Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-03-06
THE WESTERN LUNATIC ASYLUM
HORROR. q u - ,,sslF
rrsr1moNY BEFORE THE coRovER's IURY.

In our issue Of last Tuesday morning, W
STATED that Mr.. Matthew Vaughan was i'll from
the effects OF the poison in the medicine taken
bv him, He died about noon on that day
Tuesday-making six fatal cases, five having
died on the Saturday morning preceding
AS stated in the last issue of the SPECTATOR
the Coroner's Jury at the request CT the Super
N intendent, DIR. Robert s. Hamilton, met again
ON last Tuesday, at which time the testimony
of DR., R. 8. Hamilton was taken before the
Coroner's Jury and In the prese ce of Edward
Echols, Commonwealth's Attorney for the city
of Staunton. DIR. Hamilton testified to the fac
of being notified early Saturday morning o
the sudden death or several patients. Hurried
to the Asylum; found some dead. and other
almost in articulo morris, Afterwards. with thu
assistant physicians, administered such RENE
dies as were thought advisable. Then came to
n the city, and after consultation with Judge
Quarles member of the Asylum Board who
was SICK In bed, telegraphed for Prof j. w
Mallet, of the University of Virginia. to come
at once. Notified Edward Echols, City Com
monwealth's Attorney. Of the sudden deaths O.
N the Asylum, who said he would have Coro
ner's Jury as early as possible the next day.
In publishing the following testimony before
the Coroner's Jury we avail ourselves of the
reports of the TIrginian and Vi,sdicator
DR. HAMILToN's TESTIMONY.
The Jury accordingly came about O'Clock p
M Meantime returned to the Asylum and
was engaged with the assistant physicians
chiefly, up to the time the jury arrived, In do
ing all we could for the restoration OF the sur
viving patients before mentioned. I would
state too, that we had the aid also Of DIR. B. NJ
Atkinson, one of the several physicians for
whom sent to the city. Later in the day Drs.
vUhO
had been summoned bv the Coroner, at my re-
quest, also saw and examined the cases re-
ferred to. At this time received telegram
from Prof. Mallet. stating that he would be
4 here on the 10 o. m. train. Showed the tele
gram to Mr.. Echols, and after an interview
upon the subject, the jury having viewed the
five bodies was adjou ned to meet at the cali
of the Coroner. The time of meeting was after
wards determined to be Tuesday, February
9th, This was done in order that autopsies
might be made, and the jury have the benefit
of the anatomical disclosures resulting there.
from, Dr. Mallet came Saturday night, and
the next morning the post norton exam1na
lions were begun. I purposely deferred
these that they might be made in the pres
ence Of Prof. Maliet DR. Henkle conducted
the autopsies, preferring that they sh ulf
be made by physicians outside of the Asylum
The resident physicians We're present dur ne
the operations Autopsies were made OF The
bodies of Hines, Holoman. and Adams. as be
ing, in the view of I,r. Mallet. all that wert
necessary and being, "n account of the ex
IRENE suddenaess of their deaths and othe
circumstances, the best case of the i've for tn
puI poses had IN view
Tue ant n,ical disclosures of 81 sc past m
TEN exsn,ii atiEus. rs was expected, gave sat
f4'.inrs eyi ie.,c:s OF no hing be- o-fa fhr tac
that Al, acrid substance hid ''een ew'i owe
which was evtnc+d m or less, by ea'.h c.
Some of the viscera, or al least line stom
and It's contents of each of these bodies W. r
carefully secured in new. clean glass jars ant
carried by Prof. Mallet to his laboratory at tn
University, for such chemical analysis as ht
may deem necessary to full investigation o
the subject
In response to question by the Attorney fol
-he Commonwealth, Dr.. Hamilton Urthe
st ted: From The suddenness and simultane
ousne of the attacks, was satisfied it was
common cause operating upon all of the eigh
cases thus seized. The fact, too, that the symp
toms in each case followed almost Immediately
upon the administration Of medicine was con
elusive to me that the cause resided in thu
medicine SO administered. The suddennes
and other peculiarities of the deaths convincei
me that the cause was poison. AS regard
the nature of the poison taking the cases singl.
or collectively. was satisfied, by the absenc
of tetanic and other characteristic symptoms
1t was not strichnia nor arsenic, or any of thei
N preparations, or the other poisons most com
monty resorted to. Besides the suddennes
and manner of the death in the fatal cases. ant
the symptoms exhibited by the survivors, sucl
as diatlon the eyes, great prostratlon, ute
want of muscular power, the comotose condi
ton OF all and the nervous manifestation
evinced. as well as the epileptics as in the othe
types OF mental nlaladies possessed by the sew
eral victims, led me to suspect that prussic aci
or cyanide of potash, or possibly aconite. q
the fatal agent. co.
Question by Attorney Did the remedies a
prepared in the medical Office for these patient
contain elements which by any combinatio
could produce these symptoms resemblin
prussic acid, &c.?
Answer-No.
Question-Why?
Answer-Of the patients, one had in b
mug a teaspoonful of Sharp d Dohmers Elixi
OF phosphate of iron, quinia and strichnia
another took, Gas he had for some time bee
taking twice daily,) half dr.. fluid extract
hyoscyamus, and all the others took their usus
dose of common tonic, which not less tina
thirty-five others in the Institution took tbs
morning, and p epared as follows:
dincture IerrI mur' OF
Simple Syrup ITS
MIX and add acqua ammonia and tinctul
cinnamon, each one ounce, and whiskey thre
pintE.
The usual dose Of this tonic was a teaspoon
full. The patients were taking the medicine
above described (the two epileptics, Hines an
Myers taking in addition a small dose Of bro
mide Of potash twice daily and there coul
not possibly have been any combination of Ii
elements of these ton cs that co1ld have PRE-
duced the symptoms exhibited.
The tonic taken by wilkins, ,Sperry, an
Holloman, was given to some thirty five f
males the same morning For both depar
ments it was prerared by the same druggis
st the same time, and poured from the san
bottle. The mugs for the females were take
Directly to their wards upon other walters al
by other hands. The same may ne said thong
AS to much smaller number, of the medicil
taken by Waugh n and that taken by A dan
Question Have the patients and attendant
In The absence of the physician, access 10 II
diapensary where the medicines are con
pounded9 ...
Answer N, s'r The regulations in tn
reS@-'"t are ver' s. '"'; Hf~ne other thl' gs r
qu's;i.= tHa' TIE Is i tant phy>lcis..A shs
never leave the otficr un lock- ed. have tn ke
some pains to see whether this regulate W
strictly CONFIRMED TO- and Can saeS say III.
wiz TIN the last four mouths have never be,
able TO find the phS sicians ouL and the do
unlock ed; nor have been able o get repo
that it was so found by any one. Each OF IL
physicians has key to the dispensary. The
is also another kept by Mrs. Beers, the supe
intendent of the dining rooms, who also 81
30