The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-07-04
THE koHLER CASE.
The Jury Find Harmon's Death Re-
suits from Unknown Causes.
Kohler Discharged from Arrest and
Goes Free.

kohIer Discharged from Arrest and
Goes Free.
Yesterday the coroner's jury in the case of
John W. Kohler, held on suspicion of caus-
ing the death of George F. Harmon by
poison, held their final session, and the gist
of the testimony that has been offered was as
follows
At the first hearing about two weeks ago,
Prof Carmichael testified that he had ana
lyzed the stomach and duodenum and the
liver of George +. Harmon. The stomach
was empty. He found the aggregate amount
of arsenious oxide in the stomach to be sixty
four one thousands OF grain. In the liver
he found seventy-f0ur one thousands of
grain of arsenious oxide. One half grain
Of arsenious oxide had been known to pro-
duce death, but the minimum dose ordinarily
given by the authorities as fatal is one grain.
The maximum dose cannot be stated. Even
half an ounce of arsenic has been adminis-
tered and retained without serious results.
Arsenious oxide is substance readily
eliminated from the body through the ma
tural channels. Arsenic has been admins
tered SO as to produce death, and yet no ar
senic has been found after death. Prof.
CarmichaePs testimony was suspended until
he could analyze the intestines and the em-
balming fluid which was used upon the body
of Harmon.
DR.. James M. Bnzzell testified that he was
called to Harmon on the 4th of February by
Kohler, who said that Harmon had been
vomiting for two or three days. He found
him very feeble and prostrated, complaining
of great pain and distress In his stomach and
great heat and tenderness of pressure. He
was there ON the 9TH and 9th also, and allow
ed him to take q little ice cream in his
mouth, which Harmon said made his stomach
feel better, The character of the vomiting
was such that there was great straining and
wrenchlng with no satisfaction. 1t was not
like case of ordinary bilious attack where
patients generally throw up and are relieved.
On the 9th he appeared somewhat better. He
could keep down spoonful of milk, and
thought he was going to be better. He was
called again by KOhler on the 18th, and
found Harmon very low and very much de-
pressed. On the 18th Harmon was somewhat
better, and he did not visit him again.
DR.. A. V. Thompson testified that he at
tended Harmon first on Feb. 10; that he
found him suffering from thirst, his tongue
furred and dry with some disturbance of the
stomach, nausea whenever taking food or
drink. My diagnosis at that time was gas
tritis. Prescribed pieces OF ice to be held in
the mouth, lime water and milk and bismuth
and syrup Of tolu. Another visit the day
following found his condition slightly i'm
proved. On the 18th his condition was very
much the same and he considered him doing
fairly well. On the night of the 18th Har-
mon was very thirsty and against orders
drank two quarts of water through the night
which he v0mited up as fast as drank. Dr.
Gerrish was called in consultation and it was
agreed to feed him from the rectum. On the
18th he was very little better. On the Goth
h his condition was stu favorable All this
dry husky feeling which he said he couldn't
describe, but there was no twitching of the
muscles and no swelling under the eyes but
there was the, green and yellow, character
which we get in bilious emesis and which we
get in arsenious poison. On the Dist his con-
ditiOn was as favorable and he said he gussed
we had got control of his disease. In the
evening he was very much the same with
the exception of more thirst and little more
paralysis from the throat to the stomach.
The next morning about OF 10 o'clock Koh-
Ter telephoned me that Harmon was dead.
A post mortem examination was requested.
Mrs. Harmon said that she was willing.
Kohler asked me if it would be of any bene-
fit to the family and told him no, but it
would be very satisfactory to the physicians
and friends to know the true cause of his
death. Kohler said that it would do no good
and If that was all there was no call for it,
kohler always took charge of the medicine
and l gave my directions to him.
DIR. Gerrish corroborated the testimony of
DR.. Thompson.
Christopher Way, the apothecary, and his
clerk testified that Kohler bought arsenious
oxide Jan. 10, Jan 30 Feb 8 Feb 10 and
time, and said that he wanted it to use in his
business as a halter.
Edgar E. Wyman, clerk for j. w. Perkins
& Co., testified that he boarded at Harmon's S
during his sickness; that Kohler acted as
Harmon's nurse, sat up with him and was
the only boarder in his room except very
few times while Harmon was sick. don't
know how it started, but most all the board
ers were suspicious Harmon was foully dealt
with, and when / found out KOhler had
DOnphf arsenic If Qtranpfhanad fbncQ enc
plclons. Witness roomed with Kohler. Wit
ness testified to some suspicious circunl-
stances tending to show improper relations
between Kohler and woman.
The other boarders who testified knew
nothing about the particulars of Harmon S
sickness, but had seen Kohler and Mrs. Har-
mon together constantly in the house and
upon the street.
Herbert W. Rich, the undertaken, testified
that about two hours after Harmon's death
he prepared him for burial; that he poured
into the mouth about pint of embalming
fluid, which appeared to escape through the
throat.
At the hearing yesterday Prof. Carmichael
testified that the whole amount of arsenious
oxide found in the stomach, liver and intes-
tines was two-tenths of grain; that in the
pint of embalming fluid which he had ana
lyzed he found 191 grains of arsenious oxide,
and that 1t was impossible for him to dis
tinguiSh between that which might have
been introduced before death and that intro
| duced by the undertaken. He said it. was a
matter of surprise to him that so little was
| found in the stomach if the undertaken used
| the quantity he says he did.
Marshal Andrews testified that Kohler on
| the evening of his arrest told him that he
| bought arsenic to kill rats; that he didn't
| BUY any until after Harmon was dead, and
that he bought it twice and only twice.
DIR. S. I'll. Weeks testified that if a pint of
embalming fluid was poured into dead per-
sons mouth two or three hours after death
more or less Of it would be likely to reach
| the stomach, and il it remained there any
length of time might find its way into the
tissue and organs which lay in close proxim-
| lty toit, such as the liver, spleen, bowels and
| pancreas; that If this fluid was impregnated
| with arsenic of course arsenic might be found
in any of these organs. The doctor said thai
| If arsenic could be found in the upper por
tlon OF the brain he should say that it mus
| have been introduced into the system during
life, but in view of the small quantity found
| by Prof. Carmichael in the yiscera he did
not think that an analysis of the brain would
yield any definite result.
After long deliberation the jury found the
following verdict at pm
The jury find upon the evidence presented
that the said George F. Harmon came to hi
death by causes to them unknown.
About p. m. Marshal Andrews tool
Kohler from his cell at the police station
where he has been confined since May last
and carried him into the court room, wher
Judge Gould was in waiting. The Marsha
read the verdict of the coroners jury, anC
stated to the judge that as complainant il
the case he had no further evidence to brin
before the court The judge thereupon or
dered Kohler to be discharged without day
and he was accordingly discharged. Kohle
took his release in the same stolid way h
had his arrest, and left the police station