Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-03-02
sI.00 A YEAR.
NEW VOL. 34.--NO. II.
untraceable Poison.

When John H. Yocum was on the
stand at the Adams inquest on Friday
Mr.. Osborne, the assistant district at
torney, endeavored to bring out the
fact that the person who mixed the
poison could not have been thorough
chemist or he would not have employ
ed an agent which could be traced so
easily as mercury. Although chem
ist might know that cyanide of mer-
curry was a poison, Mr.. Yocum did
not believe he would make use Of it,
because he would know Of so many
better, such as ptomaic poisons, which
would leave little or no trace after
they have been taken.
This incident recalled famous ease
in England many years ago, in which
the strong point of the defense was to
show that the accused, who was an
expert chemist, would not have used
poison which could be so easily found
after It had been taken into the hu-
man system. Sir Robert Chusteson,
professor Of Edinburgh University, a
famous expert on toxicology, whose
works are still standard on that sub
ject, was put on the stand to prove
this point. When he declared that a
chemist would certainly use some poi
son which would leave no trace, the
prosecuting attorney asked him If he
meant to say that there were such
polsons.
Sir Robert replied in the affirmative.
The prosecutor asked Name them
No !" shouted the Judge Il for
bid you to answer that question.
In spite Of the protests. of prosecu-
tor, the Judge would not allow the eI-
pert publicly TO give the name Of a
poison which would leave no trace,
80 the question remained unanswered.
Now comes the curious part OF the
story. During the next two years Sir
Robert received more than 1000 let
tiers, from all parts of the world, ask
ing, begging, offering to buy the name
of the untraceable poison allnded to
in his testimony. Many of these he
kept as curiosities, showing them to
his friends as evidence Of the depravi-
ty of human nature.
Some OF the excuses for wanting the
name Of the poison were very ingen-
ious. One man was writing a novel
based on a poison plot, and wanted to
make use of the untraceable poison
idea. He did not want to give the
name Of the poison in his book, but
Just wanted TO have il by him in case
any scientific critic should deny the
possibility of such poisons, when he
could send HIM the name in a private
letter and quote the distinguished
authority" from whom it came, etc.
Several persons professed to be study
ing chemistry, and asked for the in.
formation on the ground Of profession
al courtesy. To all such Sir Robert
would send the advice TO pursue their
studies, and they would soon know as
much about it a. he did. Many offered
large sums Of money for the secret,
usually pretending that they bad bet
still larger amounts that they could
find it out in a given time, and were
willing to share their profits Literally
with Sir Robert.
The thing which most impressed Sir
Robert was the number Of persons all
over the world who seemed desirous
of possessing the secret of an agent
that would kill but leave no trace,
and the amazing falsehoods to which
they would subscribe their names in
order TO obtain the information. II 10
SAID that whatever poison Sir Robert
had in mind at the trial he never men,
toned it, not even to bis classes, 20
strongly was he Impressed with the
danger Of letting such a thing become
a matter Of public knowledge. e.-Nev
L