Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-06
DOCTORS QUEER END,
Crazed BY Opium, He Takes an
Overdose Of STychniine'
TRAGIC DEATH AT ST. LUKE'S
He Dies In the Room Of His Adopted
Father, a Physician.
FOUND WRITING IN AGONY
A Giles County Doctor Comes Here
to Attend Ills BenefnctOr, Who liz
to he Operated Upon, and Abruptly
Closes His Career With Poison.


died of strychnine poisoning yesterday at
12lO T. NJ. at St. Luke's Home. He was
found a half hour before his death by one
of the orderlies writhing in agony on one
of the porches. He was assisted into the
hospital, and his symptoms were so
alarming DIR. Stuart Mcclure was sum-
moned by telephone. DR.. Mcclure re-
sponded as quickly as possible. to find that
he had a desperate and obstinate case on
his hands. In fact, DR.. Warner was be-
yond medical aid when found, and soon
expired.
DIR. Warner came to the home more than
a fortnight since with his adopted father.
DIR. J. C. Blackburn, also OF Giles county,
TO be with the latter during a surgical
operation. DR. Warner occupied the same
room with Or. Blackburn. and also took
his meals at the institution. There he
died.
PAINS IN HIS STOMACH.
Yesterday morning DIR. Warner seemed
I'm the best Of spirits while at the break
fast-table. Shortly afterward he COM
planned of terrible pains I'm the stomach,
from which ne said he frequently suf-
fered. He left the home and went TO the
drugstore of c. a. Berrian. at p north
Fourteenth street, and bought quantity
of opium. He then returned to the home.
He seemed to be suffering almost unbear-
able pain. Later he left the hospital and
was not again seen there until about li:S0
O'clock. shortly after which time the Or
derby found him.
When Dr. Warner announced that he
was suffering at the hospital one or the
atteIGsns plysici ms gave nim an afro
pine tablet. which he took. Three others
were given him. and he was told how TO
use them II the first did not relieve him.
These tablets were missing when search
was made for them in his pockets after
his death. However, they could not have
caused his death, as he was not delirlous
preceding the end. as Is the case with
atropine poisoning.
DR. Warner said. when found. that he
had taken an overdose OF opium. DR.. Nc
Guire. upon his arrival. relying on this
statement as true. prepared to give the
sick man a hypodermic injection OF strych-
nine 10 counteract the effect OF the opium.
DIR. Warner demonstrated:
mo. I don't want strychnine. ! have
enough now; have taken two strychnine
tablets"
DIED IN CONVULSIONS.
After this DR. Warner sank rapidly.
Convulsion followed convulsion, as in
strvchnine poisoning. He was conscious
TO the last. and there was no doubt in
the minds Of the physicians present that
II was a case Of strychnine poisoning. DIR.
W. III. Tavlor. the Coroner who went TO
the hospital Immediately after DIR. War
ners death. was Of the same opinion.
The condition of the body after dissolu-
ton. together with the symptoms before
the physicians end. led DR.. Taylor to
reach this conclusion.
The Coroner found the body in the
room which had been occupied by both
DR.. Blackburn and DR.. Warner In which
the latter had died i'm the presence Of
the former Immediately after the death
Dr. Blackburn was removed from tho
room and it was closed until DR.. Taylor
arrived. The Coroner made a careful eX
animation Of the case. owing 10 It's sds-
picious character, but could reach no
other conclusion than that Or. Warner
had died Of strychnine poisoning. In the
dead mans pockets were found two
phials. one was labelled morphine and
the other strychnine Both labels bore
the name OF Powers & Weightman, Phila-
delphia. The morphine bottle contained
powdered opium. being about half full
The other contained enough solid strych-
nine 10 Kill a hundred men. DR.. Taylor
questioned Dr. Blackburn TO see If he
knew any reason why his adopted son
should have killed himself. He said there
was none TO his knowledge. In fact. the
young man had all TO live for. He was
happily married, had fine practice, and
was preparing to build home. Srych-
nine, however, is not used for any
,axrgf
Just before his death, DR.. Warner was
asked why he took the poison. His reply
was:
Don't ask me-"
Or. Blackburn was greatly shocked by
his adopted sons tragic death.
CRAZED BY OPIUM
The most plausible theory regarding Dr.
Warmers death is this: While suffering
terribly with his stomach malady. he took
the opium. IL crazed him and he pro-
cured strychnine to either counteractt IT'S
effect or with a determination TO end his
earthly sufferings. Dr. Taylor could not
learn where he had obtained the strych-
nine. Mr.. Berrian did not sell ii to him.
Dr. Warner was IS years old. He had
a wife and two children. He was adopted
by DR.. Blackburn when quite young, and
was sent to Baltimore to a medical
school. where he remained a year At
the opening Of the University College OF
Medicine, I'm 1884, he came here and finish
ed his course. DIR. Mcclure was on
of his instructors and knew him quite
we'll DR. Mcclure saw him almost daily
while here. He said last night that he
was OF a light-hearted disposition and
not a man that he would have expected
to seek self destruction while In his right
mind DR.. Warner was Of medium
heighth. stockily built, with sandy hair
and moustache.
Funeral-Director Sutherland prepared
the body for burial. and It will be started
home this morning. DIR. Blackburn,
though rapidly recovering win not be
able 90 accompany II home.
womnn's Suicidal Attempt.
Fannie Deitrck. woman OF about IS
years Of age. living at No 703 Brooke
avenue. attempted 70 commit suicide by
drinking an ounce OF laudanum yesterday
morning about 1910 O'Clock. DR. Gwath-
mey. with the ambulance. was called.
and hastily taking the woman TO the CITY
Hospital, succeeded. after several hours
OF hard WORT. N rev-iving her. and