Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-10
DEATH DUE TO POISON
Deputy Coroners Report Of Autopsy Per-
formed This Morning.
Aged COlOred Woman the Victim
Other Persons Made nI-Investi-
CATION In Progress.

Miss Ann Bean, colored, whose age is CIV
en- as ninety-six years. 6ied yesterday after
noon at the home of Mrs. Harriet Ferguson,
No. 422 9Th street southeast. after an ILL
ness of about five hours. Mrs. Ferguson
and her two sons, Robert and Peter, were
made ill in some unexplained way, and
there is an investigation being made to as
certain the cause of the trouble.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook made an au-
topsy this morning on the body of the dead
woman and found in the stomach traces of
an acute irritant poison. perhaps arsenic.
The contents of the stomach. as well as
some milk and coffee of which the woman
had partaken, will be subjected to a chem
health department. Until this is done the
exact cause of the death of Miss Bean and
of the illness of the three members of the
Ferguson family will not be definitely de-
termined.
1t was feared Mrs. Ferguson and her son
Peter would die, but 1t proved that the son
was only slightly sick and did not have
to leave his work.
Miss Bean, who was born in Maryland,
had lived in this city for more than fifty
years, and during recent years was cared
for by the Fergusons. who are distant rel
ativeS- Yesterday morning at breakfast
she partook Of some oatmeal and milk and
cup of coffee, while Mrs. Ferguson ate
several crackers and drank cup of coffee.
Her two sons also drank coffee and some
milk that had been bought the night be-
fore was put in the coffee.
1t is believed by members OF the family,
as well as by the attending physician, that
the poison, if poison were the cause, was
in the milk.
The Symptoms Manifested.
Miss Bean was attacked with a spell of
vomiting, accompanied by severe pains, and
soon afterward the Fergusons were sim
,-l,-
ton became so serious Dr. Wilder was sent
for, and he called in DIR. Hazen in consul
tation. They were satisfied the woman was
suffering from a dose of poison, but the
deadly stuff had taken SO deep hold on
the patient that medicine was of no avail.
Then the doctors turned their attention to
the Fergusons and succeeded in saving
their lives. This afternoon Mrs. Ferguson
and her son Peter were still confined to
their beds, but the physicians thought they
were out of danger.
The Coroner Summoned.
Soon after Miss Beans death Coroner
Carr was summoned to the house, and M
directed that the body be removed to the
morgue in order that an autopsy might be
held. He also took samples of the milk and
coffee. This morning Deputy Coroner
Glazebrook made the autopsy as stated.
1t was not until the result of the au-
topsy had been made known that the pres
ence in the food of arsenic or other poison
was even suspected. The milk, as already
stated. had been bought the night before.
The same evening daughter of Mrs. Fer
guson used some of 1t in cooking corn, but
nobody was made sick. The milk was
poured from pitcher to tin can and left
In the refrigerator in the yard until morn
ing, when it was used.
Miss Ferguson, speaking to Star re-
porter today, said she had no idea that
the poison had been put in the milk with
numerous intent, for. so far as she knew,
there was nobody living who had any i'll
will toward the family. 1t is probable that
the coroner will mold an inquest when the
result of the analysis Is made known.