Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-29
THE JURY'S FINDINGS
Investigation Rspeoting the Sudden
Death of Ann Bean.
POISON GIVEN p PERSONS UNKNOWN
Report Of the Evidence Obtained
by Coroner Carr.
A SENIC PLOY ED

Coroner Carr held an inquest this morn
ing at the sixth precinct station in the
case OF Miss Ann Bean, who died from the
enects OF dose of arsenic, administered
In conee, on the 9th of this month. The
inquiry began at II O'Clock. Miss Bean, as
published In The Star at the time of her
death, was ninety-eight years old, and had
lived In the family of Mrs. Harriet Fer
guson, No. 422 sth street southeast, for
several months Prior to her sudden DEATH
Detective Lacy made thorough investiga-
ton OF the case. and had a number of wit
nesses before the coroner's jury.
The womans death resulted from a dose
OF arsenic, administered by some person
or persons unknown.
First Witness.
The first witness examined was Deputy
Coroner Glazebrook. He testified that he
performed the autopsy on the body of Miss
Bean the 10th of this month. He found
that she was remarkably healthy woman
Her age. he judged. was between so and
100 years, and her body was well preserv-
ed. The appearance of the stomach, he
said, caused him to believe there was ar
senical poison present. Witness said the
woman's stomach contained about eight
ounces of what appeared to be oatme al,
and he detected the odor of coffee. DIR.
Glazebrook said he turned over to Prof
Hird, chemist of the health department,
the contents of the stomach for analysis,
and he found large quantity of arsenic
in 1t. as he (Glazebrook) had suspected.
Some coffee in a pot in the house was
also examined and arsenic enough to kill
several persons was found.
Detective on the Stand.
Detective Lacy, who made an investiga-
ton of the case, testified that he inter-
viewed every member of the family. Mrs.
Ferguson told him that she had had no
poison in the house, and witness made
search of the premises, but found no poi
son. Witness said he had visited u great
many drug stores and had found ain the
poison ledgers in good shape, with one
exception, where he found the leaves Of
the book showing sales prior to March Is
missing. The next day the druggist sue
ceeded in finding the leaves, and witness
summoned him before the jury of inquest
Witness said that during the Investigation
he learned that some time previous to the
poisoning Anderson Berry, son-in-law of
Mrs. Ferguson, had complained of the Pc
culiar taste Of some food sent him, and Mr..
White, his employer, made an effort to
procure an analysis of the food, but for
some reason 1t was not made. Witness de-
tailed at length the investigation he made,
and said Mrs. Ferguson afterward called
en- Inspector Mattingly and said that some
When Miss Bean died Mrs. Ferguson sent
word to her son Robert not to drink the cof-
fee she had sent him. Detective Lacy said
that Robert had eaten his meal, but had
not touched the coffee. Mrs. Ferguson
made the coffee the afternoon before Miss
Beans death.
The Analysis.
Professor J. D. Hird Of the health de-
partment testified to the analysis that he
nade Of the contents of Miss Beams stom-
ach, the boiled coffee, some milk and I'M
made coffee. In the boiled coffee that had
been left in the pot and in the contents of
the stomach he found large quantities of
arsenic, enough to have killed several per-
sorts. The milk he found perfectly pure.
DR.. James R. Wilder testified that the
morning Of the 9th of this month he was
called to Mrs. Fergusons house in a hurry.
He saw Mrs. Ferguson, and said her symp
toms were those Of acute Indigestion. Miss
Bean was also sick, and he left word for
her to take medicine he had prescribed for
Mrs. Ferguson. Later in the day he learn
ed of Miss Beams death, and then he re-
turned to the house DR.. Hazen was callsd
in the case with him, and witness said he
seemed to agree with witness diagnosis.
Witness said he was told the people iii
the house had been poisoned, but he en-
deavored to disabuse their minds of such
an idea. He had been called there once
before on a similar complaint, and had
found that the sickness complained of was
an attack of acute Indigestion. At that
time members CT the family had eaten of
some canned corn and cabbage On that
occasioned he learned that there had been
some canned corn and cold cabbage in the
house, although 1t was denied that any of
them had partaken of the cabbage. When
questioned by Detective Lacy he said he
had taken samples Of the milk and coffee
to the health office. but the officials there
declined to make an analysis of them DR..
Wilder said the Fergusons were for the
,<,fv ov,Io
say that the mind Of one of the children
was affected.
Sick After Drinking Coffee.
Mrs. Harriet Ferguson testified that she
was taken sick at her stomach about fif-
teen minutes after she drank cup of
coffee.
WHO made this coffee?' she was asked.
Il made it myself" she answered.
When did you make it?''
THE night before"
Witness said her son Peter was taken
sick soon after he left home. He drank of
the coffee before he left and was taken
sick while on his wagon.
Mrs Ferguson said Miss Bean, her son
Peter and herself were the ones who usual
ly partook Of coffee.
Mrs. Ferguson" asked the coroner,
have you any idea who put the poison in
the coffee"
Indeed, I haven't the slightest idea in
the world" she answered.
Did you have any rough on rats in the
house?"
mo, sir" she answered. She added that
about six years ago her husband had
box of the poison for rats in the stable,
but her daughter Hattie said she had put
it in the ash barrel Witness said she
drank the coffee about o'clock in the
morning, while Miss Bean did not have
her breakfast until about 10 o'clock Her
daughter Hattie. she said, could not appear
as a witness because she is sick.
Detective Lacy told the jury of the diff
ferent members of the family. Miss Bean,
he said, owned house and the rent of
her property paid hen board.
Mrs. Ferguson said there had been no i'll
feeling on the part Of any one in the house
towards anotherj and Miss Bean, she said,
paid small amount of board at times.
She had known Miss Bean all her life, and
she had made a will, she had been in
formed, and the house had been left to the
Catholic church. Miss Bean, she said, had
been in the institution of the Little Sisters
Of the Poor for q while, and before going
there she (Miss Beam was robbed. 1t was
her belief that Miss Bean was ninety-eight
years old, and she said was always Chris
tian woman.
Gould anybody have come in your house
during the night and put the poison in the
coffee?' Mrs. Ferguson was asked
'The kitchen door might have been
opened" she answered.
She thought the coffee had been left on
hot ton,