The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-04
SAMUEL p. LANGDOS HELD.
Coroner's Inquiry Into Anna McGrath's
Denth-LIttIe Managing TcstimOny.

PHILADELPHIA, April 3.-The Coroner's in
quest in the McGrath case was held this morn
ing. Only persons directly Interested In the
case, and newspaper reporters, were admitted to
the Coroner's Office. Samuel =. LanEdon, who
was arrested on suspicion of having caused the
death OF Anna j. McGrath. occupied a seat be-
side Detective kettler. Although somewhat
pale, he was self-possessed. He was represented
by Attorneys A. s. l.. Shields and Arthur Moore.
Coroner Ashbridge began the investigation at
10:l5 o'clock.
Henry H.. McGrath, father OF the dead girl,
testified that he knew nothing of the relations
of his daughter with LangdOn. He did not
know that the couple lived together at ",02b
Girard avenue, where the girl was found dead
Mrs. Ehe Butterfield, sister OF Miss McGrath,
stated that Anna told her she was engaged to
be married to Iir. Langdon. The witness oh
jeCted TO LangdOn because OF his age. Mrs.
Butterheld further testified that her sister ad-
mitted about u week before her death that she
had a dwelling at 2,94G Ilrard avenue. but did
not say with whom she lived. When Mrs. But
OF this. Anna pleaded with her not to do SO, and
said she would inform her father herself. The
chlorotorm by her sister from the drug, clerk.
Howard r.. Saus.er,. on the Wednesday ,lefure
the girls desth. and OF the Questions asked by
corroboratcd this testimony.
Miss Anna G%rifiths, a friend Of Miss McGrath,
told Of the girls buying chlorotorm and apply
ing IL to her gums to relieve toothache,.
Miss Florence Stewart created n mild sensa-
tion when she declared that Il month ago Miss
MCGrath stated to her that Ianglou SAID he
would kill her IL she went with any other man.
Frank Brockman. n drug clerk at :, S;S q Irard
avenue, testified that he sold Miss Mc,irath five
cents worth OF chlOroform on March 10, pre-
sumably for tOothache.
Dr. Henry I.cttmann who made tho analyti-
cal examination In the case, stated that tho
stomach gave no evidence OF the presence OF
any poison. and the blood contained no chloro-
form nor prussiC acid. His report said. how
ever, that the blood was OF nm unusually bright
color, corresponding. in this respect, with the
appearance OF blood of persons poisoned with
water gas.
After reading his report DIR. Lehman de.
clRred that he had been unable to ascertain
definitely the cause of death, and that his only
theory was based Oh the indication OF water
gas, although the quantity was smaller than
usual In cases Of gas poisoning.
DIR. Thomas q. Morton, who examined Lang
dOn's liberated tongue, testified that tho ulrerd-
ton was caused by nm injury, Tho physician
thought that the mans teeth had been forced
through the tongue. This d~i~peIied the poison
theory rs far AS l.angdun Is concerned.
The Coroner then charged the six Jurors. lie
dwelt upon the mystery OF the case ana the re-
fusal OF Langdpn To gO upon the stand. The
Jurors deliberated for fifteen minutes, and then
rendered II verdict holding l.Rngdon for the
Grand Jury.
Attorney Shields stated this afternoon that he
would apply for a writ Of haheas corpus tn so.
cure Langdon's release on bail as soon AS pos
sible.