The Jersey City news., 1899-12-15

THE DEADLY DOSE
Goroner's Jury Decides Mrs.
Morris Met Her Death
Through Prescription.
NO ARRESTS WERE MADE
Verdict Is Vague and Does
Not Fix the RESPONSE
bility,

Coroner Hoffman conducted an lhauesl
last night upon the death of Mrs John a.
Morris Of Belford, N. ]. The woman, VINO
was so years old, died at the home OF net
daughter. Mrs Joseph A. Taylor, on NO
yernber 20. as the result, 1t is alleged, OIL
dose of sulpho carbolate of soda prescrlp-
ed by Dr. David Atwell. The physician
claimed that the prescription, which mad
been compounded in Brandt's pharmacy
at washington and Seventh streets, was
responsible for Mrs. Morris death.
Mrs. Taylor. who was the first witness
called at the inquest, testihed 70 hei
mothers death. DR.. Atwell, she SAID, was
called to attend her on November ), ana
the prescription he ordered was filleo ana
given to the sick woman the same ody.
Mrs. Morris vomited Immediately aiter
taking a half teaspoonful of it in water
as called for, and complained OF palns IN
the stomach She sank rapidly Dr- Al
well was called again and was in attend
ance upon Mrs. Morris when she died NO
yember 20.
County Physician Converse was the
next witness. He testified that he had con-
Quoted post mortem examination the
dav following Mrs. Morris death and pro-
nounced death due to exhaustion
brought on by violent purging and Vonilt-
ing" Subsequently he secured the meoi-
cine from which the dose was admins
tered to Mrs Morris was mixed. This ne
sent to Prof A. Withaus, of the Institute
of Chemistry New York, for analysis. The
chemist reported that he found the medi-
cine contained acid mercuric sulphate and
the sediment in the glass from which Mrs.
Morris drank basic sulphate mercury.
The former component, DR.. Converse in
timated, was dangerous. It was but rare
ly. if ever, used in medicine nowadays,
he testified An analysis of the medicine
by chemist of this city corresponded to
that of Professor Withaus, he said. Wit
ness further testified that he had per-
formed an autopsy on the body. which ne
found to be badly emaciated. There We're
discoloration blotches in the skin caused
by impediment in the circulation and
the stomach was highly infamed.
Charlotte A. Morris. another daughter
| of Mrs. Morris, testified in substance the
same as her sister, Mrs Taylor She
| told of the sending of Henry Weppler of
No 632 Garden street, to the drug store
| to get the medicine.
Weppler when called testified that he
had brought the medicine to the Taylors'
home. He remembered that the box was
heavy and that he had called the atten-
ton Of the drug clerk. August Mike, to
the fact Mike, he said, informed him
that the drug was dangerous one and
that precaution should be exercised in
administering it. It would be wise, Mike
told him. to give the sick woman less than
one half a teaspoonful in water, the
amount the prescription called for.
Mike testified that he put the medicine,
when it was returned to the store by DR..
Atwell through the usual pharmaceutical
| test and found that it met the require
ments called for. The bottle from which
it had been taken was labelled properly,
he declared.
The jury convened for nearly a half
hour, returning a lengthy and somewhat
vague verdict. This WAS the most direct
portion of tive find that the remote
cause of death was medicine given to her
| (Mrs. Morris) which was sent to her by
! the clerk in Mr.. Brandt's employ