Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-29
The Death Of Mime. Rayene.
RUMoRS THAT 1T WAS CAUSED BY POISON
WHAT THE PHYSICIAN SAYS.

RUMoRS THAT 1T WAS CAUSED BY POISON
WHAT THE PHYSICIAN SAYS.
An account of the sudden death OF Madame
Ravene last Wednesday, the day which had
been fixed for her wedding with DIR. Emil Bes-
seis, was published in THE STAR OF Thursday.
Since then distressing runors that her death
was caused by poisoning have found their way
into print. Mime. Ravene was To have been
married at IL O'Clock "Wednesday. She
found lying in bed AT q clock unconscious, aud
died at 2:3O O'Clock. Dr. Joseph Scholl, who
attended her attributed the death 10 aPoplexy.
induced by heart disease, and made n return 10
thai effect to the health office. Before her
death Mime Ravene expressed desire to bc
cremated but as il was represented that the
crematory at Lancaster. Pa, was out of order.
and IL was impossible To comply with her wish,
she was buried at Glendale, country place
owned by Dr. Bessels, about seven miles from
the city. The following il a statement of the
case made Jointly by Drs. Bessels and Scholl:
Mrs. Rayene died OF cerebral apoplexy
caused by heart disease, at 2:2o ?. M, June "a;
Dr. Schoii called in to see the patient at .
| in the morning, and found her unconscious,
paralyzed, and i'm "a cyanotic state. The pulse
was feeble and sometimes stopped entirely,
showing undoubted symptoms OF paralysis of
the heart. The doctor had been treating her
before She having suffered from cardiac spasms
and astematic attacks. She also suffered from
malarial fever, and was in the habit OF taking
Fowiers soluaion as "A prophylactic, but never
the idea that she might havestaken too much Of
the fluid one OF her friends stated who came
in To see her But the symptoms displayed
Mr.. Gustave Reyene stated 10 a STARreporfer
when asked to-day about the death OF his
mother that this preposterous and distressing
rumor originated with persons who knew none
of the circumstances of his mothers death.
Neither his mother nor DIR. Bessels had much
ACQUAINTANCE with the Germans here, who had
spread this rumor. MIR. Ravene said that he
was present at the house during all OF his
mothers brief illness, and the conditions and
symptoms were Enthusiastically those Of apo
plexy induced by a heart trouble. She had suf-
Tered much from this affection OF the heart
The medicine known as Fowler's solution,
which she was accustomed to take contained Q
cause death. She took but two drops of this
medicine at a time After her death the bottle
was found In about the same condition as II had
been some days before her death, indicating
that she had not taken any unusual quantity
OF the mixture. Besides, her mortal illness was
entirely different from that which would he
produced by arsenical poisoning. There was
every reason, Mr.. Rayene said, 10 believe that
his mother did not contemplate suicide, for the
evening before her death she mad completed an
article for publication, written several letters,
noted a number of visits she had TO make, and
in other ways Indicated her fuii expectation of
continuing In life.
District Attorney Wortbington said TO a STAR
reporter to-day that he could not take any steps
towards making an investigation OF the case
unless some accusation was made other than
mere newspaper rumor.
Coroner Patterson said that there was no
ground at present to justify him In questioning
the correctness Of the certificate of phy scian,
forward and stated that he believed that death
had been produced by some other cause than
that certified TO. No one had made such state
ment to the authorities. He said that the
body had been removed from the District he
would not now have any jurisdiction in the
case as coroner, even IL there were complaint,
The Maryland authorities would in such case
have to exhume the body and examine It
Mr.. l. w. WILHELM, lately OF the Johns
Hopkins university, who has been appointed
special agent Of the United States Labor bu-
reau, has been assigned 70 prepare a report upon
the condition OF manufacturing interests and
labor matters along the Pacific slope, with ref
erence to the general depression In trade. He
will also inquire into the occupations and wages
paid the Chinese and the effect upon the labor
question. Mr.. Wilhelm starts at once for Cali
fornia, and will be engaged I'm that section of
the country for about two months.
MRS. MERRICK's CoNprrIox.-Mrs Merrick ia
reported this snorning as showing slight signs
OF Improvement and her physicians and friends
feel more encouraged.
The Lakeside directory estimates the popalo
tion OF Chicago TO be 100000