St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-10-02
THE AssAssTN,s WEAPON.
Ii Was One of the Most Subtle OF
known Vegetable PoisOms.

Ii Was One of the Most Subtle of
known Vegetable PoisOns.
Growing wild IN its native soil, along the
banks of winding rivers or babbling brooks,
the purple foxglove is a plant whose pen
dulous stems of flowers attract attention
and challenge admiration. Centuries ago
medieval chemists learned that the leaves
and seeds of this beautiful product of nature
contained a principle which acted with
great power on the system of man, and a
new poison was added to the weapons
which proved potent in the hands of the
ambitious and INSCRIPTIONS. This prin-
ciple, medicinal in small doses and deadly
in large, modern science displays to the
world as digitaline, white, inOdorous, Bit
ter substance. Another form of the drug,
and the one most commonly in use is the
fluid extract of digitalis.
How does the poison work?
AS a general thing it may be said to
cause diminished muscular power, convul-
sive movement and insensibility. As a
medicine it is found to exercise remark
able influence over the circulation.
THE BEATS OF THE HEART
are retarded, but rendered more vigorous.
The arteries are contracted, and an i'm
proved tone of the cardiac and arterial
economy ensues. When poisonous doses
are Appropriated these conditions change,
the force Of the heart and the tension of the
arteries fall and the pulse becomes rapid
and irregular. Nausea and vomiting are
also developed, the vital forces fail, and
without warning. the unsuspecting victim
passes beyond the further vengeance of his
earthly enemies.
Note the effects produced by the drug.
They are the same as would be indicated in
the case of man addicted to the inordinate
use of tobacco or liquor.
Mr.. StOrrS both smoked to excess and
drank freely during the later days of his
life. He was like tired racer, whose will
ing brain but tagging limbs demand the
whip and spur. He worked night and
day. he chased reluctant judges all over
the state of Illinois and forced them by the
power of his intellect and the cogency of
his reasoning to do his bidding. His
master mind was to wreSt a decision from
the supreme court of the United States and
had he lived it is probable that Joseph c.
Mackin would to-day have been power in
Chicago politics instead Of a convict wear
ing the stripes of shame and degradation
AT THE JOLIET PENITENTIARY.
But the gang" leaders who dreaded
Mackin found means to close his mouth.
and to make away with Storrs, who had
become dangerous.
The lawyer was t'settled" with digitalis
Not vulgarly and in hurry, but with all
due regard for appearances and the progress
of disease acting on frame enfeebled by
hard wolk and temporary excuses. Day
after day the poison in medicinal doses
found its way into the liquor, which brought
temporary strength to the worn out but de-
termined advocate. The drug is cumula-
tive in its action, and one morning the col
lapse began and the deadly work was under
way. Mrs. StOrrS was summoned to her
husbands bedside. Early on the morn ing
of Sept. II, 1885. he woke, smoked cigar,
and insisted that the patient watcher by
his couch should take some needed rest.
Then he turned bis haggard face to the wall
and fell asleep. When the morning sun
sought the room, and Mrs. StorrS awoke,
the patient lay calmly still and silent. He
was dead-dead. as the public announce
ment had it. of paralysis of the heart. 1t
was what the ''gang" call ''piece Of slick