The times., 1897-08-03


found dead In the house o Della Ferguson,
No. 32s thirteenth street, early Oh satur-
day morning
Tire jerry found that the deceased died
Of poison, self administered, and held no
one responsible, but made Recommendation
that the matter of sales OF poison lie investi-
compelling thc observance of regulations
in regard to such sales in the District.
The full text OF the verdict follows:
We. the jury, do LeiieNe flom tie evi-
dence that ire said Sadie Tasker came To
her death bout 6.3o O'Clock a III. on Satur-
day, July 81, 1891 at No. S2s Thirteenth
street northwest, Washington, ID. c., fiom
an overdose OF morphine adIninistere Il
by herself. Wefurther believe tiauthe sale
of poisonous drugs is pracuced in this
city without due regard 10 the law relat-
ing thereto, and would recommend that
ttas matter be iny estigated by the grand
Jury, with a view to compelling a better
observance OF the laws applying to the
sale OF drugs and medicines in the District
Of Columbia"
TIE evidence was especially brought out
with a view 10 learn IL any one could be
held for unlawful sale OF morphine, but the
tes6ino3 adducci was not of such naturc
a. &c hold Br. Phelps, who sold the drug.
Dr Phelps is 10th physician and pEarn,a-
cist, and made a record OF the sale in his
poison book.
Qhe testimony brought out the fact that
the entry was originally made III pencil
and was subsequently written over in ink;
but the doctor testified that he frequently
made his entries with pencil.
Tnc jury consisted of Messrs. A. b.
jenkins, f. V. MackintiIe, c. G. Hunter,
9. L. P.tney, #. C. Henderson and a. j.
CommisKy, and the members We're taken
to Harvey's undertaking esta blishment
| and sworn in the presence of the deceased.
Sadie TasSer was an unusually handsome
woman, and as she reposed on d cooling
board her face Indicated peaceful sleep,
! and gave no evidence OF the unfortunate
hfe she had led. Her wealth OF blonde hair
was brushed back from her forehead, and
at her head stood cross and some burn
ing candles.
Some cut flowers were gracefully placed
on the body In the room watching over
her were Grace Ferguson and Birdie May.
The jury after being sworn was driven
to the First precinct to hear the evidence.
Acting Coroner Glazebrook conducted the
inquest, and Mr.. Henry E. Davis and his
assistant, John E. Laskey, were present
! in the interest Of the Government. Major
| Carrlngton was present also, and 1t was
manifest that he was there in the interest
of Dr. william p Phelps, who sold the
morphine.
The first witness called was DR.. Sterling
! Ruffin, who testified to performing an
| autonsy on the deceased on Saturda after
noon and that he had found the
brain and Kidneys very much con-
| geSted. which would Indicate death from
narcotic poison. The organs Of deceased
Were otherwise in 4 healthy condition and
| the Itod had heen W ell nourish
Della Ferguson, OF No. 32S Thirteenth
street, was next called, and appeared in
| the room dressed in a linen skirt, linen
shoes, a shirt waist of blue and white,
| straw hat of white with black band. She
| testified that the deceased had been living
with her for one week only, and that she
was q hard drinker but If deceased had
been in the habit of taking drug witness
was unaware Of 1t. She also testified that
no drugs or whisky were allowed in her
house.
sadie" she said, had been out on
| Friday evening, but returned between 8
and 8 O'Clock, bringing me a bottle Of
| perfuEae.
'-She had been drinking, and i gave her
permission to sleep until about l O."
Witness further testified that deceased,
after going TO bed, tossed about SO that
she was afraid she was i'll, and DR.. Crook
was sent for three times. but did not an
swer until Saturday morning. An empty
morphine hottie was shown the witness
and it was recognized as one brought from
the room of the deceased by Hattie Arm
strong, also an inmate of 32S Thirteenth
street.
Mr. Henry Davis questioned witness, and
she said that she had heard Sadie ha wing
some words with her friend in the parlor
between $40 and g O'Clock Saturday
| afternoon Sadie's friend had chided her for
drinking There was no violent alterca-
ton. Her friend had said, II am going, Is
and Sadie begged him not to go, saying,
"You must not leave me that way
Precinct Detective John C. Kilmartin
testified to going to the house ON Thirteenth
street, aud to having the morphine bottle
given him He said he had known de
ceased since May or June, but as far as
lie knew. she had only gotten in trouble
on one occasion when she had been drink
ing too much
DR.. GlaZebrook then told of tracing the
morphine bottle to the house No. 312
Thirteenth street, where it had been given
TO deceased by Nellie Ashland, and from
there TO DR.. Phelps, 301 Thirteenth street
where the doctor acknowledged selling the
! same.
Hattie Armstrong, another inmate of 32e
Thirteenth street. testified that Sadie Tas
ker came into the house between $50 ant
8 O'Clock. Friday night, slightly under thu
influence of liquor and coming to he
room with something in her hand. sh'
ernptied it in q glass half full OF water
her nerves. She then went to her room
and witness did not see her again until
morning, when she was dead
Nellie Ashland. OF No. 312 Thirteenth
street, was next called, and testified
that she had known deceased in Camden
NJ j., and elsewhere for seven or eighl
years and that she was not in the habit
of taking drugs.
"Sadie used to drink q great deal,
continued the witness, land have Otter
heard her say, No morphine for me; Civ
me booze"
The witness further testified that de
ceased came to her Friday night sa yin:
that new girl in her house was nervous
aud asked for some morphine to quiet her
"I would not give 1t to her. said tn