The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-18
SAYS POE WAS NOT DRUNK.
Statement Of DR.. Moran, Who Attended
The Poet on His Death-Bed.
he PRONOUKCES The CHARGES FALSE
Aud Asserts that Poe Did Not DIE In III
of Delirium Tremens-The Ply sician's
Account OF the Last Moments of
the Great Poet.

| A great deal has been written as TO
| whether or not Edgar AiIdn roe, inc
greatest OF American poets, uled IA d
ut of ueiirium tremens. several Oh inc
great poets enemies nave mace cnaIses
of TINS KIND, ana there mas arisen much
controversy IN literary circles as 10 the
truth OF these Charges.
Mir. A. III. Benson. Of Richmond, VINO
was an acquaintance and enthusiastic al
mIrcr OF Zoe curing the poet feslochCc
in this city. wrote TO Dr. john ). MO-
ran physician 10 the poet during his last
illness. and at the time Of his dedtn, ask
Ing the physician Tor written state
ment OF Poe S condition when ne dled.
Mr. Benson Is now about eishty-siA
years Of age, but has very clear fecOi-
lection OF zoe as youth. lie IecelN-
ed from Or. Moran a written statement
about the great poets condition, ana mas
kept this statement for years.
DIR. MOKANS STATEMENT.
Many admirers of Poe in this city VIII
read with interest the reply or Dr. MO
ran, which is given below: Al.
The report that Edgar Allan zoe uleo
drunk. and I'm a fit OF delirium tremens'
was nrst published by ms hiost INV ~
ratio and implacable enemy, Kew. Ut
Griswold editor OF Harpers monthly
New York. He published in four Gays
after his death that he thus dled III an
out-of- the-way hospital In the cry VI
Baltimore, and no one, said Mrs. Hehans'
age TO deny II until ten years after. BUT
when the would-be biographers OF roe
had exhausted themselves IN THESE ldise-
hoods and his friends began 10 come !"
the front in his defence, seVeral gentle
men. very ardent and true personal
friends OF Poe searched Tor his physician
who was called upon for the iac-s IN the
case This physician had never hNed NJ
Nv miles from the city of Baltimore, ms
hirth-pIace. and could have been easily
a "A thntf co desired These fTlHUUr
OF Poe called him out and he came anu
as he traces these few nasty lines II
refutation of the Calumnies ana notorious
falsehoOds circulated and published 10 the
world, he is filed with indignation, ano
emphatically pronounces these reports u
be vile ISLANDERS, and gross ialsehoods.
POE DIED SOBER.
declare without fear of contradiction
and have living and dying evidence 10
corroborate what say that he did not DE
under tho influence OF any intoxicant Oh
from the effects of any stlmulant. luelc
xyas no smell OF liquor OF any klhq upon
his breath or person. lie uleu' III NY
hands. perfectly rational untll the last
moments of his ne. - ,,.,,,, 49,
following will show: | said TO him, Ar.
Poe. YOU are very sick, very weak. our
nulse is very feeble. | must give YOU q
stimuIant / will order FOR you glass VI
toddy." - - ,ra ex
,rg ,bam on me he said, sir, II /
thought its potency would TRANSPORT me me
TO the Elysian bowers OF the unoisS9Ve a, q
world I would not taste 1t, would not.
then said. Mr.. Poe. as you have peeh
slaening and sleep will help you TO gam
,o,,r Strength. / will give you an opiate.
~ n said twin sister to the doomed ana
damned and crazed in .perdition. r.,o
tou n,air ~ the dog that had bitten him,
o os or ntb ,,r by hundreds had been IN my
a. ,,srgs from the effects of drink, ana in
yariablv they would first OF all begin TO