The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-19
CENSURE FOR HOOPER.
He Broke the Law in Selling
Kerr's Deadly Dose.
THE JuRY's SEVERE VERDICT.
Inquest Results In the Druggist's Con.
demnation for Neglect - He
May Be Prosecuted.

The remains of Wallace w. Kerr, which are
lying at Bonney & Stewards morgue, attracted
considerable attention yesterday, and many OF
the curious called to view the body. The face
aud lips Of the deceased were pailid and plainly
showed that death Yves due TO poisoning.
Coroner Horton Investigated the cause OF
death, and concluded that an inquest was i'm
perative. Yesterday afternoon he impaneled
q jury consisting OF the following men: James
Wheelan, T. P. Clinghsn, J. L Simpson, d. K.
Howard, C. A. Hughes and n. II. Latimer.
Prosecuting Attorney John F. Miller examined
the witnesses. After hearing the testimony OF
Robert s. Coe, who bought the morphine; James
O. Hooper, the druggist who sold the drug; Dr..
p. B. NJ Miller, who attended Kerr; Mrs. G.
Deniker, Kers and Goes 1andlady, and E. j.
Core, salesman, who was in the drug store
when Coe came in. the jury returned the follow
ing verdict:
Eve, the jury, called to investigate the cause
of death of Wallace w. Kerr do find that Wallace
W. Kerr did meet his death April II from the
administration of twenty grains Of morphine
administered in error for sulfonal; that said
morphine was sold by one James o. Hooper, q
druggist, who. contrary to the laws OF Washing
ton, placed no label or mark on said morphine
which would indicate that said morphine was
deadly poison. We find from the evidence
produced that said James o. Hooper was guilty
OF gross earelessness."
"The verdict is only what I expected said
Prosecuting Attorney Miller last evening.
Druggist Hooper 10 certainly guilty OF gross
carclesSness, and maybe he should be made to
suffer in some way for his negligence. The law
as regards the sale OF poison is very plain. 1t
requires that label with the word poison be
put on the bottle containing the poison, and it
further requires that the bottle shall be wrapped
in purple paper. Mr.. Hooper did not comply
with the Law in any respect He did not even
question the young man as to what he intended
using the drug for can not say whether /
will bring criminal action against him. / will
consider the matter well before act''
The law governing the sale of drugs reads:
Every apothecary, druggist or other person
who shall sell or deliver any arsenic, corrosive
active poison without having the word poison
and the true name thereof in English written or
printed on a label attached to the vial, box or
parcel ointaining the same, shall, on conviction
thereof, be imprisoned in the county jail not
more than six months and be fined in any sum
not exceeding 500, or fined only.
Il. s. Coe, the dead mans roommate, stu in-
sists that he called for sulfonal, and not sui
phate OF morphine; that the latter drug was
given him, and the mistake lies entirely with
the druggist. He says he has frequently taken
sulfonai to produce sleep, and that it Is only a
mere accident that he is not now lying on
marble slab by the side of his unfortunate
friend. He said that while going to the drug
store he concluded to get forty grains OF sulfo-
nal. twenty grains for himself. when the thought
flashed on his mind: "What's the use? Twenty
grains viii put Wallace to sleep and, II he Is not
restless, I'll sleep anyway" 30 he bought but
the single dose and is alive today.
Kerrs body will be embalmed, and on Monday
or Tuesday will be shipped to Massachusetts
for interment.