New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-11
HE TOOK POISON AT NIGHT.
DYING; HE DECLARED 1T AN ACCIDENT.
SAD END OF HENRY RANDOLPH. SON OF TIL

SAD END OF HENRY RANDOLPH. SON OF THE
PUBLIsHER' AND LITERARY MAN.
Henry Randolph known among literary men In
this city as magazine writer of ability and the
compiler Of several books. died in his home 40
No. "a West Twenty second-st. from dose Of
strychnine early yesterday morning lie was
fully conscious at intervals for hour previous
70 his death. while physicians were making efforts
to save his life. and he declared earnestly and
repeatedly that he had taken the poison by mis-
take for qunne.
Mr. Randolph was q widower, thirty-six years
old, and lived with his brother and sister in tho
house in Twenty st Lately he became
Ill from the effects of overwork, and was Obliged
to keep to his room William Thompson, a trained
nurse, was in constant attendance upon him
there. Close TO the sick mans bed was bureau
in one drawer of which were kept some medicines
for his use. 1t would appear that the trained
nurse permitted Mr.. Randolph to help himself to
the medicines There a small package con.
tanning ten grains Of strychnine in the drawer,
along with some packages Of quinne. Mr.. Ran.
dolph had purchased the strychnine two weeks
ago. intending TO kill cat with the poison it was
said, and had kept the package lying in the
drawer. The poison mark on it easily enabled
one to distinguish It from the other package
At a. m. yesterday the nurse was awakened
by hearing Mr.. Randolph call loudly for his
sister Gertrude. He found Mr. Randolph in Q
paroxysm. Mr.. Randolph said he feared that I'D
had taken strychnine by mistake, and he asked
the nurse to call a doctor. Thompson hastily
summoned Dr. w. o. Cuthe, Of No. Isl West
Twenty-second-st. Later DR.. C. T. levitt, Of
No. 1872 West Twenty -second-st, was called in.
lhe physicians recognized the symptoms Of
strychnine poisoning, and tried TO relieve him by
making him swallow warm water and mustard,
but the emetics failed TO work. A stomach tube
was tried also without effect Mr. Randolph
suffered two paroXysms of intense agony while
the doctors were workinge over him Between
the paroXysms he rational, and talked
earnestly about the awful mistake which he eaid
lie had made. About a.. m, he said he had
awakened and had got up to ske some qunine.
After taking what he supposed was dose of that
medicine he lay down and fell asleep, to be
awakened again at a. m. by violent cramps
lie must have been mistaken to the time when
he took the fatal dose. as no man could sleep
two hours with ten grains Of strychpne in his
stomach
lie asked to have his sister Gertrude called
that he might assure her that the poison taken
By mistake He seemed TO he in great fear
that motive for suicide might be imputed to
him. Death ended his suffering soon after a.
IN. Coroner Messemer went to the house and took
the statement of DR.. Cu,lifie and the nurse. He
said later that there seemed 10 he no reason to
doubt the dead mans word and he thought that
Mr. Randoph's death had resulted from accidental
poisoning.
Mr. Randolph born in this city and lived
here all his life. except for four years, which hs
spent as a student at Amherst College lie was
graduated from college in 1877 and later from
the Columbia Law School. After being admitted
10 the bar he practised law for a time in the
office Of Tyler & 1remain. but soon gave up
law to engage in literature He compiled several
books for the publishing firm of Randolph e.
Co.. of West Twenty third-st.. of which his
father Arson d. f. Randolph. was the head.
His brother. Arthur d. f. Randolph. OF No. 20
West Eighty seventhst., is a member of the firm
al present. Amone the books compiled by Henry
Randolph were Fifty Years of English Song
" Latter Day Ballads. and other books of poetry
and music. Several months ago an article which
he wrote entitled Dean Swift was published
in "The Atlantic Monthl1' He also had written
articles for The Churchman" and for other
periodicals. lie was said TO he member Of
the Century Club and of the Authors Club.
Some Of his acquaintance said yesterday that
he was not "A man who would be likely to choose
suicide. as he was ambitious and was methodical
hobtt