The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-03-29
The Asylum Mystery
FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY THE URY-
ADJOURNMENT UNTIL TODAY.

On Tuesday last the jury Of inquest in tn
Asylum poisoning cases held another brie
session. Nothing new whatever was dis
| closed, the facts as testified to by Drs Strain
and Crockett, having been already known tc
the members of the jury. An account Of tn
cases of both Mr.. Winde and Mrs McAlex
andcr was published in the VIRGINIAN o
March lst. The testimony given below mere
ly corroborates that account, but inasmucl
as it had not appeared in evidence, and the
jury desired to place it on record, it wa
deemed best that the testimony should bt
formally taken.
DIR. d. E. STRAIN,
second assistant physician of the Asylum, wa
recalled and testified as follows:
On Friday evening, February 33d, DR.
Hamilton came to me and said that he wished
me to go and see Mr. Windle with Dr. But
Ter; that he Or. H was sent for to go home
to see his sick daughter. He further said thai
Windle had taken dose of laudanum and
turpentine, and had gotten sick soon after
wards. with symptoms of syncope followed
by symptoms of paralysis. He also spoke o.
his having some brain trouble, and seemed tc
fear apoplexy. / went Immediately to Win
die and stayed with him until supper time
The patient was entirely conscious and an
swered my questions, but spoke with Difficult
ty. His tongue seemed thick and stif-yery
much like a drunken man. Mr.. Windle told
me that he was taken sick soon after leaving
the medical office, and upon reaching the
centre or first ward he laid down upon a
bed In short time he arose and went to the
sitting room door and called for Mr.. Fenton
fellow patient and roommate, whom he
askedto assist him to his room in the second
story. He also told me that his sickness was
caused by a dose of medicine which DR.. But
Ter had given him in the office, which dose
was administered in the presence of DR.. Ham
ilton and myself. then asked Mr. Windle ifhe
had ever taken opium or laudunum in any
form before. and if So what effect it had pro-
duced. He told me that some years ago he
had taken three ounces of laudunum, and
that he was sayed by physicians, who gave
him a vomit-that since then he had fire.
quently taken opiates and it always flew to
his head" then asked if he had ever taken
turpentine and its effects. His reply was:
Thirty years ago, took dose of turpen-
tine which produced effects similar to those
now experience" then asked why it was,
knowing the effect it had upon him, that he
again took the turpentine He said that he
did not know the dose contained turpentine
until after he had swallowed it. l was very
we'll satisfied that his sickness was produced
by the turpentine and that it was due to some
told him as much, and further
that thought he would be better by morn
ing. did not see him again until Sunday
evening, when with DR.. Crockett, | found
him in his room, sitting on his bed. He
in reference to the turpentine, in the pres
ence of DIR. Crockett.
DR.. Buffers note on the day book shows
that he gave Windle twelve drops of Nc
Munn's elixir Of opium, and twelve drops
spirits Of turpentlne, made into mucilage
With drachm OF gum arabic.
would state that Winde was complain.
ing of dysentery, and IN the morning had
been given dose of oil. The oil operated
rather freely, and in the evening he called
to get the turpentine and Opium to quiet his
bowels.
DR.. Strain stated that he had once i'll pri-
OF xxrsfb 81
could not take one drop of turpentine with
,ut the most violent effects. Mr.. Andrews,
ne attendant, who was present when Mr..
Windle related his former experience with !
stated that his (A's) father was
similarly affected by turpentine and could not
axe it all. Once his father, had taken it
Ind the result correspondent closely to the |
manifested by Windle. DR.. Strain |
urther stated that no one would have
hought of poisoning in Windle's case but |
or the events of the oath of February. Pols-
IN had not suggested itself to Windle's /
mind until the other patients were attacked |
he day after
DIR. H. S. CROCKETT
vas recalled. He corroborated DIR. Strains
tatcment of what transpired whilst the two |
we're with Winde.
Being Intercepted as to the case of Mrs.
'lcAlexander, the particulars of which have |
,een heretofore published in the V1RGINIAN.
Dr. Crockett said: | first saw Mrs McAlex-
lnder on the Gath, she having been visited
~ DR.. Butler in my absence. being at home
lick. When | saw her she was in comatose
and not being able to swallow
Medicine, ! did not prescribe. Saw her q
econd time that evening and she was in the
anne condition. On Sunday l visited her
vice. The stupor was less profound than
IN my previous visits. Monday she spoke to
N attendant, the first word she had uttered |
ince her attack. She gradually improved I
rom that time.
To some extent Mrs McA lexanders symp-
oms corresponded with those Of Myers, one of
he patients poisoned and who survived IT, The |
tupor might have been due TO the very hard
all and conclusion of the brain resulting
herefrom, which she sustained on the 23d.
5 Mrs. McAlexander was taking no medicine
It the time sac was so suddenly attacked. She
las never taken dose of medicine since l
AVE been connected with the Asylum-since
une, 1882. She strenuously objects to all med
cines and has to be watched to keep her from
,rabbing the mugs from other patients and
hrowing their contents away.
After taking this testimony the jury ad-
burned until to-day.
All of the druggists of Staunton have been
to testify rs to whether or not
hey have sold aconitine, and if so when and
o whom.
DR.. VIM Hamilton has also been sum
noned.
The medicine mugs of the Asylum are
Jagged for three ounces Mr. Wayt made
of one of them before the Jury
n Tuesday.
A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION On
tuesday night last a number of our enterpris-
ng citizens met at the office Of Edw d Eohols,
SOTO take into consideration the best means
0 promote the prosperity of the city There
we're present.I A. Cochran, Mayor of Staun-
on, Isaac Witt, M. N. Bradley, Chas. E.
Iaines, c. t. Weller, J. E. Graham, Arista
foge, ]. E. Rollins, Dr. ~ Wayt and
y