The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-06
LAUDANUM WITH
WHISKY FOR A WASH
Bartender Martin GurreIl POisOns Him
self Last Night.
DRANK TWO OUNCES OF THE DRUG
Secured 1t by a Clever Ruse, Drank 1t
at Gulp and Then When 1t Began
to Work Went Back for More--NO
Definite Cause Can Be Assigned
for His Act.

Martin Gurrell, formerly known as
"Mirth," bartender at George f..
Jacobus' Brunswick cafe, No. Ala
Spruce street, drank two ounces of
laudanum at about 1890 o'clock last
night and at an early hour this morn
ing was under the care of two physi-
clans with his life hanging in the bal
ance.
Whether he took the drug incidentally
or as poison is not positively known,
but the circumstances indicate the lat
ter to be the correct theory. He had
been drinking heavily of late and last
night was about town imbibing quite
freely.
Shortly after 10 o'clock he went to
Sanderson's drug store and asked for
two ounces of laudanum saying Mr..
Jacobus wanted to use it in making
plaster. Clerk Joseph f. Baumeister
knowing him to be employed by Mr..
Jacobus and that laudanum Is COM
monty used by people making plasters
for boils and like eruptions, did not
hesitate to fill the order. Gurrell took
the vial and putting it in his pocket
started for the door telling the clerk to
charge it to Mr.. Jacobus
Upon reaching the door he turned
around and saying there l guess I've
got 20 cents; l can get it of the boss
when I go back" paid for the drug. 1t
appears he went direct from the drug
store to the st. Cloud hotel. He spoke
jovially to the walters and bartenders
with whom he was we'll acquainted and
after lounging about for a while asked
for some whisky. When it was served
to him he asked for a dry glass. He
t,1o J,a 10, do, TIT
drinking it down at gulp followed it
with the whisky and then sauntered
out, passing some remark about
medicine" when he saw the bartender
cycling him curiously.
Then it seems he went about town for
a while and drinking at several places
| and at LIS o'clock returned to Sander
sons and asked for some more of that
| stuff for Mr.. Jacobus." Clerk Bau-
meister, who fortunately again came
| to wait on him saw at a glance that
| Gurrell had taken laudanum and rush
ing him by the arm down the street
placed him in one of the retiring al
coves in the front of the Brunswick and
| rushed out for physicians.
| DR.. Hayes was found lunching at
| LOhmann's and was hurriedly sum-
| moned to the succCr of the sufferer
| Gurrell was still conscious when the
| doctor entered but so drowsy that he
could barely talk. He tried to make
| the doctor believe that he was only
drunk and in an attempt at jocularity
handed the doctor a dollar and said in
a mandln to Get three good cigars
| Doc; | amt going to drink any more
At first he denied that he had taker
| anything except an overdose of Whis-
| key but when he realized that it was
useless to attempt to deceive the physi.
clan, confessed that he had taken laud.
anum He wouldn't answer the doc.
tors question as to why he had taker
it. The doctor next asked him how
much he had taken. He could not max,
answer but indicated with his fingers
that it was a Whiskey glass full. Ther
he lost all consciousness.
DR.. Longstreet and DR.. Pennypa ckel
arrived about this time and relieved
DR.. Hayes whose wife is i'll and re
quires his constant attention. TIL
physicians had the cafe cleared and af
ter applying the usual emetics and anti
dotes began exercising him to keep hin
awake. At 2 o'clock this morning h,
was still alive but in such a precariou
condition that little hopes We're enter
tanned for his recovery.
Gurrell is 25 years of age and a fin
looking young fellow with round pleas
ant face and black, curly hair and wei
proportioned physique. His home is OF
Van Buren avenue, but since entering
the employ of Mr.. Jacobus he boarded
, and lodged over the Brunswick.