Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-01-22


nsa come to the conclusion thath might have
7os the aconite on his finger from the lips OF
IN corpses before he had tasted the sesqul- |
3 de of iron, and had not until the evening
bsiore thought of the fact that he had tasted
lie preparation from his finger and not direct
iy from the bottle. This theory had not been
anggestsd to him by any one. Had mentioned
sNEis suspicion of aconite to Howard Wayt In
Ia street as a secret, but had not mace IL
pfDlic, as he felt that with Prof. Mallet and
osh6rs in charge of the case all the facts
sStsd be arrived at. Had not gone before
fae Jury of inquest because he had not been
sui. noned, but expected at the time that be
gaE a be summoned, and would then tell of
tile n mbness of the tongue he had felt.
Al sx-patient, c. testified that before the
poi ~ ing DIR. Butler had sent him hydrate OF
chlQrai IN mistake for a tonic. which he did mol
= as he had already taken one dose OF chic
lal being accustomed to take dose of chic !
RAJ followed by a tonicl. Had he taken the
A0aale dose it might have ended his life. He
aanloned it to DIR. Hamilton, who told wit
q sas that it was mistake of DIR. Butler. and
sj1 AZ hereafter he should have his medicine |
p-epared by DR.. Strain.
As to the instance of his medicine being |
gyong'' after the poisoning, and which had
essen analysed by DR.. Mallet. witness confirmed
tuz statement of DR.. Hamilton,
fitness thought it very improbable, If not |
2s ossible, that a stranger, not accustomed to |
ara asylum. could have gained entrance to the |
rs in the hall without being Noticed by per-
ssas there The medical dispensary was
ierally, as far as witness had observed, light |
"a up at night and somebody there. |
]. HOWARD wAYT-
5- flied to the interview alluded to by DR. |
istbson, and of the Dr.'s suspicion of the poi |
so. being aconite from the effect on his tongue,
bus expressed his inability to say where 1t
esne from, and in this state of uncertainty
vas unwilling to be summoned before the
lary When, on next day, he asked the DR..
about the aconite, he said: 81 think I got AGO.
lite; can't tell on which bottle. but am
;iot definite about it, and don't want to say
anything about it. I don't want you to say
saything about it. 1t is mere impression of
Inc; can't tell where got the TASTE"
examining the bottles, witness found ID
t,unces of fluid extract of aconite and about
osnces of tincture the amount that ought to
ave been in them. Witness doesn't know
here the tincture came from. The Asylum
W as then purchasing its drugs alternately from
N Wayt & Bro. and Geo. W. May Co.
NELSON Andrews
VINO had been an attendant at the Asylum for
we've years, after repeating much of the mar
rative of the poisoning, said he thought it very
Improbable that any stranger could have got
tsn alto the hall. Had always suspected a pa
tient of doing the poisoning. Several patients
mad access to the medical Office. Saw one in
here with the keys. Here witness named one
z7ao frequently went to the dining-room, got
s1e key to the medical-room. Had seen him
eorue out of 1t alone. Same patient once got
80 oI,a
Tha t1ey had hung in the dinfng-room ever
since ne could remember. Never saw this pa
lent do that under the administrations that
! preceded this one. Didn't consider patient B.
3 cured man as DIR. Hamilton had testified he
was. Fad known patient B. to carry whiskey
1lto the wards. When DIR. VIM. Hamilton was
here the medicine cups Except the chloral
anps, which were kept in the odice.) were left
apen in the hall. After DIR. Robert Hamilton
oAme all the medicines were placed in the hall
Ia a wire-gauze cage
Witness had not been discharged from the
a sylum, but had left because it had been made
SO unpleasant to him that he would not stay.
Asd heard from Mr.. Gibson that Steward
= had said that if he voted that d--n
OK. Funder tick the would have to hunt an
o'har boarding house." Some of the attend
snfs said that DIR. Damilton was not doing his
drlg by keeping Funder- Democrat in the
et place.
answer to the question whether there
y ) any Republicans or Readjusters en-
u sed before the present administration came
le said he could name three or four. Up to
time witness left all the employees of the
. glun, save Que. were of one political faith.
fitness regarded the patient B., who went
iat9 the dispensary alone, as dangerous
1asa; that is, dangerous to let go in the medi-
"a Office. He had, while at home, sent to New
ark and gotten strychnine, and tried to COM
~ suicide. That fact was stated in his COM
nitment papers and was known to the author
z les of the Asylum.
POLITICS AT THE ASYLUM.
Mr.. Robert Stratton, who had been foreman
al the Asylum of the carpenter shop for eight
years, had been turned out because of his
politics. and thought all the old employees
we're turned out because of their politics.
We know of no other reason. DIR. Hamilton
told him that he would like to keep him, but
t5e pressure was too strong, and he would
ave to go.
MR.. DINNEEN-
.astified that he had been Engineer at the Asy-
aiB for twenty three years and three months,
wan he was discharged by DR.. Hamilton be-
oaase he was Democrat. The employees
14ere now are Readjusters. He judged from
he annual report that there had been great
1travagance in the Engineers department
D Tiers put out of use as burned out. The boil
6 had been in only eight years when put out
aN ought to have lasted for fifteen years. The
sailers there don't work but seven months in
G year. The boilers taken were three in num-
her, which had cost 500 EACH Two of them
we're in good condition when he left. and one
lieeded to be re-hued at cost of $3.50, which he
suggested. He got 5000 a year. If boiler is
taken care of If it will stand if not it can be
ruined in twenty-four hours Clarke, his sue
cessor is a brother-in-law of Mr.. Punkett a
Ieading Readjuster politician here. Witness
aad run saw-mill and steam distillery before
peing Engineer at Asylum. Believed the boil
, ers had been destroyed by Encouragement
Gneof the firemen had told him that one boil
had been fired up when it was dry.
The former Superintendent CDR. A. NJ Faun-
Aeroy) used to come to the Asylum from A,
NJ to 10 A. M. Would come through his de-
partment from once day to three or four
times week.
R. s. Clarke. successor to Mr.. Dinneen, sta
ted that he was not naturalized citizen of the
United States and was not member of any
political party. Was an Engineer by trade
witness rad thought 1t better TO buy new boil
Us than repair the old ones. No mismanage-
emit OF his had ruined the boilers, and no
4 r er had teen fred when 1t was dry. The
nsys, 20 4ssfcsd 80 the heat. and there was
~ es0ER aint OF cold as there was last winter
f5Isd gotten his appointment from DIR. Hamil-
eDa through the Influence OF Mr. Plunkett |
". e. Craig called on him to contribute to the |
c1snpaign fund. No amount was named, but
re s25 Knew 1t was for the Coalition party. |
z ID not give it with the hope to secure him
solf in his place. Did not know, but had heard
lat the other employees were called on to |
contribute.
MRS. MANN
had been an attendant for nine years. During |
that time the medicine cups were put out as |
hey havebeen by the present administration, |
except the choral cups, which had been for
merly taken in at night. Sometimes the cups |
would be forgotten and stay there all night |
ihlngs seemed to get along as well under this
administration as under former ones.
W. H. wILGoss-
Tas a British subject, and not naturalized in
ais country. Had been night-watch for If