Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-05-14
THE PARKER POISONING CASE.
The Physicians Describe the Last Hours
of the Victim.

of the victim.
The preliminary trial of Mrs. II. f.. Ma.
son. charged with poisoning her son-in-
law, Don G.. Parker. was continued at
Rutland Wednesday.
DIR. George X. Sanborn was the first
witness called to the stand. He described
at some length his attendance of Parker
during part of his sickness. Parker kept
rubbing his hands in the region of his
stomach and abdomen, saying that if he
could only get rid of something that was
in the way there he would be all right
again.
The witness was told of Parker's habit
of taking medicine, and Mrs. Mason show
ed him Il bottle of Warmers safe kidney
cure, asking if he thought that could have
poisoned him. She said that Maud and
she had taken doses of 1t and it had made
them both sick.
DR.. Goldsmith who was the next wit
ness refused to TESTIFY rs an expert and
describe he symptoms of arsenical pois-
oning. He was called by Dr. Mead to see
Parker Thursday and suggested that he
might be suffering from poisoning. lie
thought that the patient would get well.
Dr. Mead called to see Parker Friday
morning and found him in bed suffering
from nausea, Sunday morning he seemed
better He didn't see him again untll
the following Wednesday. lie then
seemed TO be worse There were
no noticeable symptoms of fever, but
Parker suffered from distress, which the
doctor at first attributed to simple indi
gestion The symptoms seemed more
alarming Wednesday, and he gradually
sank until death Friday night He was
present at he end, and Mrs. ID. G. Parker
then told him that her husband had been
taking some white bismuth powders and
Mrs. Mason said that she wonder
ed if those powders could have been
anything besides white bismuth. She
also said something about looking for
some of the powders to examine them.
The first indication of approaching death
was noticed in the pulse, and he contnu-
ed to sink until the end, attended by the
same symptoms noticed early in the case
He recommended the autopsy. when he
found that it was Mrs Nason'S wish to
have it made, especially as ugly rumors
began to be circulated.
The agonieS of death were described by
Warren Mcclure, who was called as nurse
Thursday, and attended Parker till the
end. When he first got there, he told the
friends that unless Parker rallied soon he
His mouth was raw, he was suffer
ing from intense thirst and seemed to be
burning mp inside. The muscles of his
arms and legs would contract cOnvul-
sively and he, would beat his breast
with his hands and roll restlessly IN
bed. Although he asked to have the
attending physician wait and see him
about giving medicine, when he re-
turned from his meal, he found that
the doctor had been there and gone.
He had only Il few powders To give the
sick man and no narcotics TO induce sleep.
He tasted the powders before administer
ing them. The room was cold and the
patients body seemed clamny to the
touch. He struggled for breath and had
to be famed constantly until he died.
In tho Durkpr NOS p1Iinu trial
Rutland Thursday George =. Russell, the
undertaken, who had charge of the re-
mains said he made no use of embalming
fluid in the preparation of the remains for
burial until the next day, when heapplled
some on the face with IL cloth and lett dl-
reclionS with Mrs. Mason and her daugh-
ter, to keep the cloth moist. He could no;
tell Whe1he there was any arsenic III the
fluid or not.
+. l.. Hatch said he had known Parker
Intimately IT. Il member OF his band and
orchestra. Parker WAS for two years d
boarder in his family. He WAS summoned
to the house Tuesday morning, as Mrs
Parker was in great distress over a pin
which She had sot lodged in her throat
While he was there Mrs. Mason told him
that Don was very sick, and she thought
he could not live. The house was fated
she said. Tie was present when Dr. san
born examined the contents. thrown NJ
from the stomach which had been pre-
served in Il bowl as the doctor had called
for them. DR.. SanbOTn again called tOI
the contents of the stomach and Mrs
Mason said that it had been thrown away
The witness watched with Parker Tues
day night. Left him asleep in the morn
ing. The next afternoon MIR. Hatch call
ed and found him worse. Mrs Mason
said that she prepared all of DON nourlsh
ment because he wanted she should do it
Parker was deliriouS u part of the time
rolling about in bed with commissions an'
drawing up the limbs, and seemed in grea
agony. Mrs Mason asked the witness I,
tell Dr. Mead that Don had such spell
when he boarded ut his house. TO thi
Mr.. Hatch replied that while Don BOARDED
with him he never had such spells. IL
saw Mrs. Mason Il few days after the fune
raj. She seemed agitated about the cur
rent rumors about poisoning, and during
the conversation Mrs. Mason remarked
that if he did die OF poison, how are the
going to prove ii Surprising they find
coal hod tull of poison how could the
prove that | gave it
w. II. :. WhltcOmb of Burlington, tn
agent of the Equitable Life, testified I
Parkers holding $1,000 policy in tn
company. which was made over to tn
wife January Is, lSS6
Mrs. Parker of Mlddetown Springs wa
the next witness md described her care G
Don during his last suiferiugs. Don ha
lived at home most of the time until witt
in three years. He was over % years oil
and was married October H. 1885, at Mr.,
Nason's house. He boarded with hi
prospective mother-in-law before MAJ
rage and had lived with he
since. Witness was summoned by
despatch from Don the Saturday before h
died Don seemed so much worse Sunda
might that she wanted "A doctor, and wen
for DR. Sanborn. He gave her powde
and some medicine in II phal and sh
gave it according to directions, althOug
he threw up the powder. She wante
him to come personally, but he said tha
the medicine was just what he shout
give if he were at the house. Mrs. Naso
prepared the PATIENTS meals with two {
three exceptions. Witness prepared som
beef extract which the doctor prescribed
but Mrs. Mason tipped it over on the stow
and prepared some more herself. Whe
Dr. Sauborn asked to have the content
of the stomach saved when he vomited,
was put away in II basin, but Mrs Naso
threw It away once because she said sh