The morning call., 1894-06-10
CHEATED JUSTICE.
Dr.. Nathan Atkins Last
Resource.
POISON BEFORE A PRISON.
He Preferred Death to Five Years
SerVitude.
ALL HOPE Is LEFT BEHIND"
The Drug Was Taken Previous to the
Doctors Arrival at San Quen-
tin Friday Evening.
ALL HOPE IS LEFT BEHIND"

Dr. Nathan Akin, alias Anthan. who
was sentenced 10 San Quentin Prison for
advertising his medicines through the
United States mail, died yesterday in the
prison hospital before the officials had an
opportunity to initiate him into the con-
vict's life.
The captains and other officers believe
he deliberately cheated justice by taking
his life.
The autopsy and Coroner's inquest held
at the prison yesterday more than confirm
this opinion, for they point directly to
suicide by morphine or opium poisoning.
While crossing the bay Friday afternoon
q peculiar incident was noticed, which in
the light of subsequent developments is
regarded as suspicious.
DR.. Akin was accompanied by Mrs.
Morris, the young woman who was en-
ployed in his office at 413 Mason street. A
deputy United States Marshal had the
prisoner in charge, when without the least
premonitory sig Akin threw up his arms
and gasped for air The arms were held
rigid above his head and his motions were
spasmOdc He was carried INFO the open
air where the sea breeze revived him with
a
he did not recover sufficiently to regain
his normal cOnd ton by the time he
reached San Quentin. After stepping
from the van at the prison gate he was
seen to act strangely.
Among the officials to take notice of
Atkins condition was Major Thorpe, the
cOmmissary officer.
a the inquest held by Coroner Eden of
San Rafael at the prison Major Thorpe
related what be had observed Of Atkins
action at the gate. "Dr. Akin arrived
mere about $50 P. NJ" said he, with
other prisoners and United States Deputy
MaFshRls. lie showed signs OF being
under the influence of opiates or liquor. |
assisted him out OF The wagon at the gate.
There was young woman with him who
took great interest in his welfare. She
cried out she wanted to go inside with
him; that she could not leave him there
he SAID, I'm very sick man and want
TO see the DOCTOR He gave the young
woman his purse, watch and chain,
pOcket-bOok ana papers, and then she
pasSed to his hands a small flask, which
looked like a whisky bottle. | stepped
between them and grabbed at the bottle
Just as Or. AlklD was putting it to bis
lips. Marshal Maloney saw the motion
and instantly struck the bottle ont of
Atkins hand. 1t fell upon the pavement
and broke into a thousand pieces, but no.
body tried 10 iud what it contained. Then
Akin was hurried through the gates. and
before ne stepped through the inner one
be stopped and in q dramatic way said
aloud, 'All hope is left behind"
Gatekeeper Z. j. Smith testified that
Akin was in a stupefed condition, but
not by liquor, and he was not able to walk
without assistance.
Captain Edgar of he yard said that
Akin was in such a condition that pho
toKraph could not be taken of him, so the
prisoners dress was changed for the con-
wet garb and he was put in a cot In the
old mems quarters.
DR.. Mansfield, the resident physician.
saw Akin al P. NJ. at the window of his
temporary quarters. The prisoner asked
for two drachms of digiJaIls in four-ounce
bottle for his heart and also a hypodermic
injection OF half TO three-quaTters grain
of morphine. Dr.. Mansfield gave him two
tiny pellets OF morphine containing a
quarter OF grain each, but one fell and
was lost. At 1880 A NJ. yesterday the
doctor saw the prisoner again, but this
time there was q 0 consciousness and very
little vitality. The symptoms were of
narcotic poisoning and treatment in &C.
cordanee was given, Including electricity,
bat Akin died shortly after EOOn.
DR.. w. j. Wickman of San Rafael made
an autopsy on the remains in the after
noon and found that death was caused by
narcotic poisoning, which was Indicated
by the residue IN the stomach, and also by
the condition of the blood and organs Of
digestion The heart was perfectly nor
nal.
lilo Akin, son of the deceased, was at
his bedside when death came. BE SAID
that his father suffered from palpitation of
the heart, and was threatened with sud-
den death thereby. The autopsy did not
substantlate this, however, and a verdict
~ accordance with the facts found was
given.
DR.. Akin wasborn in New York State
IN lo4O. Lie taught school for some time
and aflerward worked his way through
college in Michigan and graduated 10 a
medical college at Cincinnati thirty-fve
years ago. Since then be practiced medi-
cine IN Michigan, New York and San
francisco. He leaves a widow and two
sons n comfortable circumstances at 1919
Jefferson street. Oakland.
Dr. Akin was arrested by Postoffice
Inspector Irwin for sending prohibited
matter through the mails. The physician
had an office on KeaTny street and adyer-
tlsed that he would treat women at his
apartments or by mail. The inspector
read the advertisement and set a trap for
The practitioner. He sent Akin a letter
postmalked Auburn, and apparently
written BY a female who signed herself
Emma Franklin. Miss Franklin asked
Tor advice and medicine by mail. Akin
replied mat he would charge her $50 but
advised her to come TO this city, where he
could ind pleasant home for her and
where he could see her frequently. He
would charge her only $3.50 for these SER
vices. Other letters passed between the
doctor and the mythical woman al Au-
burn, ana when he had fully committed
himself Irwin, who had the answers re-
ceiyed by Miss Franklin" sprang his
trap. The trial lasted two days. Irwin
produced the letters and. the evidence of
letter carriers who delivered Miss Frank
Inns" epistles at Atkins Cffire.
me doctor, VINO was represented by
Attorney Beatty, took the stand and boldly
denied that he had written the letters pro-
duced by Irwin. The jury found him
guilty as charged, and the doctor trans
ferred his property to his wife. 1t was