The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-31
WHOLESALE POISONING.
Two Men Dead and One More CPitl-
calIy III at PaWtuCket.
OIL OF ALMONDS IN. WHISKEY.
The Poisonous Concoction Was Obtained
at an Unlicensed Liquor saloon Ope-
rated by Quinn Brothers-The Quinns

rated by Quinn Brothers-The Quinns
Protest Innocence-Jamos Locked Up.
A case OF wholesale poisoning occurred
yesterday in Pawtucket. and as a result
William Norris, a resident Of the north
end, in this city. lies deal at the resi-
dence Of his uncle, at the corner OF
Highland street and East avenue. and
John j. Gilligan lies dead at his home
and Robert Coyle is lying at the point OF
death. The primary cause that led to
the tragedy is still II ptfzzie to the police.
The first victim to suffer from the aw-
full blunder or something worse, was John
in the Fifth ward. Gilligan was
fireman at the works OF
the Paw,ucket Gas COMPANY.
Yesterday he was slated for both day
and night auty at the works. About
o'clock in the afternoon he came home
| to supper and asked his
wife for ten cents with which to buy n
drink OF whiskey. Mrs. Gilligan gave
HIM the money and counseled him to re-
turn as soon as possible in order TO get
gool supper and rest himseli
tefore returning to the gas house
sent about five minutes When he re-
turned he was white as sheet and evi.
IDENTIFY nearly prostrated with pain and
fear His wife took the alarm and
hastily inquired what allied him.
Told His wife He Was Poisoned.
Giligan struggled for moment to OBJ
tain control of himself and then gasped
out that he hal just swallowed poison
aud was going to die. Terribly fright
ened, Mrs. Giliigan started to question
" hen her husband hurriedly interrupted
her and told her to rul for "A priest aud
physician, as he could not survive many
minutes. lie said that he had
uor, but disciain ed suicide. His vile
immediately started after physician
aud soon rei urped with Doctor Lane,
who asked no questions but at once be-
gan upon the patieot with stomach
lump.
1t Was too Late.
The poison had taken too deep a hold
upon the mans system, however, and the
doctors efforts to disIodge it were fruit
less. Gilligan appeared to suffer ferribly
and remained In a semi-unconscious con-
dition. groaning and tossing ceaselsssiy.
lie died at 1:45 o'clock this morning
While the doctor was operating upon
Gilligan, word was brought to the house
occurred, and the victim, William Norris.
was lying in the yard of man named
Mayer, not far from Gilligans house.
Norris Was Dying.
Immediate assistance was furnished,
but poor Norris was already past help.
lie was resident of the north end
and was found in Mayors back yard
about G:30 p. m, stupefied and dying. In-
ye,tigation proved that he. aIs1,
was sufferer from poison althou IN
it is impossible to ascertain
i'm what form it was
taken. The utmost efforts OF the
attendant physicians were powerless
to resuscitate him. and he died In ex
treme agony at 1880 p. III. His age was
% years.
till Another Victim.
Still later iu the evening it was dis
covered that the demon of poison, not con.
tent with his work. had seized still a third
victim. The sufferer proved TO be Robert
Kyle, 80 years of age. residing with his
wife and four children at 300 East Ave
nue.. Mrs. Kyle's story shows that
KYLE came home at $50 p NJ, aud short
ly after the mother took her little
daughter and went to church. Coyle
appeared to lie in good health and spirits
at that time. When the wife and
change had come over Kyle. He lay,
full dressed, upon the bed in his room,
black In the face and grooming ms
IL in the most severe pain. Mrs
KYLE endenvored TO get some word OF
explanation, but the suffering man was
unable TO articulate although evidently
conscious.
Doctor Ordered From the Saloon.
Upon notification of the first case OF
poisoning physician Immediately repair
ed to the saloon at which Gilligan had
obtained his liquor. The place is run by
n man named Mike Quinn. The doctor
dered to vacate. He did SO, but
returned to the attack with reinforce
ment in the person OF Sergeant Nick
erson. At the sight Of the
blue uniform Quinn Immediately
dropped his taciturnity and attempted
catechism toward his brother, James
Quinn. who had been in the saloon alone
all day.
James Quinn Arrested.
James Quinn was promptly arrested
and locked up. He protested innocence.
The attending physicians affirm that
the men were poisoned by oil OF almond,
an exceedingly virueut drug that is
sometimes put into wbjskey to give fin
shing touch to odor and flavor. 1t is ex-
ceedingly poisonous.
The iloon run by the Quinns was
licensed establishment last year, but this
We was opera contrary to law. the
commissio toner's having refused to renew
the license. 1t Is combination OF saloon
aud grocery store.
The Probable Explanation
On the theory 'f accidental poisoning
the only explapati on is this: