Morning journal and courier., 1888-09-01
THAT FATAL MISTAKE.

Robert '. Eaeta. the BranfOrd Drug
 clerk, Arrested on . Charge of Man-
 slaughter and Placed Under Bonds- How He made the MIstake-Bailed
 Out and Brought to Ills Home in
 This C1ty-Wnd With Grief:
 The death of Homer 0. Bishop and Charles
 M. Appleby, of Branford, by being given
 aconite in soda water by mistake continues to
 be the only event that Branferd people find
 to talk about. Further developments show
 that the two young men went into Robinson & Fosters drug store and asked for brandy and soda. They then drove away, but.soon came back and asked Robert J. I1atta, the drug clerk who gave them the soda, what was in it. He said brandy. They said they felt numb, and Latta told them to go across the street to Dr. Zink's. The story that Latta told yesterday is as follows:
 sIast night about 6 o'clock man came ! into the store and wanted 8 pint of brandy put into bottle he brought with him. I poured the brandy out of Q derniiohn into g graduated glass, but as the bottle would not hold it all left about an ounce in the glass l and set it one side. had poured out all the brandy there was in the demiiohn and left the balance in the glass with the idea of put | ting it into something else so as to have the 1 demiiohn ready for reflling.
 'tAfter this I went to supper and coming I back found a customer who asked for some aconite. As wanted the graduated glass to < measure the drug hastily poured the brandy back into the demijohn and put two ounces l ot aconite into the glass. thought the cus- \ toner had called for two ounces of aconite | and finding that he only wanted one ounce \ poured half the contents of the glass into 8 bottle and the rest was left in the bottom of ! the bottom of the glass. I was kept busy for 8 few moments after this and did not think | any more about the aconite."
 ttWhen Bishop and Appleby came in and called for brandy forgot all about using ! the aconite, and only remembered that had left all the brandy there was in the store standing in the glass. As brandy and aco- nite look the same I did not discover my mistake when poured the contents of the | glass into the soda water. The young men \ went out and thought no more of the mat | ter until they came back, when their symp- | toms alarmed me, and told them to go to
 Dr. Zink. As soon as they had gone out got the glass and found that several drops | remained in the bottom. I put little soda ! water in the glass and drank it, but as soon | as got the stuff in my throat recognized it as aconite. I then recollected how had poured the brandy back in the demiiohn and took an emetio myself and then ran across k the way to inform DT. Zink that the young | men had taken aconite."
 Latta was kept under surveillance that 1 night by Deputy Sheriff Nettleton. He was nearly crazed with grief, and it was feared | that he would commit suicide, as he had a gun in his room. He telegraphed to this city for his father.
 Yesterday morning Latta was arrested on the charge of manslaughter, and taken be- fore Dr. Zink, who is a justice or the peace. Latta had no counsel. He plead not guilty and, waving examination, was bound over l to the next term of the Superior court, un- | der a bond of $1,000, which was given. | Latta then came to New Haven with his fa- \ ther, who lives at 86 Foster street. His par~ ! ents would not allow anyone to see him yes- | terday. He was nearly crazy with grief. Coroner Mix went to Branford yesterday and made an investigation. He thinks that \ the death of the young men was due to I criminal carelessness. He gave orders that topsis was held yesterday afternoon by Drs. Gaylord and Zink.
 Bishop was bookkeeper for the Branford Lock works and was the only son of Eek ford Bishop, prominent Branford man. He was unmarried and belonged to Widows Sons lodge No. 66, F. and A. M. Appleby's parents live in Madison, whence hez. z.came to Branford several years ago and started 8 stage line from BranfoId to New Haven. \ Appleby had no relatives in Branford except a married sister. He was 8 single man and I a we'll known member of Totoket lodge, K.
 of H.
 Hn Q Dazed State-LaGta Disappears From Home-Is Found Last Night I'm Branford-A Sheriff Takes Charge Of Him.
 Last night Lstta left his fathers house un- beknovn to anyone. He went to Branford although there was no reason for his going
 there. On finding that he was missing his father set out to find him. He traced him to Branford. Several of Latta's friends with Tar,rtz SharifE NLattlator iratio.a+ad Q saarck