The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-16
BOTH SISTERS DEAD.
The Terrible Result of a Drug
gist's Mistake.
Filling a Prescription with Morphine
Instead of Quinine.

The sad tragedy arising from a Hoboken
IN. J.) druggists terrible mistake aroused
great public interest in that city and in New
York, where the bereaved parents of the two
young ladies who lost their lives were we'll
known. Deta;k of the terrible tragedy are
IS follows:
One human lite was sacrificed, two hover
on the verge Of death, two homes are plunged
in grief and hoboken's best society circles
have sustained q sevess shock, and all because
q druggist blunde.od. A handsome and spa
a we'll kept lawn stands in Hudson street,
near Eighth street, Hoboken. 1t is the home
of Charles F. Holz, a millionaire wine mer.
chant This luxurious dwelling is the house
Of mourning. The family consisted Of Mr..
HolZ, his wife and four children-Gretchen,
Ella, Matilda and Willie. Gretchen was the
eldest. She was an educated, vivacious girl,
Of nineteen years, petite but symmetrical
figure, regular features, dark brown
eyes and brown hair. She was popular,
and, although surrounded by host OF suit
Loewenthal, a neighbor OF the Holz family.
They were to have been married this winter.
Miss Holz has been ill for some time. Her
symptoms were those Of malaria. She, with
her sister Ella, pretty blonde of fifteen
years, visited the Catskills.
A week ago they returned, both suffering
from malarial fever. DR.. Loewenthal, who
attended them on Sunday night, suggested
that DR.. Conrad, Of New York, be summoned
to consult with him, When DR.. Conrad ar
rived ri be- he prescribed forty.aye grains
four powders, one to be admins
tered to the patients before re-
firing. Young DR.. Loewenthal filled out the
prescription, and visited the drug store of
Charles G. Am Ende, at the corner Of Seventh
and Washington streets. Am Ende has &C.
quired the reputation Of being skilful drug
gist and chemist He was in charge Of his place
when DR.. Loewenthal called and weighed the
drug. The doctor administered powder to
aech Of the sisters, and expressing the hope
the medicine would give them relief bade
them good night about 10 o'clock Sunday
night Three hours later Ella, the younger
sister, began to complain Of cramps and
nausea. A few minutes later she lapsed into
Inconsistencies.
DR.. Loewenthal was hastily summoned.
The symptoms were unmistakably those Of
poisoning. He called DR.. Kudlich, Sr., who
at once pronounced the case one of morphine
poisoning. The doctors declared the drug
gist had erred in preparing the prescription.
So strong was the faith Of Mr.. Holz in the
apothecary that he would not credit the doc
condition arose from some singular action Of
the quinine upon her system. The physicians
were positive, and DR.. Loewenthal brought
the druggist to the house. Morphine and qui-
nine closely resemble each other; both are
white, pulpy substances. The druggist glanced
at the powder, and seemingly conf
dent that he had not made mistake, said,
II guess it's quinine." He touched it with
his tongue, and in an instant thu color lefth his
face and he trembled like an aspen leaf as he
turned and with an imploring look hoarsely
whispered:
"rve made mistake; it's morphine"
He reeled, and like dazed man moved
toward the door and tottered down the steps
In moment messengers were dispatched for
medical help, and few minutes later DR..
Kudlich, Jr. DR. Loewenthal, ST. DR.. Rosen-
cranz, Dr. Fisher and DR.. Conrad had ar
rived.
At this time Gretchen had shown no symp-
toms Of having partaken OF the fatal drug.
Antidotes were administered to neutralize
the effects of the morphia. Three Of the
did their utmost to destroy the influences Of
the poison in the younger girl Young DR..
Loewenthal was completely prostrated by the
sad affair. He eknew that his betrothed and her
sister had taken enough of the drug TO cause
death, and he had to be assisted to his home.
The elder sister. despite the efforts Of the
physicians, sank into insensibility at4 o'clock.
At 6 she revived and there was gleam OF
hope. Half an hour later she again relapsed,
and at o'clock died. Her sister Ella, who
was first stricken. fingered in the coma
through the day but died early the next
morning.
The police authorities did not learn Of the
sad affair until several hours after the death
of Miss Holz An officers curiosity was
aroused by the unusual commotion at the
house and he questioned one Of the servants.
He was instructed to seek Am Ende, the
druggist The officer called at tie store, and
the clerk, Henry Frank, intimated that his
employer had fled.
he Stated that he had not seen his employ
er during the morning and refused to sur
render the prescription. Detective Gallagher
subsequently, visited the place and the clerk
admitted that Am Ende had appropriated the
prescription, but had entered in the registry
he fact that a prescription for forty-lve
grains Of guinine in four powders
had been filled for DR.. Loewenthal.
County Physician Converse called early
early in the afternoon at the drug store, and
the clerk confessed that Am Ende was in his
room over the store. The county physician
repaired to the Recorders Court and entered
a formal complaint OF manslaughter against
Am Ends. Detective Gallagher was directed
to arrest the druggist, who wanted the
officer to procure carriage Inc drug
gist was left with q friend. Scarcely
had the detective reached the foot OF the
stairs when the friend called him back to tell
him his prisoner had swallowed poison. The
druggist had taken dose OF atropia. Ply
sicians were called and administered anti.
dotes Am Ende is forty years old and
is unmarried. 1t was thought he
would recover, but with shattered
mind. Mr.. c. F. Holz, the father Of the two
young ladies, sent verbal message to Drug
gist Am Ende. assuring him that he bore him
no ill-will whatever, as he knew that the
substitution Of morphine for quinine in the