The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-07
A CLUBHOUSE HORROR.
Daring Attempt to Poison Members of a Mont
real Cuba Narrow Escape.

MONTREAL, Dec. 6-The absorbing theme of
cles in this city is the narrow escape from death
which eight well-known gentlemen experienced
on Tuesday evening, while dining at the Metro
politan Club, Shortly after 6 o'clock on Tues
day evening dinner was announced to the groups
of gentlemen occupying the various apartments.
Eight or ten members were soon seated at sew
eral tables. The first course on the bill of fare
was game soup, which was soon served. Ten
minutes after the potage had been partaken
of, and just as the walters were about
bringing on the next course, one of the
diners became pale, and to the horror of the
other guests, was taken with a violent fit of
nausea. Within a moment or two every gentle
man who had tasted the soup was similarly pros
trated. The sufferers experienced a general
feeling of prostration, and were taken with dull
pains in the region of the stomach. While the
excitement was at its height, and when the
poisoned guests were endeavoring to ease them
selves, two servants in the kitchen evinced the
same symptoms. Emetics were administered
without a moments delay, and gradually all the
parties recovered sufficiently to permit of re-
moval to their respective residences. Messrs.
John Atkins, W. Price and ]. G. Cotton, On
reaching their apartment in Joyce's Chambers,
sent for DR.. Clark, who, on reaching the scene,
promptly gave another emetic. The Doctor,
from the hurried explanations of the affair given
him, was under the impression that the poison
had possibly resulted from a putrid condition of
the game. The majority are not themselves
yet, and a fatal result in one instance
is feared. The club has always borne
a reputation for its cuisine. The
management is at present making thorough in
vestigation to ascertain the authors of the out
rage.
The soup furnished has been subjected to anal
ysis by DIR. }. Baker Edwards, public analyst,
- Al. ----t u cA
soup contained a sufficient quantity of arsenic to
have poisoned every member of the club. The
discovery has created great excitement. No one
of the gentlemen can account for the presence
of the deadly poison in the soup. A prominent
member being asked what he thought of the
affair, said: Il have my suspicious, but dare
not make them public at present. There is no
doubt, however. in my mind that the culprit
will be brought to justice. We have detectives
at work on the case now. and sufficient evidence
has already been obtained to cause an arrest.
OF course it will be very difficult to attach the
guilt to the suspected parties, but at the same
time it is the duty of the authorities to do every
thing within their power to clear the matter up.
A most diabolical and cold -biooded attempt at
murder was made, and the perpetrators must be
brought to justice"
Police Magistrate Dugas and Crown Prosecutor
Davidson made private inquiry into the case yes
terday afternoon, examining the servants. DR..
Baker Edwards, who analyzed the poisoned
soup, says that the quantity of arsenic in it was
so large as to forbid the supposition that it could
have come there by accident. He would Judge
that about half an ounce was used. Detectives
are visiting the various drug stores to ascertain
if any sale of arsenic has recently been made.
So far they have been unsuccessful. 1t is said
the presence of arsenic in the soup in such guam
titles alone saved the member Instead of
having the effect it produces when taken IN
small doses, the drug simply acted as a vigorous
emetic. The physician who was called in said
that the chances of the guests for life. had the
nausea developed itself two minutes later, would
have been small. A warrant was issued this
afternoon for two persons for attempted murder.
The names have not yet been made known.