The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-05-04
The Lamson Case.

The passionate declaration which some of
the New York journals have INDUCED in
concerning the execution Of DR.. LAMsoN
by the British Government, and his execu-
ton in spite OF the efforts to save his life
which were made by his friends in this
country, have led many persons to believe
that his hanging was uniustifiable. We
were induced to look into the matter, and
have been rewarded by ascertaining to our
satisfaction that DR.. LAMsON richly de-
served the fate he met. The fact that the
would-be assassin Of Queen VICTORIA was
so promptly acquitted upon the plea OF in
sanity is convincing proof that the same
plea would have been effectual in DR.. LAM
SONS case if il had only been true.
We suppose that no Virginian who
knows. or knows of, MoNcURE ID. CONWAY
will doubt any statement which he makes.
He has written from London to the Gin
cinnati Commercial letter containing par
ticulars enough in the case to satisfy all
inquirers. After saying that when LAM
SONS crime was first published there was
general incredulity IN London, and n uni
versal hope that the dark facts could be
explained away, he adds that all London
would have felt relief 4" If LAMsON could
have raised one doubt of his guilt
in any unbiased mind" Twice was
the trial postponed at LAMsON's request,
simply because the facts were appa-
rently so conclusive that the community
was anxious not to have any item omitted
ablest counsel, and yet his counsel never
once suggested or intimated that he was
insane or even monomaniac, though he
was afterwards said to have had fanatical
belief in the efficacy of aconte. We now
quote Mr.. CONWAY:
"The quantity administered to and Sc
creted about Lamson's victim was enough
to kill dozen men. Now, 1t so happens
that the only known victim Of this acOnite
'craze' was boy by whose death LamsOn
came into $500. 1t also happens that the
deadly poison was mixed with pills and
capsules, protesting to be different medi-
cines, and given TO the lad under other
names, and under labels of chemists who
never sold the poisonous admiXture. And,
finally, this 'craZe' centred in a yegcta-
bic poison previously unconnccted with
murder, liable 10 speedy disappearance
after death, the scientific means for detect
Ing which were unknown to the medical
profession until this case occurred. In or
der to track this subtle serpent down TO the
bottom OF his labyrinthine laboratory OF
crime, and in order TO make it absolutely GER
tain that the crime was crime, two eminent
ANALYSTS poisoned themselves with enough
OF the substance taken from the boys
stomach, and then with purchased aconi-
tine. TO make themselves i'll for six hours.
Such was the kind OF search rendered ne
cessary by the strangely methodical mad
ness OF DIR. Lamson. II is pretty generally
suspected that DIR. Lamson's great conf
dence in aconitine might be accounted for
without resort TO the theory Of 'craZe.'
Since his marriage 10 Miss John another
young brother Of hers died, his portion Of
$1,000 passing to Lamson. This occurred
In DIR. Lamson's own house in the
Isle OF Wight. There could be no
inquest, for Lamson was the boys
physician and could write any certifi-
cate he liked about the disease and
death. However, it would have attracted at
tention IL another brother had died in the
same mouse. III was al Hfst IlTOpOscu 10 On
hume the body of the other brother, but
this was not done for q believe) two rea-
sons-frst, because in the lapse Of time
traces Of the vegetable poison to which
Lamson was so attached could hardly have
been traced; and secondly, because the
evidence in the second brothers case was
too conclusive to require confirmation.
But ii is pretty generally believed that it
was the facility with which it had earned
him a previous $1,000 which made DIR.
Lamson carry his 'craze' for acontine so
far. Death surely was never more
richly deserved than by DR.. Lamson.
He belongs to the profession which
has the amplest resources for secret
and undiscoyerable murder. Families
cannot analyze drugs; they must trust
their physicians with child-lke confidence,
knowing that in case patient dies there
will rarely be further inquiry. Were DR..
Lamson TO escape the gallows very seri-
Gus wrong would be done the medical pro-
fession and the public that generally trusts
1t for life and DEATH"
After reading the above, we Americans
can all rest contented in the belief that
.JoHN BULL did no wrong TO Brother JoNA-
...fa., Ia. laooaa IT, n .,s-n<