The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-26

90 direct to DIR. LamsOn. And that was
the motive for the crime One of Percy's
brothers, Herbert John, bad already died
in 1879. and DIR. Lamson had then re-
ceived as his share of that child's portion
the sum of about 3, 500. IL was proved
at the trial that the doctor was in very
straitened circumstances and in the most
urgent need of money. Nevertheless the
trial awakened widespread questioning of
the value OF circumstantial evidence. and
particularly OF the medical testimony,
which was of an extremely scientific and
technical character. What was clearly
proven was this: That at about Z o'clock
in the evening of Dec. ,, 1881, DR.. ! . nson
paid visit TO the school at Wimbledon
aad had an interview with his young
brother-in-law, but was never once alone
with him. as the principal OF the school,
DR.. BedbroOk, was present the whole time,
seeing everything that was said; that DIR.
LamsOn. after warm expressions OF pleas
ure at seeing his brOther-ln-law, in whom
he had always appeared to take a most
aifectionate interest. produced some
sweetmeats and a Dundee cake, and IN
vited both Or. Bedrock and his brother
in-law to partake of them, and all three
munchsd the cake and tasted OF the candy
together; that in the course OF cOnversa-
ton DR.. Lamson produced some gelatlne
capsules, which be said he had brought
from America and the use of which he
explained TO the principal of the school,
saying that they would be very convent
ent for his use in giving bis pupils M
pleasant medicines; that he prevailed
upon Dr. Bedrock TO take one of these
gelatne capsules himself. having first sent
for bowl of powdered sugar to be used
in filling them; that while DR.. Lsmson
was talking of the convenience of the
capsules, and the schoolmaster was listen
ing Lamson apparently filled another OF
them with sugar from the bowl in front of
him and handed it to his Young brother
in-lAw, with these words: Here, Percy,
you are a swell pill-tsker take this and
show DR.. Bedrock how easily il can be
swallowed" The boy placed it in his
mouth and swallowed il with one gulp.
THAT is soon gone, my boy" said the
doctor, and then he added quite careless
ly. Il must be going now" DR.. Lamson
went off almost Immediately from the
school, saying that he intended 10 catch
the tidal train for Paris. Within twenty
minutes from the time of his departure
Percy John com planned of pain, and wRs
carried up to his bedroom. He became
rapidly worse. showing all the symptoms
of acute poisoning, and, after suffering
great agonies, died within less than four
hours from the time he swallowed the
capsule.
Trial and Conviction.
His death at once aroused suspicion,
and the dead bows room was carefully
searched. Among his effects was found a
pill-box which contained several pills and
was labeled, George Henry Lamson, NJ
D., care OF Messrs. Gilling & Co., 400
Strand" Being anRlyzed, the pills were
found TO contain aconitine. The post
norton examination. however, failed to
disclose any clear cause OF death. The
contents of the stomach and other parts OF
the body were submitted to two expert
analysts, and they, after conducting q
number of very delicate chemical tests.
declared their belief that the boy died
from having swallowed quantity OF the
irritant vegetable poison known as aconi-
tine, and that DIR. Lsmson had bought and
tried to buy Rconitine at several drug
stores. This was all that was clearly
proved bv the evidence. All the rest was
medical specu alton, opinions of chemical
experts. njectures of analysts and argu-
ments of lawyers. The famous Mr.. Mon
tague Williams ably defended Lamson.
and the case for the government seemed
to be so imperfectly proved that q verdict
of mot guilty would have surprised no
one. The doctors called by the govern
ment admitted that ell their opinions az
to the agency of aconitine in causing the
boys death were founded upon a series OF
nj 70 A
upon mice. They had taken certain fluid
extracts from the boys body and injected
them under the skins of living mice, and
the little creatures had died with symp-
toms which, as they testified, satisfied
them that aconitine Was present. Mr..
Montague Williams mercilessly rldiculed
these mice experiments. and quoted vari-
GUS high authorities to show the untrust-
worthiness of tests made with extracts
from human body upon living animals.
1t was admitted. too, that one OF ths mice
experimental upon had not died from the
matter injected but because the injecting
needle WAS pressed too far into its little
body. Mr. Williams pointed out 10 the
Jury that mice had been known 20 die of
nothing more than fright, and that any
argument based on experiments with an
organism so different from that OF the hu-
man body as was that OF q mouse was eX-
tremely weak Nevertheless, the jury
found Lamson guilty, and though he
stoutly protested his innocence until all
hope of saving his neck had vanished he
confessed at the asst not only to the pOls-
Oning OF Percy Malcolm John. but ALEC 10
the poisoning of Percy's brother, Herbert
John, who had died without exciting any
suspicion in 1879. Mr.. Montague Will
liams, in his review of this case, shows
another feature OF it which parallels one
of the conspicuous episodes OF Carlyle
Harris trial. He says: Il was much iIn-
pressed during the trial by the devotion
of the prisoners wife. She had sacrificed
all she had in the way of money to obtain
the means to defend him. Day after day
a thin. 1.-the figure. half yelled, sat con-
cealed behind the jury box. and as the
public was leaving the court she would
steal up almost unobserved from her hid
ing place. and, standing close below the
dock, would take the prisoners hand and
kiss IL most atfectionately. This shows
how true q woman can be, for | can have
but little doubt now. from many circum-
stances that came to my knowledge after
the trial, that she knew full well her hus-
band to be guilty; nay. 1t is probable that
she knew moro than was proved before
the legal tribunal, as there can be little
doubt that her other brother, Herbert, by
whose death Lamson had also come into q
considerable sum of money. was also muir.
dered by him"
And yet, if Lsmson had never con.
fessed but had had the nerve to die with