The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-11
POISON IN THEIR LUNCH.
JESSE PITTS AND j. f. MATTHEW'S
CLOSE CALL.

Metal Polish or All Three To-
| gether.
| A peculiar case of poisoning. which
came near sending two men to the beyond,
where the police call is never heard and
highway robbers cease to ply their nefa-
rious trade, occurred at the police bar
racks yesterday.
The unfortunates were Jesse Pitts, dri-
yer of the police ambulance, and ]. F.
Matthews of Harrison, N. ]. Both men
are under the ban Of fortune, or, in mod
ern parlance, they have been hoodooed.
Pitts went on duty Monday2after par
TALLY recovering from a fall from the
roof of house, which came near ending
his existence. three weeks ago. Matthews
was hoboing 1t through the country on his
way to his home in New Jersey, when he
was held up and robbed on the Louisville
road just two weeks ago yesterday. The
robbers being caught a few days after
wards. Matthews was detained as a wit
ness to identify them. Three of the rob
bers have already been sentenced to the
penitentiary.
A day or two ago Matthews showed a
Morning News reporter a letter from
friend at his New Jersey home inclosing
a money order for SIS. With portion of
this money he purchased steerage ticket
to New York by the Tallahassee. AS the
steamer does not sail until to-day, Mat
thews requested permission of Chief Nc
Dermott to remain at the barracks, Of
fering to assist in the work there, which
permission was granted.
Yesterday morning Matthews was set
TO work polishing the brass work on the
new police ambulance. He finished this
work by 10 o'clock, and walked down to
the corner Of Liberty and Habersham
streets. where he purchased a nickers
worth of cheese, crackers and herring.
He brought this back to the stables and
divided with Pitts, the ambulance and
patrol driver. Shortly after the men had
finished their lunch word was brought
to Chief McDermott that Pitts was sick
The chief instructed Lieut.. Reilly to send
for John Kelly, another one of the dri-
vers, and to let Pitts go home. Chief Nc
Dermott thought no more OF the matter
until perhaps an hour later, when he
usual morning inspection.
Matthews called his attention to Pitts,
whom he said was acting queerly. Pitts
had been vomiting, his face was swollen
and the pupils OF hts eyes diated, and
shortly after Chief McDermott's attention
was called to him he began talking inco-
herently. From the mans appearance
Chief McDeTmott concluded at once that
he was suffering from the effects of poison
and ordered DR.. Sheftall telephoned for
While the chief was talking with Pitts
Matthews remarked that he was suffering
in the same way and presently developed
the same symptoms as Pitts, nausea and
vomiting setting in, the face becoming
flushed and a rash breaking out on the
arms and neck In few minutes he be-
gan TO talk incoherently and act in an
irrational manner. Before reaching this
stage both men had stated that they
thought their Illness was due to what they
had eaten a short time before.
When DIR. Sheftall arrived he concluded
at once that the condition of the men was
due to some poisonous substance which
they had taken into their systems. After
giving injections to aid the men in freeing
their stomachs more completely he had
Matthews removed to the Savannah hos
pital and Pitts to his home, No 572 Bryan
street west. Pitts was attended at his
home by DR.. Sheftall and Health officer
I
at the hospital by the house physician,
| Or. d. e. Dudley
Both men were in a very serious condi-
| ton when removed from the barracks.
Matthews appeared to be in the worst
condition, and when he arrived at the
! hospital there seemed to be very little
! hope for him. BY good work on the part
| of Or. Dudley, however, he was pulled
around and last night both men were re-
| ported as resting easy with fair prospects
! for recovery.
The popularity of the poisoning is the
| most remarkable feature Of the case. 1t
was evidently due to what the men had
eaten. but where the poison came from,
the food being apparently harmless and the
! men having eaten only a slight quantity,
| is a mystery After the men had been
removed Chief McDermott went to the
| grocer and directed him not TO sell any
more Of the articles which had been pur-
| chased by Matthews until the matter could
! be investigated. A fresh herring was Sc
cured from the barrel and was turned over
! to DR. J. Il. Graham, who lives near by.
| for examination. DR.. Graham examined
the herring and pronounced II all right.
The general conclusion at the barracks
was that the food eaten by the men had in
some way come in contact with the metal
| pomade which Matthews was using TO
| clean the brasses on the ambulance. 1t
was recalled by several of the attaches
/ at the barracks that Matthews used the
pomade very literally, getting his hands
! covered with il and that after finishing the
work he was not seen to wash his hands.
| Pitts was not engaged In polishing brasses
and the only way in which his poisoning
| could be accounted for was that the food
! had been handled by Matthews before be-
| ing given TO him, the food being poisoned
| by contact with Matthews hands. Fur
/ Their evidence was given in support Of this
| theory when employees at the stables re-
called that they had frequently suffered
with nausea and dryness in the throat, TO-
! gether with pains In the hands and arms,
\ after polishing the brassos.
This theory came near being knocked
out when Policeman c. W. Mock came up
| and stated that he had eaten some Of the
| bread and cheese and that he had felt no
| IN effects from Il. In answer TO ques
| tions. however. Officer Mock stated that
/ he had not eaten any OF the herring, and
! that Matthews had the herring in his
| hands peeling u when he saw him This
/ seemed to show that the soft herring had
| absorbed the poison from Matthews hands
| and IN this way by means Of the herring
| the poison had been conveyed TO the stoni-