, 1889-05-29
WAS IT ACCIDENT?
Mrs. Chas. Thomas Found Dead in
Her Bed.
She Had Swallowed Two Ounces of
Laudanum.
Interesting Testimony Elected at
the Coroner's Inquest.

yesterday morning. An empty laudanum
vial was on a dresser near by and it was
evident that the woman had taken an
overdose of the drug accidentally or had
suicided. She was SO years of age and a
niece of Judge Stanley of Alameda. Cal.
Coroner Chafin summoned a jury in
Guiding w. A Richards. Pat Sullivan,
John Shingle, S. A. Bristol, Warren
Richardson, Jr., A. g. McGregor. The
inquest was held at the meeting room of
the Durant Hose company last evening.
s. A. Bristol was chosen foreman and w.
A. Richards clerk. Prosecuting Attorney
Stnll conducted the examination of wit
nesses.
Mrs. Thomas purchased two ounces of
laudanum at DR.. w. N. Hunts drug
store Monday evening. saying that she
wished to use it as a linament. About
eight months ago Mrs. Thomas had I, zen
employed as a nurse at DIR. Hunts resi-
dence. At hat time she complained of
illness and exhibiting bruises which she
said had been inflicted by her husband.
One arm was badly swollen and both were
black and blue. She said that Mr..
Thomas had frequently maltreated her.
DR.. j. j. Marston, county physician,
was the second witness. He had known
Mrs. Thomas as a nurse three or four
years. She was skillful and competent at
this work. In calling upon the lady in
his professional capacity he had learned
of her domestic difficulties. Mrs. Thomas
had said her husband had invested her
money in his business and that she was
unable to recover it. There had been Sc
rious trouble on this score and she pro-
posed to appeal to the courts for a sepa-
ration and settlement. At 10 O'Clock
yesterday morning the doctor viewed the
remains of Mrs. Thomas at the request of
her husband. Death had occurred from
six to eight hours before this time from
narcotic poisoning. No evidences of vlo-
lence were noticeable.
At the time of death Mrs. Thomas was
a oomer at the residence of Mrs. L. s.
Days, corner OF Eighteenth and Fergu-
sod streets, where she established a pri-
vate hospital a month ago.. She men
toned that there had been family trou.
bles. but secured a key to her
apartment for her husband say
that she did not wish to lock him out.
Thomas called several times and after
each visit she reported that there had
been warm words. Mrs. Thomas had
been i'll, but was up Monday morning
preparing for the reception of some pa
tents. She seemed in good spirits and
declared that she felt ambitious and pro-
posed to live a long life. In the afternoon
she had made the statement that she had
expected to become possessed of 81, 900
as soon as she was able to come down
town. She seemed in excellent health,
but said she was still weak. Once Mrs.
Thomas asked her husband if he intended
to leave her and almost begged him not
to do SO. Thomas had called last Sunday
afternoon. Mrs. Thomas was down town
for a while Monday morning. Witness
said that she did not believe that Mrs.
Thomas drank any intoxicating liquors or
used narcotics during her residence at Mrs.
Days. Mrs. Thomas said that she had
reached the conviction that her husband
had married her for her money and now
wished to cast her off for another woman.
She told of plottings to involve her in
disgrace. During one dispute between
wife and husband the former had threat
ended an expose il Thomas did a certain
thing in connection with the church.
Chas. Thomas, husband of the dead
woman, now appeared. His eyes were
red from weeping. and he seemed very
nervous and much agitated. He had
been away fron tow for two weeks pre-.
ceding Thursday of last week, and on that
day learned that his wife was i'll. Fri
day he called on his wife and remained
about fifteen minutes. In his opinion
she was then under the influence of OBJ
ates. Upon request he again visited her
Saturday afternoon. She was still i'll. She
then said that she had become heiress to
half a million dollars and desired that her
husband take charge of it. After Satur-
day afternoon Thomas said he did not
again see his wife alive. During the
month Mrs. Thomas resided at Mrs.
Days he had called four times, usually
after night. Mrs. Thomas had said that
she was an inmate of San Francisco and
Pueblo insane asYlums four years. Her
first husband was a Mr.. Miller, the sec
ond Alex. Robertson. He had discov.
cred that the former was dead, but the
latter alive. She had claimed that both
were deceased. During three years of
married life Mrs. Thomas had used
chloral and morphine frequently
and drank liquor. especially when
the witness was away from home.
Mrs. Thomas Denver relatives had
told him six months ago that his wife was
addicted to the use Of opiates and was
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