The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-02
THE MYSTERY UNEXPLAINED
THE INQUIRY AT STANTON
CLOSED FOR THE PRESENT.
NO SATISFACTORY CLUE Yet.
Another Misfortune 10 DIR. Hamilton ,
Death or His Daughter.
Especial telegram to the pispatch.l

Especial telegram to the Dispatch.l
STANTON, VA, March 1.-The further
investigation commenced to-day with the
examination OF DIR. II. s. Crockett, late
of Wytheyile, first assistant physician in
charge OF the female wards. He testified
that forty or more inmates OF his ward had
taken, without Ill effects, medicine from
the bottles which had supplied the infected
mug. He had only had occasion once to Use
hyoscyamus in his practice.
1.-THE active principles Of the medicines,
referred to previously in the dispensary
witnesses history OF the affair, and his
treatment OF the cases, being necessarily
repetition in a great part OF what has
been already reported in these dispatches,
is omitted here.l
DIR. BUFFERS QUALIFICATIONS.
He stated in conclusion that he had been
associated with DR.. Butler some nine
months since his connection with the in
stitution, and regarded him as an efficient
compounder Of medicines, and fully COM
petent TO perform the duties required u
him as druggist and dispenser OF medi-
cines. He felt very confident that he had
not used alcoholic drinks in the last foup
months, and previous TO that time only in
slight degree.
THOUGHT HE WAS PRAYING.
Nelson Andrews, attendant in the first
or conyalescent ward, was next examined.
Andrews has been in the asylum twelve
years, and is one of the oldest, most trust
ed, and intelligent employees in the institu-
ton. lie saw wilkins walk up to the
waiter, take his medicine, and set the mug
back on the waiter, and 90 back TO his
room. a few minutes afterwards he
stepped into his room, and seeing him IN a
kueelng posture thought at first that he
was praying, and therefore witness stepped
lightly at first. Then, noticing something
unnatural in his position, spoke TO him,
and receiving no answer. turned him over,
and saw a slight froth in his mouth and
discovered that he was dead. Had seen
him retire in health at $3.50 the night before.
Witness thought there was equally as
much precaution used now IN the admins
tration Of medicines as at any time since
he had been in the asylum, with the eXcep-
ton that some patients had been allowed
greater liberty in the last four months in
going in and about the medicine office.
THEORY.
On Friday evening last, 23d OF Fcbru-
airy, returning from the graveyard, where
he had been TO attend the burial OF Mr..
Duke, he went to the medical office to get
the mail for distribution and found the
door locked; went TO Mrs. Beers Tor the
key. She said it was hanging on the ac-
customed hook in the dining-room. He
looked for it, but it was not there; went
back and told her so, and she said she sup
posed Willis, the colored office-boy, had it.
He could not find Willis, or get the key
that evening.
1t had been given in testimony previously
by other witnesses that OH that evening,
there being burial going on. that part OF
the building was unusually quiet, and the
officers could not be found in the medical
office.
Witness here gave some very interesting
evidence in the direction OF a theory adj
vanced by Superintendent Hamilton,
which, by instruction of the jury. is at
present withheld from the public.
William III. Willgoss testified that he had
been night-watchman Mt the asylum for
thirteen years.
WAS THE MEDICINE TAMPERED WITTY
He had master-keys for all the doors in
the institution except for those in the
female wards. He came on duty at $3.50
p. NJ; rung the rctiring-bell; remained
on watch in and about the asylum until
$3.50 A. NJ; and had no good rcasonto sus-
pect that any one tempered with the medi-
cines OF the walters, and had seen no sus-
picious circumstances.
THE KEY.
Willis Coleman (colored) sworn, said that
he was employed IN the asylum rs Office
boy and waiter for the ladies, and in the
stewards room. When he came from home
to the asylum every morning he got the
KEY. which hung in the dining-room, and
cleaned up the medical Office before the
MUSICIANS came down. After he got
through he hung the key back on the hook,
unless he was Il great deal hurried, then
he would occasionally put it in his pocket
for n while. Friday morning he hung 1t
back on the hook after breakfast. lie did
not have the key in his pocket Friday eve
ming. Never found any one in the medical
Office when one OF the physicians was not
present.
CLOSED.
The testimony was here closed for the
present. and the jury adjourned, subject to
the call OF Coroner Harlan.
The investigation will not likely except
in tLe event OF some new revelations) be
resumed until the report OF Professor Nal
lett is received, which will probably be two
or three weeks hence.
The services OF DR.. Hamilton could mol
he had in the investigation to-day, his
eldest daughter, bright child OF thirteen,
having died this morning OF scarlet-feyer
Losing a vessel.
HOW THE CAPTAIN or AN ITALIAN BARK,
REFUSING AID, ALLOWED HIS Vessel Tc
| SINK.
fspecial telegram TO the Dispatch.l
N,,,.,n,r,s Nv,ve March AT 10 O'Clock