The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-03-01

the congested condition of the stomach and
osophagus. There was congestion also OF
the upper portion of the small intestines, anG
various abnormal conditions of the organs,
the latter of which might in some measure
have been due to the diseases of the deceased.
Prof. Mallet took the stonachs with him TO
the University, where a thorough and search
| ing analysis of their contents will be made.
The results of this analysis will probably not
be known for fortnight or more, unless the
evidences of a peculiar poison become 80 APP
parent as to render closer investigation I'M
necessary.
THE MEDICINES CONTAINING THE FATAL DRUG.
The mugs the contents of which produced
sickness and death, each contained tonic.
These tonics being extensively used, are CON-
| pounded in large quantities, come of them
being prepared at the wholesale chemists. On
Friday evening, from the sesqui oxide Of iron
| jar, vessel holding one gallon, were taken
the contents of the mugs from which Wilkins
and Sperry died, and Thomas was made sick;
but which Kerschner, two patients in the I'd
male ward, and about 40 female patients drank
without injurious effects. The same, with the
addition of a small quantity bromide, was
taken by Hines and Myers. The elixir Of
| phosphate of IRON, quinine and strychnine was
compounded in quantity by Sharpe & Drohme.
wholesale chemists. 1t was administered to
but one male patient, Adams, who died ten
minutes after taking a teaspoonful containing
vt ON fh iv, Off but from
the same bottle and at the same time were
drawn twelve doses for female patients, all of
which were taken without producing single
| symptom of poison. The fluid extract of n.y.
oscyamus. half dr., had been given to Mr..
| Vaughan in the same quantity and from the
! same bottle for days before. On Saturday 1t
was also given to patients in the female depart
ment from the same bottle with no unusual
result.
| 1t is apparent, therefore, that no mistake
could have been made in compromising the
medicines. 1t is absurd to suppose that the
three attendants in whose wards the tragedies
occurred could have entered into conspiracy
so diabolical. 1t is not possible that the
fatal drug could have been distributed
after the walters left the safe just outside of
the dispensary There 1t would seem, il that
safe, was where the deed was done. Who did
| it?
| THE THEORY
SO far as developed, amounts to nothing more
than speculation. 1t is thought that the Off
GERS of the Asylum have some clue which may
lead to results, but as yet it is unknown to the
outside world, and will be kept secret until
the closest investigation is had.
The exact nature of the fatal agent itself has
not been ascertained. AS stated by Dr. Ham.
| ilton, the anatomical disclosures of the post
mortems gave satisfactory evidence of moth
| ing beyond the fact that an acrid substance
had been swallowed. There were no symp-
| toms such as are known to result from strych-
nine, arsenic or the common p0lsons, but the
| swiftness and violence with which the terrible
results manifested themselves, showed all too
plainly that powerful and deadly drug had
been employed Prussic acid, cyonide of pot
ash, and aconite were each suggested. The
uncertainty as to the character of the poison
rendered the administering of antidotes haz.
ardous, and necessarily confined them, in
great measure, to tie external remedial agents.
Those used were chiefly mustard. white of
egg and milk, and whiskey with counter ir-
ritants.
How the poison was obtained is another I'M
solved mystery. In the opinion of the Super
lntendent it could not have been obtained at
the Asylum, or at the Staunton drug stores.
The person, however, who could have planned
and executed such scheme, could have found
the means outside of either of the sources
named above.
The party who used the drug, if sane, is
demon. The blacklist malice could conceive
no deeper atrocity, and it is to be hoped for
the sake of humanity itself that to an ire
spcnsible person the deed is due Indeed, that
is now the nearest semblance to theory. At
present, so far as we know, no particular one
| is suspected. There are some grounds ofsuspic-
ion but they are not tangible enough TO base
a theory upon. Mystery seemingly impene
trabe surrounds the whole sad affair. To
show, however, some of the types of insanity
within the Asylum walls, it may be mentioned
that several of the most intelligent, highly ed
ucated and seemingly rational patients have
mania on the subject OF killing. They are of
| the Guiteau stripe and feel that they have
special dispensation from God to execute
Among these are some who are given consid-
cradle liberty except when under the influences
of the mania, as upon all other subjects save
the one they appear perfectly rational. A
stranger conversing with them would suspect
no mental disorder, unless the particular topic
| CHANGED to be mentioned. AS rule those
most capable of planning and executing have
the best opportunities, by reason of their in
telligence and the liberty allowed them when
seemingly free of the malady. In one case, for
| instance, patient may have an intense hatred
of his attendant and would go 10 any extent
and count nd cost, in his efforts to secure the
disgrace and discharge of his enemy. One of
the most thoroughly cultivated and gentle
manly patients in the Asylum is imbued with
the conviction that the time will soon come
when he will be called upon to kill His idea
is that he is in direct communication with God
and at certain time he will be commanded
| TO execute WIN IRE anu SWORD all WHO 90 not
subscribe to his peculiar views of religion. At
times he grows eloquent upon the subject and
his face will light up and eyes flash as he de-
clares that he was placed in the Asylum be-
cause he read his Bible and endeavored to
carry out its precepts. To hun religion is the
most important of all things. and he will tell
you that he has discarded his business and left
his family todevote his life to God. One of
his propositions is that it is simply question
of majority as to who are crazy they who are
confined in the asylums or they who are placed
| in charge For the present,he admissible lat
| ter have the ascendency but insists that the
| day will come when the tables will be turned.
/ A day or two ago he announced that the time
for carrying out his purpose Of destruction
had nearly arrived. When asked if he pro-
posed to destroy literally with fire and sword,
he replied, No; but with whatever means
would hest accomplish his purpose of exter-
initiating those who were in opposition to
Christ and himself. His duty, he said, would
] be to commence at home, and he promised the
Superintendent to let him know beforehand
OF the day of doom.