The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-07-16
Evelyn Degnan Died Yester-
day Morning From Effects
Of Arsenical Poisoning.
II Was Impossible to Hold an
Autopsy as the Body Had
Been EmbaImed.
FUNERAL OF MISS SARAH CASSIDY
Committee on Parks Met Last EVENING"
Series Of Accidents Last Evening and Today
Interesting Notes About the City.

The death of Evelyn Degnan, the young
girl who resided on Fales' avenue, has
caused no end of comment, not only
among the neighbors In that vicinity, but
throughout the city, and the cause OF her
death, through and unfortunate misu nder-
standing, will remain mystery.
The young girl was taken violently Ill
last Tuesday with excessive vomiting, and
no cause could be assigned for 1T. DIR.
Howe was summoned and he saw at the
first glance that her sickness was due to
some kind Of poison, and, as such dag
nosed the case. He questioned the girl,
but the only information she could give,
was that she had eaten some green candy.
At the time, the doctor doubted her state
ment, but knowing that there Ia certain
amount of arsenic used In the coloring OF
many grades Of mixed candies he worked
upon the theory that the vomiting was
caused by the candy or some substance OF
a similar nature.
The parents OF the girl did not, for some
reason or other, feel satisfied, and called in
another doctor who diagnosed the case
from different standpoint; and right
here, it might be said, was where mis-
take was made, az subsequent events
proved that the first diagnosis Of the case
was correct. During her illness the girl
suffered untold agony, but not word
could be gotten from her concerning the
true nature of her sickness. When her
death was reported to the authorities,
Chief of Police Goldsmith notified Medi-
cal examiner Alexander Marshall OF Ash
ton, who was attending to the duties OF
this district owing to the absence of Med
ical Examiner French at the State Camp.
DIR. Marshall, attended by DR.. A. j. Rand
all responded Immediately, but they were
unable to hold an autopsy for the reason
that the Undertaken had visited the house
and embalmed the body. Under the cir
cumstances 1t would be utterly impossible
to detect the actual cause of death with
any certainty, because Of the poisonous
nature of the Ingredients which compose
the embalming fluid.
The common impression among all who
are conversant with the case and also by
the two attending physicians, is that the
girl committed suicide, and for some un-
known reason kept the knowledge Of the
details of her rash act to herself. con-
tended her was held last evening, and they
reached the conclusion that her death was
caused by taking poison, possibly paris
green or some other stuff of similar
nature
Undertaken Richard M. Burns, who has
charge Of the body, was visited last even
ing by TRIBUNE reporter, and in re-
sponse to an inquiry as to the condition In
which he found the body when preparing
it for burial, he said that it had turned
black about the face and body. He fur
ther said that he was summoned to attend
the case, and before leaving for the house
he inquired the cause of death. He was
told it was poison, but understanding that
two doctors had been in attendance and
receiving no instructions from anybody in
authority not to embalm the body, he
proceeded with his work the same as in
any other case upon which he is called.
1t is the general opinion that the last at
tending physician ought to have left in
structions to the effect that, in case of
death, the body should not be touched
until the proper authorities were notified.
Festival Monday Evening.
A pleasant affair Is scheduled to take
place in jacques Cartier hall on next Mon
day evening. The Ladies' Charitable So
ciety of the Notre Dame church have made
arrangements to hold festival and supper
in the above hall for the benefit of the poor
of the parish. The committee Of arrange
ments have worked INCREASINGLY to make
the affair pleasing to all who may attend,
and as 1t Is to be held for worthy object
there is no doubt but what the hall will be
crowded.
The License Commissioners.
The regular semi-monthly meeting Of
the Board of License Commissioners was
held last evening.
The application of Patrick McArdle for
q transfer Of the license now held by
Patrick Conley was taken from the table
and considered. 1t was intimated that
McArdle had q case pending against him
in the District Court at Pawtucket and 1t
was thought advisable to postpone the
consideration of the present case until the
next meeting.
No further business being before the
Board an adjournment was taken to the
3lst of the present month.
A Series OF Accidents.
Last evening as Napoleon Trahan was
driving a spirited horse up Broad street
about 8 o'clock, the horse slipped on the
car rail and fell to the ground, breaking
one OF the shafts.
The above accident was duplicated at an
early hour this morning by woman who
was driving her husband to work. Near
the corner of Central street the horse
slipped and I'm falling broke the shaft. The
damage was temporarily repaired and the
couple drove on.
About o'clock this morning Jew