The morning call., 1893-05-26
DIED OF POISON.
Laudanum Found in His
Stomach.
IS IT SUICIDE OR MURDER.
David B. Browns Stomach Found to
Contain Opium Enough to
Kill Many Men.

David B. Brown was surprise ana
shock TO all who knew him.
1t was known that he did not drown or
no autopsy would have been held. The
heart was in normal condition and the
lungs had very little water in them.
Not discovering any cause for death the
stomach was sent to DR.. Charles Barring
ton for analysis.
UP to the moment of the receipt Oh the
analysts report no one suspected suicide.
Then any other theory seemed impossible.
In the stomach was found a large guam
tity of some form of opium. presumably
laudanum. Though the exact quantity
could not be at once ascertatned 1t was
learned that there was enough TO kill eight
or ten men.
The question then arose how it came
there.
David B. Brown was a prominent men,
Der of the British Benevolent Association
of this city. He always took the LEAD IN
their annual picnics and it was MS special
idea to have them on Queen Victorla's
birthday.
Fo: several weeks he had been planning
for the picnic that was held at Harbor
View on Wednesday. Tuesday morning
he went to Harbor View with prizes Tor
the children and flags for decorating.
He seemed in high spirits. lie was espe-
clally elated over having received rebate
of SO Oh flag he had bought that morning.
To all with whom he came in contact he
insisted On telling of the good times OF the
morrow.
Before leaving the barroom at the gar
dens he invited Mr.. Harmon. the proprle-
tor of the grounds, and the barkeeper TO
drink with him. This was about o'clock.
Mr.. Brown drank a little whisky and
then started for the baths, taking with him
a cigar for one of the attendants.
Half way down the path he turned and
came back to the barroom as il he had fol-
gotten something. Why he came back nc
one knows.
He then went to the towel-room, got a
bathing suit and went into the surf.
He swan far out and back again. Then
remarkiug to q man on the wharf that he
thought he'd take another swim, he again
turned toward the bay.
Shortly afterward he was seen floating
in the bay face downward. a fisherman
brought him ashore. and strenuous effoT s
we're made to resuscitate him. This was
about lOrty-fve minutes after he left the
bar.
"He was not like drowned man. said
Dr.. d. L. Dunn. who assisted in the work.
'He was not utterly limp. but seemed more
like a man in deep lethargy.
and went as we rolled him on barrel.
The face would alternately get purplish
red, and then white, according To how we
held him.
Another thing that seemed queer was
that his eyes were not dull and CLASSY, but
bright. | remarked this to one of the
men, and said he was not dead.
There was scarcely any water came
from the lungs, and all that came from
the stomach was of dark brownish hue"
From the testimony of those who were
with him it would seem improbable that
Mr.. Brown had taken the drug before he
drank at the bar. He was then very brisk
and dose of laudanum as was found in
his stomach would have rendered him
stupid In very short time.
If it is a case of suicide he must have
gone to his dressing-room, donned his suit
and then taken the fatal potion. The bot
tie could easily have been filed and sunk
in tie bay.
Then he swan far out from shore. Com
ing back before the drug worked he struck
out again. Then death came, and until
the last moment all thought 1t was death
from drowning or some uGsuspected
natural cause.
II he was planning to commit suicide
and have the cause of the death seem acci-
dental David B. Brown planned we'll
Every circumstance of his life and espe-
cially the last week of his life would tend
to Danish the bare idea If suicide from the
minds of those interested.
If it was not suicide the laudaaum was
administered to Brown before he left the
barroom, for the testimony of DR.. Dunn
would show that it was this caused his
death. 1t seems highly improbable that a
man of Browns acuteDess could be in
duced either through design or by accident
To take between one and two ounces of
laudanum without knowing il.
~ 4
received with the greatest Incredibly by
his friends.
II don't believe that he committed sui
eide" saiG j. II. Dobinson. president of
the British Benevolent Association, land |
won't believe it till there's nothing else to
believe.
Mr. Brown was most abstemious man.
he was quiet and social.
up to the last moment of his life he
was planning for the pleasure of others.
That is not the kind of man that commits
suicide"
Mr.. Brown for twenty years owned
asthrd interest in the cooperage business
of Hogan 81 Co., 81 and 3S Clay street. NJ.
hogan, one of the firm. when spoken to on
the matter said: Il can't conceive why
Mr.. Brown should commit suicide. We
have been making money all the time and
so as far as this business is concerned he
could not have been troubled. Nor could
ne nave Deen AFRAID OF the 1uture, IOr we
have more work than we are really able to
handle
He only got back from trip to Ireland
six months ago. Since then he has been
in the best of spirits
II know he had been planning for the
picnic at Harbor View. He offered me a
ticket, and seemed much disappointed
when did not take it, for he said would
miss delightful time"
For many years MIR. Brown was on the
police force. He was removed in 1868 with
thirty-two others when McCoppiu gained
control of the city politics. His removal
was entirely for political reasons. lie had
many companions in misery, as only lew
men were retained. Among those who
kept their places were Captain Douglass
and Sergeant Iindheimer.
sergeant Lindheimer said yesterday
Ihere never was more resolute. ktndly,
strong or daring man Oh the police force
than David b. Brown. We all liked him,
and he Is the last person on earth l would
expect to commit suicide"
James Brown, the dead mans son, who
is reporter in Judge Lows court, said
the idea of suicide was preposterous.
HE had everything to live for. and
can conceive no reason why he should
want to die.
His family life was the happiest. He