Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-01-18

tents Of the bottle in the dispensatory
on my finger to taste it, got the aconite
on my tongue. Witness did not believe
the aconite was in the sesqui-oxde of iron
Had mentioned this suspicion of aconite
to Mr.. Howard Wayt in strict secrecy
Did not make it public, as he felt that with
Prof. Malet and others in charge of the
case, all the facts would be arrived at.
Did not think Of the probability of his
having gotten it on his fingers from the
dead lips until last night. No one had
ever suggested that theory to him. Was,
up to that time, the more puzzled as he
remembered that he had not tasted the
poison in the medicine from the bottles
direct, but had tasted it from his own
finger. Had had conflicting views about
whether he should make his tasting OF
aconite known, bnt concluded that it was
not necessary. as the poison has been de-
cided by all to bave been aconitine. His
own experience was in line, as far as the
| identity Of the poison was concerned, with
the ascertained result.
A FORMER PATIENT TEsTIFIEs.
| Ex-patient g. sworn. Had been IN inmate
of the Asylum. On one occasion DIR. Butler
| had sent him hydrate of choral in mis-
| take for another medicine that he was
| taking Had he taken it, it being double
dose, lone of his regular doses being cb]o-
| raj J it might have ended his life. DR..
| Hamilton told witness that it was mis-
take of DR.. Butler. and he co. would
hereafter get his medicine from DIR. Strain.
This occurred before the poisoning. Of pa
| tents in February. On the evening that
| the fatal cups were put up. patient w. was
suddenly taken i'll after taking his medi-
cine Witness thought it very imprOba-
accustomed to the Asylum. could have
gained entrance to the cups in the hall
without being noticed by persons there.
The medical dispensatory was generally,
as far as witness had observed, lighted up
at night, and somebody there.
Witness confirmed the statement of DR..
Hamilton about the medicine which he
fwitness) thought there was something
wrong about, and which was sent to Prof.
Mallet for analysis. Was Informed after
forwards by DR.. Hamilton of the result of
Mallet's analysis. This occurred after the
fatal poisoning in February.
J. HOWARD wAYT
sworn. Testified to the interview alluded
to by DR.. Gibson. in his testimony. Wit
ness was member of the coroner's jury
that sat in the poisoning case Met DR..
Gibson on Saturday evening. the evening
of the poisoning, and asked him what he
thought of the case. DR.. G. replied, Il
think I have got bold of aconite; think
| detect it on my tongue. I can't tell
where got IT. Witness asked HIM how
he had got it. DR.. G. said, g was shown
three bottles by DR.. Crockett, but cannot
tell where I got it," The next day, IN
conversation with DR.. Gibson, he said he
hadn't been summoned to 90 to the Asy-
lum, and didn't know whether to go or
not; what did witness think about it :?
Witness said you have been summoned by
the coroner, and you know what your duty
in the matter is. Witness asked, what
about the aconite? Dr. Gibson replied. I
think 1 got aconite; can't tell on which
bottle, but l am not definite about 1t, and
don't want to say anything about it.
Witness said he would mention it to Com
monwealth s-Attorney Echols and fore
man Young, of the inquest, and have the
nfor r. T
don't want you to say anything about it;
it is mere impression Of mine; can't
tell where I got the taste" Witness said
Mr.. Echols has the bottles locked up"
DR.. Gibson replied, Eyes suppose their
contents will be analysed" Witness again
asked DR.. Gibson if he didn't think he
ought to be examined. Or. Gibson re-
piled no; he could give nothing of any SER
vice in the matter; his were mere impress
slonS.
Inc examining the bottles witness
found 10 ounces of fluid tract of Aconite
and about ounces of tincture, the
amount that ought to have been in them.
Witness doesn't know where the tiucture
came from. The Asylum was then pur-
chasing its drugs alternately from DR.. N.
Wayt & Bro. and Geo. May 6 Co. Had
never mentioned the conversation between
him and DR.. Gibson to any living being
at the Asylum or elsewhere. Witness has
been impressed with DR.. Butler as thor
oughly reliable and skilful Pharmacist.
NELSON ANDREWS
sworn. Witness had been for twelve
years an attendant at the Asylum. He re-
peated much of the narrative of the poison.
ing. Thought it very improbable that any
stranger could have gotten into the hall.
Has always suspected a patient of doing
the poisoning. Several patients had access
| to the medical Office. Saw one in there
| with the keys. Here witness named one
| who frequently went to the dining-room
| got the key to the medical room. Have
| seen him come out of it alone. Same
patient once got DR.. Pendleton g keys to
| the whiskey chest. The key has hung in
| the dining-room ever since l can remem-
Der. Never saw this patient do that unr
der the administrations that preceded this
one. Didn't consider patient B. cured
| man as DR.. Hamilton had testified he was.
Had known patient B. to carry whisky
into the wards. When DR.. VIM Hamilton
was there the medicine cups Except the
chloral cups which were kept in the Officer
| were LEFT open in the hall. After DIR. Robt
Hamilton came all the medicines were
placed in the hall in a wire-gauze cage
| Witness is not at the Asylum now, was
not dlsch arged, but they made it so I'M
pleasant for NE that left. DR.. Harnil-
/, ton did not, but Steward Mauzy and DR.
| Crockett did heard from MI. Gibson that