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

HAVE RECOvERED.-A DEAD MYSTERY
SURROUNDS THE SAD AFFAIR.
Last Saturday was one of the gloomiest
saddest days in the history of the Western
Lunatic Asylum, located in this city. Five
corpses lay shrouded within its walls, and in
two of the wards hard persistent tight was
being made by the physicians to save the lives
of three other inmates.
The first intmation of this harvest OF death
was borne to Superintendent Hamilton about
seven O'Clock in the morning, Mr.. Andrews.
the attendant for the first ward informing HIM
that Leonard T. Wilkins convalescent patient,
had suddenly dropped dead DIR. Hamilton
hurried from his home in the city to the Asy-
lum, and upon reaching there was told that
Two others had died, and that others besides
were nigh unto death.
THE FATAL MUGS.
For years past it has been the custom OF the
druggist at the Asylum to prepare the medi-
cines for morning the evening before. Each
patients dose is put in separate mug labeled
with his name, and the mugs for each ward
are placed on separate waiter. Before the
present Superintendent took charge, these
walters were deposited on table outside of
the drug room, from which the attendants re-
ceived them. Last summer DR.. Hamilton had
the table removed from the hall and substituted
by closed chest, 90 as to keep out the flies
Friday evening DR.. Butler, the physician in
charge Of the dispensary ,apportioned the med
icines as usual, and upon leaving the room
placed the walters in the chest, arranging them
as WAS the custom, in tiers of three. The
tier nearest the entrance to the hall and which
person would first reach, was composed OF
the three walters the mugs upon which con-
tanned the fatal doses These three walters
were takea from the chest by the attendants
between seven and eight o'clock, about an
hour and half or two hours after they had
beer placed there by DR.. Butler.
Upon waiter No. 1, the top of the tier were
four mugs. One contained dose of sesqui
oxide OF iron, for Wilkins; one of same for
Kerchner; one of pure whiskey for Waller,
and one of a tonic of phosphate of iron, quiz
Upon waiter No. 3, the centre of the tier,
were five mugs. One containing fluid extract
hyoscyamus, for Vaughan two whiskey and
two sesqui oxide for other patients in the same
ward.
Upon waiter No B. the bottom of the tier,
were six mugs. Two contained sesqui oxide
of iron and bromide potassium for Hines and
Myers, respectively, both epileptics two ses-
qui oxide OF iron for Sperry and Thomas re-
spectively; one OF sesqui oxide of iron and
key for Looney.
THE DEATHS.
Waiter No. was taken to the first ward,
and relieved of :he mug containing the whis-
key for Waller, and the mug of sesqui oxide
of iron for Wilkins. The attendant, Mr.. An
drews, gave Waller the whiskey at night
about e:2O O'Clock, and placed the mug for
Wilkins ON Table in the hall. This is the
ward in which the rational convalescents are
kept, and as no one else was taking morning
medicine, and Wilkins knew exactly where
he would tnd his mug, it was the habit to
place it on the table for him and let him take
1t before breakfast and frequently before the
attendant saw HIM. About half past six in
the morning, Mr.. Andrews, who was IN an
other portion of the ward, heard Wilkins
leave his room, whisting ard singing, and go
to the hydrant for pitcher of water. He then
heard aim return, go to the table, e-enter his
room and n a moment set the mug on the
window sill. After that he heard him wash
Ing his mouth as was his custom after taking
medicine. About eight or ten minutes later
Andrews went TO that portion of the ward,
and finding that Wilkins had not placed his
cup back on the table in the hall, went to his
room and noticed Wilkins half lying, hall
kneellng across the bed. Andrews started to
get the mug which was ON the window sill
and turning around was struck with Wilkins
appearance. He called to him, but received
no answer; going to the bed he grasped his
hand and found it cold and pulseless. The
boy was dead. The physicians were imme-
diately summoned, but the patient was beyond
the power of science. He had died within
eight minutes after taking the fatal drug
Capt. Waller, in the same ward, who drank
the whiskey from the same waiter at night,
was not affected in the least
The remaining two mugs ON waiter No.
were taken by Mr.. Price, the attendant of the
I'd ward, to his room and remained there dur
ing the night. About 7:30 o'clock In the morn
ing he gave Adams his mug containing the
phosphate Of iron, quiniEe and strychnine
and directly afterwards gave Kerschner his
dose of sesqui oxide of iron. In moment or
two Adams commenced walking rapidly up
and down the hall saying that his stomach
was burnt. He then went into the sitting
room and took sea. On the bench. In about
five minutes Price went to him and noticing
that something was wrong asked him what
was the matter. The patient replied ut is
burning me up" Price ran for DR.. Butler
who came at once and administered antidotes.
but without avail. at burns all the way
down SAID the poisoned man, as the doctor
reached his bedside. Immediately afterwards
he lost consciousness and remained in q COM
otose condition until death, which occurred a
moment or two later.
Kerschner, in the same ward, frequently re-
fuses to take his medicine and when the mug
containing the sesqui oxide of iron was handed
him Saturday morning, he drank about one
third of the dose and threw the remainder on
the floor. From the amount taken no bad
effects whatever were noticed the patient not
complaining at all.
WAITER NO. 3.
There having been no immediate fatal result
from the medicine on the I'd waiter we pass over
that for the present. The third waiter, the
medicines of which were prepared for patients
in the 4th ward, had upon it six mugs. This
waiter was taken to the room of Mr. M. FL.
Taylor, the attendant, between 7:3O and S
o'clock Friday night, and remained there until
Saturday morning. About $50 a. IN. Satur-
day, Taylor gave the mug with the whskey
to Looney; then the sesqui oxide and bromide
to Myers; then the sesqu oxide and whiskey
to Holloman, the attendant placing the mug
| TO the lips of Holloman whose hands were
muffied. Taylor then passed on to Hines
room and gave him the sesqui oxide and bro
mide, the latter exclaiming, "Whoop, God
but it's hot, as he swallowed the dose. Turn.
ing around, Taylor met Holloman coming
douyn ma and told him h.. u,,, .r,;,,..