The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-01-24

on the evening of the day the poisoning
occurred. In company with DIR. Halter
Henkle, examined the dead and those
who had been poisoned and were yet liv-
! ing We then went to the dispensary and
l tasted the sesqui oxide in the bottles
from which the medicine in the fatal
mugs had been poured. / turned the bot
ties up on my finger and then touched my
| finger to my tongue. / detected no taste
except the acrid taste Of ammonia. After
returning to town, my tongue burned and
became numb, and was confident that
had gotten hold of aconite. 'fne effect
did not wear off for some hcsls. l ex-
pected to be summoned before tie jury the
next morning. but was not. told Howard
| Wayt, under the seal of masonry, OF the
aconite taste, he being member OF the
jury. He stated that he would have me
summoned to testify, but | told him that
| I would rather he would not. as / had no
thing more than u mere impression to go
upon, and as Dr. Malett would make an
| analysis, there would be no necessity for
my statement There see med not the least
disposition to conceal anything at the Asy-
.um. Knowing that the STATE was well
represented by Drs. Mallett and llenkle, L
| thought it probable that the reason was
not summoned, was that Dr. Henke' IS evil
dence would be sufficient rs to what hap
\ pened whilst he and were there together
| l believe now that l got the aconite on
my fingers whilst examining the tongues
and mouths of the patients. l opened their
mouths and examined tongues. and also
put my nose to the mouths to tletect,
if possible, the odor of prussic acid
L critically examined both the dead
and those who were then living. Some
half hour afterwards / went to the dis
pensary and tasted the sesGul oxide, as
stated. My be lief now is that the aconite
was gotten on my fingers from the patients,
and had dried. The touch of the fluid
from the bottles moistened it, and in that
way it was com municate to my tongue.
Subsequently, during TIE Coroner's in
quest, Mr.. Wayt said he would have me
summoned. / objected for the reason that
DIR. Mallett had examined the bodies and
found aconitine in each case, whilst had
only tasted one of the preparations given.
1t was only last night that it flashed upon
me that L had gotten the aconite from
the poisoned persons. Before that time
1 was completely mystified, but the mys-
terry was all cleared away when the solu-
ton named occurred to me. 1t was never
suggested by any oae. L use aconlte very
sparingly in my practiee-probably not
more than once a year.
Cross-eramined. During my visit to the
| Asylum oh the evening of the poisoning,
every facility was given for the most rigid
examination. l never told DIR. Hamilton
nor any of the officers at the Asylum OF
the taste of aconite. Nor did | tell anyone
except. Mr.. Wayt, until after the YER
dict. Several months ago, stated to one
other gentleman that l had gotten the
taste of aconite, but did not tell him how
| 1 had gotten it. | have no idea that l got
any aeonite from the bottles, the contents
of VIII ich l tasted.
COL. CHRISTIAN
testified that he was formerly a patient at
| the Asylum. My medicine was generally
brought to me in two mugs. One con-
tanned hydrate of chloral, to be taken at
bedEime, the other tonic, to be taken in
| the morning Upon one occasion two doses
of ehlor.ll. instead of one Of chloral and
tonic were brought to me. l called d.
Hamilton's attention to it, and the Doctor
stated that it was a mistake OF Dr.
Buffers. My impression is that it L had
taken both doses, it would have finished
me. L objected then to taking medicine
compounded by Butler, and DR.. Hamilton
told me that Dr. Strain would prepare it
1 in the futMre, which was done. This was
some weeks before the poisoning know
| of no other mistake that was made.
Asto the sickness of Wendle the evening
before the poisoning Wendle was in the
same ward with me. He passed by where
[ was sitting ana noticed that there was
something wrong with him. Presently,
Fenton, another patient, came to me and
inquired for DR.. Hamilton, saying that
Wendle was sick. / went to WIS room
and found him lying doAyn. Spoke to him
and he answered. supposed he had one
of his s'spellsn He said DR.. Butler
had given him something in his medicine
which was terrible. applied cold water
to his head and made his feet warm. Then
went for DR.. Hamilton who came and ad-
ministered to him, until the other physi-
clans arrived.
\ Col. Byers occupied DR.. Croclett's room
across from the dispensary. He was not
regarded as dangerous. Do not think it
probable that amy stranger could have got
ten access to the hall where the cups were
placed.
j. HOWARD WAYT
testified: Was a member of the Coroner s
Jury. Was summoned to meet at the Asy-
lum Saturday evening. Went there and
found Drs. Gibson and Henkle. In COM
pany with them viewed the bodies of the
five dead men. The physicians went to
\ examine Vaughan, Thomas and Myers, pa
tients who had been poisoned, but were
living, and the jury repaired to the dis
l,ensary. Were shown bottles from which
the poisoned medicine purported to have
come. Did not taste any of contents OF
bottles. Jury, accompanied by the Com
monwealth' IS Attorney, took a look around
the dispensary and had explained to them
the location of the different medicines
After remaining there some time, the cor
oner informed us that that DIR. Mallett had
been telegraphed for. and would arrive
either that night or the next morning
that autopsies Of the bodies would then
be made and the jury be re-summoned.-
The jury was then dismissed to meet at
call of coroner.
II Saturday evening met DR.. Gibson on
the street, and asked him what he thought
of the case. He answered: II think
| got hold of aconite detected the taste or
my tongue. Can't tell where got it,"
said: Doctor, suppose you will go ovel
tomorrow morning" Think l asked hin
howhe got the aconite and he said he hat
, tasted from the three bottles of sesqu
oxide Of iron, but could not tell from which
5 he had gotten the taste of aconite. The
: pext morning he came into nv store an(