Rock Island Argus., 1897-06-24
Coroner's Jury Says He Died
From Poisoning.
INQUEST IS At AN END.
Mrs. Osbar Weeps While
Relating Her Story.
Tells of the Ungrateful Treat.
ment of Her Two Sons.

IL
1894. was caused from the effects OF
poison. So declared the coroner's
jury at the conclusion of the Inquest
late yesterday afternoon. Here is
the verdict: 1--WE find that, from the
evidence adduced, Adam Alday came
to his death by arsenious poison; the
acid found in the liver by
the examining chemist, and from the
expert testimony of the physicians. !.
does not appear to be accounted for
by the introduction Of the embalm-
ing fluid after death" The Jury was
Of A. T. Foster, foreman;
T. w. Renoe, William P. BARLEY, T.
G. McGraw. T. /. Stanley and Arthur
Judson. Now the question as to
who administered the poison which
resulted in Alday's death, remains to
be answered. It is probable that an
attempt to solve the case will be
made by the grand jury.
Mrs. Osbar, the dead mans former
wife. was the principal witness at
the closing session Of the inquest.
She retained her cool and deliberate
manner throughout the examination,
until she began to tell the rela-
tions between her and her two sons,
Edward and William.
At this juncture che broke down.
She wept.
She said she had given the boys
money frequently. hoping that some
day they would be able to earn liv-
ing for themselves. The boys had
never supported themselves, Mrs.
Osbar said, and when she had no
means Of scouting more money for
them unless by disposing OF some of
her late husbands property, they
began suit to break the will and then
spread the report that their father
had been poisoned.
Mrs. Osbar said she was married
to Adam Alday in 1899. 81 lived
with him until he died, on Nov. Z,
1885," continued Mrs. Osbar, testi-
flying before the jury. "Iwas in the
house. but not In the room. He was
sick about two years. The trouble
with him when he first took sick,
think, was too much drink. He was
So years and s months of age when
he died. He drank whisky, beer and
other liquors, and used about two
gallons of alcohol year to mix with
other drinks. He first complained
of pain in the region Of the stomach
after he had the trouble with the
police. He took to his bed about
nine days before his death. Ibid not
know what was the matter with him
and he did not appear to know either.
although he said at times that he
thought he was paraly yzed. The pain
did not seem to become much worse,
but he simply could not help him
self. His eyesight appeared to be
affected during the last illness, as be
sometimes thought he saw two OF
three persons in the room when there
was only one. He had one and as
many as three physicians in one day.
Refused to FAKE Medicine.
"Alday liked to have the doctors
about him, but he refused to take
the medicines, saying that they
would do him NO good. He had
some medicine which he brought
from Minnesota, which he seemed 70
think was good for him. 1t was
first obtained from q druggist named
Hollister, at Lakefisld, Mimi, aud
was afterwsrd filed at Sohr beck's,
in Moline. During his last Illness l
gave him medicine. when he would
take it. and also gave him whisky,
and kipp attended to him some
times. My husband, about four
months before he died, told me that
he made his will, but did not see 1.
until some days after his death. 1
did not instruct the undertaken to
EN- balm the body. and did not know
it had been until tho body was dis
inferred. Mr.. Lsge sent for the un-
dertaker. l had the body taken up
on account of the talk started by the
children. First. Mrs. Peterson gave
currency to q story that her mother,
Alday's first wife, had been poisoned
by me, and when l heard of this 1
wrote to her son. Ed. in Minnesota,
about q year ago, to see the doctors
who attended Mrs. Alday and get the
papers so that my innocence might
be established. The talk in regard
to the poisoning Of my husband was
started by my sons, William and Ed
ward"
Mrs. Osbar said that the only trou.
BILE she had with her late husband
was on account Of the boys. who re-
fused to work, and were q constant
annoyance to their parents.
Drs. G. G. Craig and g. l.. Eyster
testified. DIR. Craig doubted the pos
sibility of arsenic reaching the liver
il injected into the stomach after
death. 1t should be in other organs.
In order to have q poisonous dose in
the liver after death. DR.. Craig held
that IT must have been administered
during life. DR.. Eyster said he had
never had q case of arsenical poison
ing which had caused death. He
stated that the symptoms OF death
from excessive use of liquor were
similar to those attending slow
srsenicai poisoning. He stated that
in the injection Of arsenical liquid it