Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-01
While he left the room. He returned

while he left the room. He returned
in short time.
"Dr. Ian son." he salid "your case
has been considered, and am in
structed to charge you with causing
the death of Percy Malcolm Johny"
Not muscle stirred In Lamson's
pale face, as he heard these words,
which told him he would have to an
swer with his life the terrible charge
preferred against him, though the
ashen gray features, IL possible took
grayer tinge. He elevated his eye
brows as if in surprise.
Every WE'LL" was all he answered.
If Johns death was not due to
natural causes, of what did he die?
The question was n difficult one.
Poison? the doctors feared. But what
poison? Portions of the body were
sent up to London, and there. over the
ghastly sealed up jars, secured with
many pieces of red tape and red seal
ing wax, which contained, IL murder
had been done, the clue to bring it
home to its perpetrator, two of the
cleverest analysists, DR.. Stevenson and
DR.. Dupre, were soon busily employed.
BY numberless experiments, by days
and nights of careful observation, the
analyslsts came to the conclusion that
poison had been used and that the
poison was aconintine. The test of poi
son was not omitted. DR.. Stevenson
put some of the suspected matter on
his tongue. AT first there was a
burning tingling, kind Of numbness,
and later on the tongue felt as if it
had been scared with red-hot iron.
So great was the effect that the doc
tors tongue suffered for over three
hours.
ut was aconitine," said DR.. Steven
son. 81 have between so and so vege-
have tasted them all. This is aconi-
tine"
1t is curious fact that in bog
belonging to Lamson, the police, on
searching, discovered medical book
giving an account of the effects Of
aconitine. The leaf Of the work had
been turned down. The sleuth-hounds
of the law went to work upon the trail
the analysis afforded, and soon had to
hand results which promised to con-
firm the worst suspicious.
He had purchased aconitine of
two chcmlsts-once at Ventnor, in the
Isle of Wight, and again in London.
He had had to give his name before
the deadly poison could be handed to
him, and the assistant who supplied
him remembered his face.
The cause of Percy Johns death
was clear. Lamson had had poison of
the kind in his possession. Had he,
that December night when he called
to see the poor lad, while talking with
him and the schoolmaster in the sit
ting room, introduced the fatal white
powder into the capsule he handed the
boy, seen him swallow it, and then
gone Off on that long night journey to
Paris so that, should any suspicion
arise, he might by voluntarily return
ing from abroad, disarm 1t?
He was poor-terribly poor. Only 4
short time before he had had to raise
money upon his surgical instruments.
His practice at Bournemouth had been
failure, and it was known that ne
was in pressing need. Mrs. Lamson,
however, was entitled to some money,
which would come to her upon the de-
cease of her brother, and she had
readily agreed to her husbands sug-
gestion that she should execute set
Element making over her interest to
him.
Upon the death of the first brother,
Herbert John, In 1870, the doctor had
received over 100 pounds; by the death
of Percy John, Lamson would benefit
to the extent Of something like 1900
pounds. Had his money been n temp
tation which had led Lamson to dye
his hands in the boys blood?
Upon March 8, 1852, Lamson stood
in the dock of the Old Bailey to an
swer the terrible charge. People were
preposscssed in his favor as they
looked at the handsome man in the
black frock coat and black kid gloves,
with the pale, care-worn face, who
calmly, and with certain dignity,
bowed to the judge, Mr.. Justice Haw-
kins, and declared that he was not
guilty. The solicitor general, Sir f.
Herschell, afterward to become twice
lord chancellor, was the leading coun-
sci for the prosecution, and for the
defense there appeared, with other
barristers, the youthful looking, keen
eyed, and slight mustached man whose
reputation was greatest in the king
dom for passionate eloquence and
acutencss in the conduct of criminal
defense-Montagu Williams. Mrs
Lamson had stirred every effort and
raised every penny she possessed to
husband.
Day by day rs the trial went on, us
the proceedings ended, Us the blood
robed stern-faced Judge rose, us the
jury took their way from the box,
and the crowd in court slowly filed out
discussing the points of the days evil
dence, a little fragile woman's figure
stole from II seat where it had hidden,
listenlng-who shall tell how anxious
ly?-to all that passed, and stole to-
ward the dock. Then Lamson leaned
over the docks edge, the white, hand
some face smiled at the faithful wo.
mans deadly and gray countenance
turned up to him, and stretching out
his hand-the hand accused of such an
awful deed-the woman took it and
pressed 1t to her lips.
The evidence against him was terri
BILE enough. A queer accident which
happened while Lamson was being
driven from prison in cab to the
court one day impressed some Of the
goalers and officials more than any
evidence could, with the feeling that
Lamson was doomed man. The cab
in which he and his custodians were
broke down almost at the door of the
court. 1t was regarded MS an omen.
AT last the day came which brought
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