The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-10
JOHN CAPIsTRANT, WHO WAS SUI
FERING FROM SOME MYS-
FERROUS POISON,
sUccUMBs TO ITS EFFECTS.
AUTOPSY ON THE REMAINS OF
REMIE DUPRE DOESN'T CLEAR
THE MYSTERY.
WILL REQUIRE AN ANALYSIS.
usual Case-Ptomaine Poisoning
Thought to Be the Cause.

John Capistrant, the survivor of the
two young men taken to st. Luke's
hospital Monday, suffering from some
mysterious form of poisoning, died
shortly after s o'clock last evening Inc
SYMPTOMS evidenced in the case OF
Capistrant were identical with those
surrounding the death of his cousin,
Remie Dupre, the previous day, and
the physicians attending the young
men say their death resulted from the
same cause. What this cause was is
still something of mystery.
An autopsy was held on the remains
of Dupre yesterday, but failed to def
initely discover to what death was due,
though the physicians conducting the
examination are of the belief. from
some indications, that ptomaine poison
ing was responsible for the fatal re-
suits. This is a chemical poisoning
caused by the action of putrefied meat
upon the organs of the body, and from
the conditions found it is the consen-
suS of opinion among the medical au-
thorities investigating the case that
the sausage eaten by the young men
caused their death. This view, it is
said, removes suspicion from the
pastry or bread which may have been
obtained at Seidl's bakery.
Capistrant, as was told in the G o
of yesterday, rallied under the minis
trations of the doctors, after Dupres
death, and it was thought that he
might recover. He. retained conscious
ness throughout Monday night, but
yesterday began to sink. He became
very weak and again lost the use OF MS
voice The physicians labored with
him increasingly. adopting heroic meas
ures to save his life. Sixteen ounces
of blood were drawn from the young
mans body in hopes of relieving the
system of portion of the poison, and
Sterilized water injected into the veins,
but the treatment was unaVall1ng.
Capistrant grew steadily worse, and
shortly after O'clock lapsed again
into Inconsistencies. He fingered in
this state until about $50 o'clock, when
he ceased to breathe.
The death of Dupre and Capistrant
furnishes two mysterious cases, which,
according to DR.. Marquis nave no
parallel in the Northwest. 1t was hop
ed that the autopsy would clear away
the element of uncertainty surround
ing Dupres death, but so far as posi-
tive results are concerned the post NOR
tenn was to little purpose. Certain
conditions were found tending to show
a chemical poisoning, such as IS SAID TO
be produced from putrid meat taken
into the stomach, but the evidence was
not conclusive enough to warrant tine
assertion that the sausage consumed
by the men was positively unWhole-
some. though as a matter of opinion
such is believed to be the case. This
matter will not be determined, however,
until an analysis has been made OF the
piece of sausage now in possession Oh
DR. Perkins, of the health department.
The contents of Dupre's stomach will
also be analysed and the different
organs submitted to microscopical ex-
animation.
The autopsy was conducted by DR.. Canac-
MARQUIS Coroner Nelson Deputy Coroners
l.. A. Nelson. Richie and Hesselgrave, and
Drs. Finnell and Schwyzer. Other physicians
preset were Drs. Perkins, Van Slyke, Darl-
ing, Walsh, Lancaster, Birch, Kavanasuh
and Rose, of st. James. Nothing was found,
in itself deemed sufficient cause for death,
and few abnormal conditions prevailed. The
kidneys, however, were badly congested and
one lung showed a slight affection of the
same nature. Some of the intesttnes were
distended by gases, condition said to OBJ
tain in cases of ptcmaine poisoning, Dut the
throat, seemingly the seat OF gratest suffer-
ing with the young men, was found IN almost
normal condition. The results Of the post
norton were not wholly satisfactory, and, as
the chemical analysis being conducted, will
occupy perhaps, some days, the matter OF
responsibility for the death OF Dupre and
Capistrant remains undecided. An autopsy
will probably be held today on the remains
of Capistrant, but the father of the dead man,
who is in the city, is opposed to such course
and will endeavor to have it foregone on the
ground that the results in the examination of
Dupre's body should be sufficient.
Martin Whittich, the butcher who is said to
have sold Dupre and Capistrant S me sausage,
called upon DR.. Marquis yesterday with Attor-
ney Richard Walsh to learn authoratively the
real state of affairs. DR.. Marquis could give
him only the information already published
concerning the case. Witch said the call
was for the purpose Of preventing any in
justice being done him and request that the
investigation be conducted impartially Mr..
Witch seen by reporter for the G o e
last evening, consented to discuss the death
of the young men.
ri know actually little or nothing about
this case he said, "as l have of late been
about my butcher shop irregularIy. Friday
| made no sales whatever, but my cleark,
Albert Ohme, tells me he remembers selling
two pieces of sausage to a couple of young
men accompanied by the son of Mrs. Henry
Langevin. These were, perhaps. Dupre and
CapiStrant, but if it was and they ate the
sausage purchased at my place. do not
believe it was responsible for their death.
/ manufacture my own sausage from dressed
meats purchased from different dealers. There
were poisons about my shop that might
have accidently gotten into the sausage meat
and furthermore other sausages made from
the same lot of meat as those which may have
been bought by the young men, have been
sold generally to my customers and no other
complaint has been received Only COM
plete investigation can determine the true
facts in this case and until this has been
made 1 can not believe that my goods had
anything to do with the young fellows
death"