St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-27
A MYSTERIOUS CASE.
Doctors and Detectives Alike Puz-
zled Over Dan Parker's Death.

Special to the Globe.
RUTLAND, vt, April 26.-The recent
death of Dan. Parker is enveloped in mys-
terry. Mrs. II. Z. Mason, his mother-in-
law has been arrested on the charge of
administering poison to him. and is in Jail
awaiting a hearing. The mass of testi-
mony, chiefly hearsay of course. is quite
conflicting. For instance, DR.. John Meade
says that the case of Parker is a puzzle to
him. He discovered no signs of poisoning
while he was treating the patient, and he
thinks that the great number of blue pills
he took may have been converted into cor
rosive sublimate by the acid in the pickles,
Of which he ate too freely. He saws that
there was no such infiamed appearance on
the autopsy as arsenic would naturally
have caused, and adds that so far as the
other deaths in the Mason family are con-
cerned, where foul play is now suspected.
Mr.. Mason died in 1881 Of contraction and
hardening of the liver, and Mrs. Debritton,
who died in the same house, was suffering
from heart disease aggravated by typhoid.
and her death was consequently due to these
complications. So far there is absolutely
nothing to explain the presence of arsenic
in Parker's stomach. DIR. Warren Mcclure,
an old army surgeon, was called to attend
young Parker in his last hours. He saws:
The night before Parker died stayed with
him and gave him occasionally a powder,
which was the only medicine left by the doc
tor. The patient was restless aud suffered
intense pain all through the night. He seemed
to be burning up inwardly and had to give
him water to drink every ten minutes and
fan him constantly. Parker had every sy1np-
tom of being poisoned. His mouth, chest and
stomach appeared to be
SORE AND INFLAMED.
He had no disease and yet he was dying by
inches. The next night he died in great agony
with unr1istakable indications OF arsenical
poisoning.
Mrs Parker, the young widow, saws posi-
lively that her mother knew nothing of the
81, 900 insurance on her husbands life.
II had been kept secret between her and
her husband. She said that Dan had never
been well since they were married in Oc-
tober, 1885. He was troubled with bilious
ness and was forever taking medicine.
When asked if she thought that there was
any ground for the theory that he COM
mitted suicide, she replied:
'Why, it can't be possible. He loved TO live
too well. He had long, hard struggle 10 get
an education, and was just beginning to feel
that he was fairly on his feet and free from
debt. He received word by telegraph the
Saturday before his death of position as
stenogr2pher awaiting him in large Boston
house, which he was to accept Immediately.
He replied that he would go Monday"
Ibid you intend to go to Boston with him?''
was asked.
''Oh, yes, indeei," she replied. At expected
to be ready TO follow him Wednesday, and
mamma would golater, after making arrange
ments to live with us in Boston"
The neighbors say that Mrs. Mason Is a
witch, and has predicted the exact time of
various fires and that she claimed to have
obtained this information in dreams. There
is every prospect of sensation being de-
velOped in this case. Tonight it is recalled
that not only did Mrs. Debritton die sud-
denly at Mrs. Nason's house, but Mr..
Mason died very suddenly and under suspi-
cious circumstances four years ago. De-
tectives are engaged on the case and hold
frequent counsels with the prosecuting
attorney. Prof. Wilthaus of Buffalo, who
examined the stomach of Parker, declares
that he found in it large quantities OF
arsenic.