The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-11-19
The Sanford Case.
THE TESTIMONY AT THE CORONER'S
INQUEST
Complete Exoneration Of the Implicated
Parties.

NORTH BERWICK, Nov. 10.
Mr. EDrToR-The excitement created by
the so-callad suspicious" death of Mrs
Elizabeth B. Parker of Sanford, which has
been augmented by the variously shaded com
ments of the newspaper press in Massachusetts,
New Hampshire and Maine, especially the
Daily PRESS of Nov. 3d. reached turning
point on Thursday, 18th inst, at which time
the Jury of Coroner NOVEL; held their adj
journed meeting at the house of Ivory U.
Allen, in Sanford, to hear the evidence OF wit
nesses as to the cause and manner of her
DEATH
Mr.. B. G. Parker husband of the deceased,
was fully examined by the foreman of the jury,
Drs. Day and Merrill interspersing various
inquiries relative to the situation on the morn
ing of her death, the use of camphor and pain
killer supplemented by inquiries relative to
the frequent unpleasantness about money
matters, attendant excitement, agitation that
morning on seeing Albert, with other ques-
tions, bearing upon the theory stated in the
PRESS article of the Sd inst, therein put
fort" that the death was the resultofcomplete
nervous prostration and effect of agitation. Not
a particle of evidence was elected of un-
pleasantness in the family since their marriage
over money or other matters. No agitation
occurred at Albert's appearance, and that
every thing was done for her relief at that
trying moment at the command of the husband
and his grandson who went at once to the
nearest neighbor for assistance.
Mrs. Hannah Davis testified that she was with
D,r TO- aI-uf har
and do the homework, leaving there the
morning before she died; that during the time
Mrs. Parker was subject to weakness, dizzi-
ness, short breath, faintness, went up and
down stairs with difficulty; said she was grow
ing weaker; that she heard no trouble between
Mr.. Parker and his wife; heard emo words"
between them; don't know any thing about
any excitement; heard Mrs. Parker speak
about disposing of her property; seemed I'M
decided what to do with it.
Mrs. Mary J. Allen testified to being called
for by Albert Parker to go Immediately to
the house. Went as requested and found Mrs.
Parker, as she thought, in fit Her face was
a shade purple, lips nearly black, her eyes and
mouth closed.
DR.. J. o. McCorrison of North Berwick testI-
fed that he was called to treat Mrs. Parker
early last spring. Was suffering she said
from heart disease, indigestion and breathing.
Found she had difficulty in breathing; at
times dizziness, nausea, dimness OF vision,
swelling of the limbs and bowels, puffiness of
the face said she had been treated by other
physicians; said she was dropsical. knew
that DR.. Staples, now deceased, had treated
her for that. l found her heart beating very
rapidly and feebly, pulse at the wrist hardly
perceptible ilwas led to think on the ex-
aminations made that there might be some
trouble with the heart, caused either by in
digestion or some other diseases. From my
first examination 1 could not made diagnosis.
The treatment was to strengthen the heart
action. I was called the morning that she
died to go to Mr.. Parker's. l was administer
ing ether in dentists office at the time. Soon
left to harness my horse. After Harvesting my
horse went to the drug store to replenist my
medicine case, and when getting into my car
riage l was hailed by Mr.. Parker, the young
man, who asked me if 1 was going up to see
grandmother, l said, eyes" His reply was,
store, said to my partner, Mr.. Pierce, II have
been summoned to Sanford to see Mrs Parker
she is dead, and what would you do?" was
perpleXed, 1 did not know what to do. Mr..
Pierce said 81 would not CO." In answer to
the question by foreman if Albert Parker told
not tell me not to CO." In answer to DR.. Day,
he said, did casually examine the heart;
there was slight murmur; did not consider
the examination perfect. told Mrs. Parker
she should be kept quiet. All the symptoms
might be other than organic.
DIR. o. B. Hanson of North Berwick testified
that he had known Mrs. Parker professionally
since April last. When called to treat her was
suffering from indigestion and gastric trouble
was troubled with her heart and head; COM
planned of shortnesS of breath when she took eX
ercise, circulation was not great pulse at that
time very weak; limbs swollen; put1iness OF the
indicating dropsy. I did not make a careful
examination, thought there was trouble with
the right side of the heart.
DIR. McCorrison on being recalled was asked
by DR.. Day the following question:
In case presenting the appearances of gen.
eral debility that this case presented to you,
when examined, and that a subsequent post
mortem exa nination revealed atrophy (wast-
ing away of the brain, and no evidence OF dis
ease of the heart; what in your opinion would
be the cause of death in such case?
Ans.-It might be made due to sudden and
violent shock, a paralysis of the hearts action,
and that in my opinion might account for the
purplish condition of the face and lips
DR.. j. f. Day of Alfred testified that he
made post-mortem examination assisted by
DR.. f. B. Merrill of Alfred, Oct. 30th,) of the
body of Mrs. Elizabeth Parker of Sanford,
having been summoned by despatch from
Coroner NOVEL;. He came to Sanford and
made the examination; examined the heart,
brain and other organs, and found no disease
sufficient to cause Immediate DEATH 1 took
the stomach and part of the liver with me;
kept it in nay own possession until delivered
it into the hands of the State Assayer the next
Monday, I received his report last Saturday,
which is here and I attach it to my state
ment.
EXTRACT.
Dr. j. T. Day:
DEAR S1R,-"I have today completed my ex-