Evening journal., 1897-07-20
A MYSTERIOUS CASE.
Young Woman Taken III on a
Train Dies In a Hospital
MADE NO STATEMENT BEFORE DEATH
No Reason TO Suspect Suicide, as She Was
In Good Health and Intended TO
Attend Reception at Her
Sisters Home.

Attend Reception at Her
sisters Home.
Newburg. n. Y. July 2O.-Was Miss
Salona Lawson, who was taken IN on
the train coming from Poughkeepsie
and who died In the General hospital
at Fishkill, a suicide, or was she muir
dered?
This Is the question that Is puzzling
the authorities Of Fishkll and Pough-
keepsie. There is a great mystery In
this case
Coroner Bevier, when seen at Fish
kill, declared It was one of the most
peculiar cases he had ever been called
upon to investigate. He would not go
into details
Coroner Bevier merely stated It was
case of poisoning Whether death
was the result of suicidal intent. was
due to murderous design or TO accident,
Coroner Bevier would not say. "Wait
until after the inquest" was his reply
20 all questions on these points.
He has had an autopsy performed
Examination showed that the young
woman had died from the effects OF
poison.
Even when she knew she was going
that would throw any light on the case.
At the hospital the physicians say she
was conscious from the time she ar
rived until she died.
She thought once that she was going
to recover. She asked the doctors once
or twice If they knew what was the
matter with her. They told her they
thought she had been poisoned. She
could not be prevailed upon to tell
whether she knew their suspicious were
correct
The stomach has been sent TO Or,
Wand at Poughkeepsie for analysis.
Coroner Bevier says that he does not
yet know what the poison was.
Thinks It Was Not Suicide.
From what he says. however. 1t is
evident Coroner Bevier does not think
the young woman took the poison with
the intention Of killing herself. He
evidently thinks II was administered
by some one else. whether or not with
her knowledge, II Is impossible to deter
mine.
The poison when once it began to
show its effects worked rapidly. II Is
but 20 minutes ride from Poughkeepsie,
and when Miss Lawson's companion,
who was with her at Poughkeepsie, left
her and she continued on toward New
/ York she seemed In perfect health and
had not complained.
Or. Barnes the family physician of
the Densmores. called on Coroner Be
vier and said he would insist on an au-
topsy and inquest. He said the circum-
stances surrounding the young woman's
death demanded a careful investigation
] nF
| sons companion of Saturday was anx-
ious for an examination. The inquest
will be held on Wednesday afternoon al
4 o'clock.
The friends of Salona Lawson were
making merry at the prospect Of her re-
turn to New York on Saturday night
While she was in the thoughts of every
member of the company that had as
sembled at the home of her sister Mrs
Charles Wickstrom. 164 East Ninety
second street. and they We're wondering
why she did not appear. she was writh.
ing on a cot in the General hospital al
Fishkil.
Her mind was wandering and she
was calling for some one. Nothing die
her friends know Of the true cause OF
the delay until a messenger brought
them a telegram about midnight.
Was a Great Favoritc.
She was a beautiful woman, 20 years
old. She was a favorite everywhere she
went. She had lived during the wintei
with her sister. Mrs. Wiskstrom in Eas
Ninety-second street.
She was a young woman Of remarha'
BILE accomplishments, considering tha
she was not wealthy. So t was moi
strange that Mrs. Densmore. wealthy
woman. heard Of her and engaged her al
a governess to spend the summer at th
Densmore country home at Staatsburg
Miss Lawson was greatly misse,
when she left New York. She had made
friends by the score. She had NAM
admirers. but her sister declares tina
she had no love affair.
Miss Lawson had started for New
York on Saturday afternoon The visi
had been planned long before. and tn
little reception had been set for Sat
urday evening. so that her friends coul'
have the earliest possible opportunit!
to welcome her back.
She was expected to go TO her sis
ter's house Immediately on her arriva
I'm the city.
When she started from Staatsburl
On Saturday afternoon, she seemed il
the best Of health and spirits Anothe
young woman. employed i'm the Dens
more house. went to the train will
her.
The conductor was passing through
the train after leaving Poughkeepsi
when he noticed that the woman whom
he had remarked as the prettiest pas
senger on his train was acting strange
ly Miss Lawson began TO rave. Sh
was evidently insane. She was takel
off the train at Flshkill suffering ter
ribly. She was taken 70 the Genera
hospital at once.
A Break In the Erie Canal.