer this she called ngaln and asked The
clerk give her twenty cents worth of prussic acid
Hinkc near tho witness store and asked him 10 pro
cure The prlssic acid for her He came to the Store
immediately and cautioned witness not to give
Mrs.. Bchrcnd anything, Us he thought she was out
Of her mind. Witness was present as chemist at
the autopsy, and upon examination OF the contents
Of the stomach detected the peculiar odor Of by.
Nj. George Chichester. druggist, corner of Ninth
and u streets, testified that Tuesday afternoon
lady came to his store with prescription for strong
hydrocyanic acid. She Was Informed that they did
not have the kind she wanted She said none
other would do. and left. Witness did not notice
She soon returned, but witness would not put up
the prescription, Is he felt satisfied that there was
something wrong about Y
had since discovered wn Mr. Bchrend visited
his ONCE last Tuesday, and sald her servant girl
had been poisoned with paris green. aud asked
ness replied that very small dose was sufficient
as II was powerful poison, and asked where the
woman lived, 30 that he might go at once to her
assistance. She replied on Maryland avenue be-
tween Four half and Sixth streets but was
not certain about the number. He impressed upon
her the necessity of prompt action and she stated
that she would go home aud let him know in ten
minutes where the woman lived. She went
away, but never returned. Mrs, Bchrsnd was
remarkably cool and collected and he had seen no
evidence Of mental alteration Dr. Hartgan wa,
also present at the autopsy and testified TO finding
traces of prlISsc acid There was no disease OF The
ORGANS: The general Appearance of the body lndl.
Gated death from that form OF poison. This apear.
the manner Of death pointed to priissic acid Tes.
timony was also brought out that Mrs. Dehrend
procured
PRESCRIPTION FOR HYDRoCYANIc ACID
from physician, on the representation that her
husband was engaged In the Photographic business
and was then making experiments In which he
wanted to use the acid. She gave her name then
tween First and second.
The testimony Of Mr.. d. J. Behrend the husband
Of the deceased, and OF Mr.. NanZant who found
tie bottle OF prussic acid Ia the car wOs also taken
The jury returned a verdict that she came TO her
death by reason Of an overdose OF hydrocyanIc
acid, administered by herself while laborlng under
mental alteration
II Is still mystery where Mrs Behrend obtained
The poison. Tho bottle found In the car had no
iaDci except That bearing the name Of the manu-.
II seems Improbable that she obtained 1t on The
prescription given to her. as II was found I'm her
pocket amer death. Any druggist who had put
u up would have retained the prescription The
hlned II at Gathers drug store, but the testimony
at the Inquest was To the contrary will be seen
by referring to the statement made by Mr. ChideS.
Ter, ialthen suCce/Or.