Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-03

through the maximum Of sun-spots Whether
the planets have anything to do with the COM
motion agitating his surface ~ something which
no astronomer has Vet been able to determine.
The problem remains to be solved In the astron-
omy OF the future.
THE LAMSON POISONING CASE.
Parallel Cases taken from English md
American Criminal Annals.
The "Hermit," Of the Troy Times, has pre-
pared the following highly interesting article
upon the case which has attracted 30 much
popular notice in England and America:
Public attention has been widely attracted by
the Lamson case. not only because OF its
peculiar features. but also by the kinship
which the prisoner holds with q distinguished
American family. The case, strange a. it
may appear. bears close Resemblance to ono
which thrilled the gentry OF England o CEN
tury ago. | refer to the conviction and exc
cutiOn Of Captain Donellan for the murder u
Sir TheOdOslus Boughton. The parallel 10 20
complete that / offer few facts obtained by
reference to the report found In the Aston
library. The victim was Q young baronet.
whose sister had married Donellan, and oil three
lived with her mother. The victim was an in
valid and WAS under medical attendance, his
mother being q faithful nurse. One morning
she gave him the usual draught. but noticed
noticed this, and also SAID that the taste was so
repulsiye that he could hardly swallow It. He
soon complained of pain, and his mVther being
briefly called from the room, found him on her
return speechless and foaming at the mouth. In
short time he died, and was duly buried Tho
sudden and mysterious manner OF his death,
however, soon awOke suspicion, which conferred
on Capt. DOnellan, especially Is Sir Theodosius
stood between him and o handsome property.
1t was known that DOnellan had q small port.
q in Ia nd 0la hot hob oH1
distilling laurel leaves obtained from Q tree In
the garden. IL was also known that laurel
water was poisonous To this was added the
very suspicious fact that as soon as the victim
was dead Capt. Donellan entered the room, and
not only washed out the glass which contained
the draught, but also removed the bottle from
which the latter had been poured. He also put
lime into his still, and in reply to inquiry said
that he had purposed distilling lime water,
whereas all know that the latter is simply
these circumstances D0nellan was o0n-
victed. and was hung nine days afterward.
Many considered the testimony insufficient, and
at the present day he would have been acquitted.
but an important link i'm the chain was discov-
cred after his DEATH volume OF philosophical
treatises was then found i'm his room with one OF
the pages cut out. The missing page (round by
comparison with unmutilated volumes) con-
tanned formula for distillng laurel. Among
those features which rendered the parallel the
more remarkable are the following: The Donel-
Ian case was the first instance of poisoning by
laurel water known In English Jurisprudence.
The Lams0n case ia the first In which acOnite
was used. Again, the medical testimony disa-
greed In both cases to q degree which in this
country wonld have insured acquittal, but British
juries are made Of sterner stun.
AN AMERICAN CASE.
Speaking Of aconite. some Of our readers may
remember the Hendrickson case, which once
created so intense an excitement In Albany
county. Hendrickson was known to be bad
man. He had ill-treated his wife In Q shameful
manner, and it was supposed that he wanted to
be rid Of her. One morning she was found dead
| In the bed. the only mark OF violence being Q
fresh scar on her lip. This took place 1t Hem
drlcksOn's parents, whose testimony was unre-
liable, and no one knows the circumstances
which preceded dissolution. The neighbour,
however, suspected the husband. and an in
quest was ordered On learning this the pris-
| Oner significantly remarked: They'll nnd no
arsenic there" True enough, since II was
| aconite. It was discovered that Hendrick-
time before the crime, and the druggist testified
to his Identity. The principal medical witness
for the prosecution was DIR. Swinburne, who
very clearly proved the presence Of this poison,
and the result was the conviction and execution
| OF the prisoner. 1t is highly probable that the
scar was occAsioned by forcing the contents OF
| . vial down the unfortunate wOman's throat
while she was asleep, for when awake she knew
enough to take nothing from her husbands
hand. 1t may be added that Lamson and Hem
Erickson are the only cases OF aconite poison Ia
either the British or American criminal record.
The Donellan tragedy also stands alone. since
no other laurel water case has ever occurred.
Laurel poison, however. Is very similar to prus-
sic acid, which has been 80 frequently used that
no further reference is necessary.
SOME FAcTs.
Poison is the most facile and at the same time
ha ncf aofh ndn fott vro1l
as the most treacherous. II Is subject, however
to certain tests which rarely fail to reveal the
cause Of death. Arsenic, for instance, creates
internal Inflammation, and always leaves traces
In the system which chemist can easily detect.
Strychnlne displays Its effects In the ''rg0r NOR
tbs" (as 1t is termed) to an unmistakable degree.
and indeed there is not poisonous agent In
existence which may not be detected. Chem.
istry in this manner converts the dead victim
into the most dangerous witness, and for this
reason there is less chance Of escape for Q pol
soner than for other murderers. In such In
stances there is no room for tine plea Of seIf-de-
Tense. or for any nice distinction In the various
grades of homicide. The plea OF insanity 10 also
barred. and though an attempt of that kind ives
made in behalf Of Lamson 1t proved . failure.
FEW CASES.
Among the most remarkable poison cases
which resulted In conviction may be mentioned
that Of James Stephens. who killed his wife
with arsenic; George Hersey, who piled his VIC
tim "a young woman) with strychnine; and
Hendrickson, who used aconite. Turning 70
the old world, the list Of noted cases includes
Palmer, OF Rugby, who gave HE victim strycl-
nine; and Dr.. Pritchard, who with much ortgf
nality) used tartar emetic. Pritchard, being .
physician, had every advantage, especially % the
case was under his own roof, bis wife being the
victim. Discovery, however. followed, and
he was hanged: Another very striking
instance was that Of DIR. King, Of Coburg,
Canada, who poisoned his wife with arsenic.
No Suspicion arose until the sister Of the de-
ceased, Q week after the funeral. discovered
daguerreotype In the doctors possession. It
WAS pretty female countenance. and ut once
awoke . fearful thought The result IVES exhur
nation and analysis, which revealed arsenic.
The defence admitted this, and claimed that u
had been administered By the prisoner -
remedy (for the deceased was an invalid), but
having accumulated In the system produced ,
death. The caae awoke deep interest. and the
defence was well sustained BY medical tssft-
Gony. but the Jury did not accept It. The I'M
fortunate man afterward made fuH confession
and died penitent. He had fallen IN love WItA
the 0Fixiun1 II that yogy 0nQu0rroofypQ md