The San Francisco call., 1896-02-14

cause of Miss Harris death agrees IN the
main with the Coroner's jurv's verdict.
However, DR.. Thompson does not state
it as fact that the strychnine was self
administered or that it was taken with
suicidal intent, or that it was taken dur
ing fit of despondency Yet DIR. Thomp-
son, man held in good esteem through
out the county, is inclined to believe that
these were the circumstances surrounding
the tragedy and that there are no i'll
doings at Fountain Grove, no unlawful nor
immoral practices there; that there never
has been and could not be so long as the
colony is under its present management.
But DR.. Thompson. the only expert wit
ness available, was not called upon to
testify before the Coroner's jury. And, as
q medical man, he admits that he was
surprised at not being called upon.
The truth Is that the verdict was rem
dered in precisely the same words as those
used by the japanese vice primate and
present supreme ruler of the colony,
Kanai Nagasawa.
The jury was impaneled about noon OF
January 5, at Fountain Grove farm, and
was composed of two inmates of the insti-
tuition, l.. Cowles and Ray P. Clark, and
four employees of the farm, S. G. Gum, +.
NJ. Harris, John Fields and J. S. Turk.
Only one of these six names is on the
Great Register of Sonoma County, that of
Mr.. Gum.
The first witness heard was Kanai Nag
asawa, whose sworn and attested evidence
is as follows:
I am one of the firm of. the Fountain Grove
Vineyard Company. Miss Parting heard
screams and called me, SO we, Miss Parting
ris sitting in chair She seemed to be in
great agony, and took her in my arms and
placed her on the bed.
held her hands, as I saw she was having
commissions. She said she going TO die.
and said she HAD taken poison [strychnine.l
We administered white of egg, mustard and
warm water and sweet oil, but could not re-
lieve her.
She told US where the poison was to be found
and we found it.
She said she had only taken just little, end
think she did not realize what she was doing.
Do not think she. intended to take her own
life.
think she only tried to frighten US.
She has at times seemed despondent and in
sane. She at one time jumped out OF win
dow some twenty feet high.
1t was some three months ago. She was
and know OF no trouble she had ever had
with any one. l am satisfied she took her own
life while under dependency.
Sworn to the Sd day of January, 1896.
Tom g. YOUNG, Coroner.
Only two other witnesses were heard
Miss Parting came first. Her testimony
was as follows:
My name is Miss Parting, and I live here on
the place. | was present at the time of Miss
Harris death. know nothing more than that
that Mr.. Nagasawa has testified to. only we
sent for Dr.. Thompson. He came, and Miss
Harris was dead. He said that there was no
doubt she had taken poison. She has been all
ing for some time, and Dr. Thompson has been
attending 10 her; and 1 corroborate the same
testimony as that of Mr.. K. Nagasawa- Signed,
NJ. E. PARTING.
Sworn to this Sd day OF January, 1896.
Tom G. YOUNG, Coroner
Mrs. Parting, the mother of the preced-
ing witness, testified as follows:
live here on the ranch, and know nothing
more than has been testified to, and corrobor-
ate the same testimony. EMMA PARTING.
Sworn to this Sd day Of January, 1896.
Ton G. YOUNG, Coroner.
This concluded the investigation, and
almost before any one outside of the col
ony knew of the tragedy the following
verdict was rendered and signed, all ac-
cording to law:
Death caused from strychnine poisoning by
her own hand with suicidal intent while
under dependency.
Tom G. YOUNG, Coroner.
S. c. Gum, f. NJ. Harris, John Fields, j. s..
Turk, L. Cowles, R. P. Clark.
DR.. Thompson was notified by telephone
about 6 o'clock on the evening of January
3. He was simply told that he was wanted
at Fountain Grove at once. 1t was impos-
sible for him to proceed directly there, as
he had an urgent case elsewhere, and when
he did arrive at the colony he found Miss
Harris dead. Those about her, Nagasawa
and Mrs. Parting told him substantially
what they told the Coroner's jury.