Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-03-30

the dispenser, by his adding fluid extract
or tincture of aconite. if there was any
there or the poison might have been ad-
ded by some homicidal lunatic after the
cups we're put in the hall, or by some ma
licious person. About the probability OF
any of these theories l have no decided
opinion. By DR.. Mallet's analysis OF
Adams's stomach it was ascertained that
it contained more than four. ffths of a
grain of Aconitine. The cup from which
Adams drank holds three fluid ounces. !
think three fluid ounces of tincture of
aconlte could not probably contain as
much aconitine as was found in Adams 8
stomach. The fluid extract contains more
Aconltine but how much more 1 cannot
say. It is more than probable that II
Adamss stomach alone showed four
fifths of grain, every tissue of his body
contained some more of it.
@. Is there any other information you
deem it necessary to state which WILL
throw light on the poisoning
A. would ask leave to state that
formed high op inion of DR.. Buffers
ability and fidelity during my stay at the
Asylum after he had charge Of the medi-
cal dispensary. 1t is due to him to state
this.
DIR, W. W. s. BUTLER RE CALLED.
Testified that be knew of no tincture Of
Aconite being in the dispensary previous
to July. In July one pound Of fluid ex-
tract was gotten from which on were
taken to prepare s or of tincture. Or the
pound of extract Is or are still in the dis
pensary, and of the or of tincture OF
are there unused. If there was any tine
ture there previous to July it was thrown
away with other drugs, when the dispersal
ry was refurnished, either out of the win
dow or into the sink. There were two
negroes assisting at the cleaning up. The
old bottles were washed and used again.
Witness did not rear of any Of the pa
tients finding any of the bottles. Witness
described the dose given by him to Win
die and its effects, his evidence being Of
the same tenor with that of Drs. Straiu
and Crockett. He thought if W. had re-
ceived any acoaitine in his dose it must
have been in the form of an alkaloid and
even that was improbable. From his OBJ
servation of Windle's case he thought
there was some latent cerebral trouble and
the dose of turpentine and opium produced
congestion of the brain.
In the case of Mrs. McAlexander who +,
like Windle, had an attack the day before
the fatal poisoning of others, witness said
she had not taken any medicine during his
administration. Her symptoms, witness
thought, could, have been produced by a
fall she had in which che might have struck
her head. Poisoning in her case would not
have suggested itself to him but for the
subsequent fatal poisoning. Witness said
the medicines were diluted with water in
the dispensary and mug holding fluid
ounces was made two-thirds full. All the
drugs for the Asylum are bought in
StauntOn.
THE TOWN DRUGGISTS.
Dr. Carter Berkeley of the firm of Berk
ley. Allen Il Co, druggists, testified that
be had never seen Aconitia in his life, and
no preparation of Aconite had been sold
DR.. n. Wayt of Wayt IL Bro, druggists.
testified that at no time had any person
obtained Aconitine in the alkaloid form
from their store. DR.. George s. Walker
at May & Co.'S, and b. F. Hughes, drug
gist, testified to the same concerning their
firms as did DIR. Wayt. and so did W. b.
Logan of the firm of Logan, Tyree &
Martin.
THE PATIENT WINDLE.
DIR. r. s. Hamilton, Superintendent of
the Asylum recalled, testified that while
Mr.. Windle, the patient mentioned often
in the report of the poisoning had improv-
a condition to warrant his discharges;
could not at present. approximate time
VIII en- it would be safe to discharge him.
Witness said be had examined the
bills of purchases by the Asylum as far
back as 1879, and found no evidence of
the purchase of AconitiDe. Did not think
it possible that at the refitting of the dis
pensary, poison could have been obtained
by anybody. Witness said he knew of
nothing he could tell the jury which would
thr0g light on the poisoning.
THE VERDICT OF THE JURY.
The jury last night closed their long and
laborious lab)rs with their verdict, of
which the following is the conclusion
"That the deaths of said parties was
caused by some very active poison which
in their opinion, was the aikaloid of AGO
mite, ard they do further say, that said
parties received said poison in the medi-
cine taken by them ON the oath Of Febru-
airy last, but how said poison got into the
medicine thus taken. they are, from the
evidence, unable to determine. In testi,
mony whereof, the said Coroner and Ju.
rors have get their hands.
GEORGE HARLAN, Coroner,
F. N. YOUNG, Foreman,
M. P. FUNKHoUsER
P. n. POWELL.
J. H. WAYT,
Jos. H. EARMAN,
TENpTETnN -