The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-12-01
A DRUGGISTS ERROR
cousss THE DEATH OF A LIrTLE
GIRL IN coLuMsIA.

Msrphins Accidentally Pat ap for Qui-
ins-ao Little Maud Lindsay Was
KiIlsds-Ths Phnrnaacist AInsst craxsa
bv tne UnCortnaate Mistake.
COLUMBIA, $. c., Nov 22.-No event
that has occurred in Columbia for years
has created sucl universal has been
more talked oil, than the peculiarly sad
death Of little Maud, of the pretty,
bright and generally petted twin daugh
ters Of the Rev. DIR. and Mrs. w. q.
Lindsay. Yesterday The State made
the announcement Of her having died
shortly after being given dose of
medicine. Although the facts were
then known they were suppressed at
the earnest request of intimate friends
of the family who desired an investiga-
tion first.
AS stated, the little girl was found
dead by her parents on rsturniDg from
church. Although Drs. Talleya and Hell
nitsh were quickly on the scene they
could do nothing. The death of their
child completely crushed the parents.
Yesterday 1t vas developed that DIR.
Lindsay, for fear the child would be
sick, weatto one OF the drug stores and
called for three quinine powders of
three grains each. They were put up
by the druggist in charge, and one was
given to The little girl.
On Friday night DR.. Talley made an
examination of one of these powders.
Yesterday merning he applied the reg
ular test aud found thom to be NOR
phine. 1t made the little one sleep and
she could hardly have suffered LAUGH
pain. ~ curious fact Is that DR.. Lind
say, when he came down street, had
almost stopped at another drug store,
but seeing q strange clerk there he went
on so as TO avoid any possibility of the
very thing which afterwards occurred.
The coroner yesterday morning EN-.
paneled ajury of inquest, which viewed
the remains yesterday afternoon and
the remains were inferred in the Bap-
list Church yard.
What makes the case sadder than all
else is tho terrible grief OF the young
druggist who made the mistake. He Is
considered by all physicians one of the
most accomplished and reliable drug
gist in the city. He had felt relieved
on the night of the killing when DIR.
Talley told him it was not morphine as
suspected. When the horrible truth
came out yesterday morning he at once
rendered his resignation and was al
most crazed. The reaction was almost
too much for him. He had never before
madea mistake Of any kind. When
The State representative called on him
last evening he found him in a dark
room sit ing all alone enduring his ter.
rible ~sufferings. 1t was a sight as sad
as the death Of the little one. The
young man could not account for the
mistake. He said he had always kept
thet drugs associated in his mind in
order TO prevent a mistake, and while
thinking Of this on this occasion he
must have picked up the wrong bottle.
The bottles were disSimilar and on diff
ferent sides of the stands, and the NOR
phlne bore the poison label.
He said he was very sorry he could
not change positions with the dead
child. What nearly killed him, he said,
was the knowledge that he could do
nothing to undo what he had done,
when he would be only too glad to give
his " life to do so.-rhe State.
The Record says that DR.. Bratton, the
young man who made tho mistake, GER
tainly has the deepest sympathy of
everybody in Columbia, and his many
friends are doing all they can to cheer
him up in this terrible ordeal. One Of
the kindsst and most Christlanlike acts
was done on the part Of DR.. Lindsay
yesterday, who sent a committee of his
congregation to DR.. Bratton to tender
to him theDoctoI's heartfelt sympathy.
n kCNf ~ t. Ohl rolNI<rn