The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-03-25
OR. LAMS0N.

The recent conviction IN London and sen
tence to be hung of Dr. Lirnson, an American
on, to say the least, very tim evidence, is ex
citing some remark On this side. The history
Of the case Is briefly as follows:
DR.. George Henry Lamsou is an American,
and the son of an Episcopal clergy man who
has been connected with the American Chapel
IN Paris and with EnglisLspeaking churches
OF other cities Of the Continent, more recently
with the chapel in florence He is about 35
years OF age, but looks 10 be at least 40. He
took his medical degree IN Paris, and was al.
,erward licensed by the Edinburgh College OF
Physicians and Surgeons He served as a sur.
geon in the several European wars of the last
decade, winning a number of medals from diff
ferent governments. Upon his retirement
from army service he settled down to practice
in Hampshire, England, Last spring he visit.
cd this country. His practice was not remun.
erative. Recently he had pawned his watch
and surgical instruments. Having exhausted
not only his own funds but those of his wife
as well, he resorled 10 swlndling by drawing
checks upon banks IN which he had no ac
count
Percy Malcolm John his victim, was the
brother of DR.. Lamsou's wife He was youth
- years OF age, and Il student in the Bienhcim
House School at Wimbledon. where the muir
der was committed. Young John suffered
from disease OF the spine, hut otherwise his
health was generally good. At times he had
TO take medicine, and II WAS this fact that DIR.
Linson took advantage Of Upon his death
before his majority about Sl1, 500 which he
had inherited would 90 TO Mrs. Lamson and
another sister
On Dec. 3, 1881, Dr. Lamson called upon his
brothcr.inlaw. He left some quinlne pow.
ders for him. and to show him how to avoid
the dlsagreeable taste poured one into gcla-
tine capsule, which young John swallowed.
After visit of half an hour DR.. Lamson left
for Paris. Two hours later Percy John was
taken severely sick. Physicians labored over
him tor about two hours, when he died.
An analysis of the contents of his stomach
and Of the vscera revealed the presence of
aconite, most deadly vegetable poison
Aconite was also found in some Of the qui-
nine powders lett by DR.. Lamson. The cir
surrounding the death Of Percy
John "a published cast Suspicion upon DR.
LamsOn. This fact, he SAID, induced him to
return from Paris and surrender himself at
Scotland Yard on Dec. s, five days after the
murder He did So he said, for the purpose
OF clearing himself of suspicion, but to his
chagrin he was arrested The chemical analy
ses were not completed until Jan. 20, and the
results obtained, together with the circum.
stances mentioned, induced Coroner's Jury
to commit DR.. Lamson on a charge OF wiful
murder.
The trial was begun on the It'll inst and
lasted nearly two weeks The prosecution
presented the circumstances as related, alleg-
ing that the capsule administered on Dec 3
the poison, together with the ex-
pert testimony and evidence to show that DIR.
Lamson's reduced financial condition was suf.
ficient motive for the crime. HIS record was
produced, and IL was lntlmated that Dr. Lam
son was responsible for the death of Percy
Johns brother few years ago, and had made
an attempt on Percy's life last spring. The
jury returned verdict of guilty after being
out few minutes, and the prisoner was soon
sentenced to be hanged,