New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-04
DEATH DUE TO MORPHINE.
AN OVERDOSE OF THE DRUG KILLS MRS.
SCHUYLER HAMILTON, JR.
A SUFFERER SINCE THE BIRTH OF HER
CHILD-THE POISON TAKEN APPAR-
EMILY TO RELIEVE PAIN

ENJL1 III RELIEVE PAIN.
Mrs. Schuyler Hamilton jr.. wife of the
Of General Schuyler Hamilton, died yesterday
at her home in the Florence apartment-house.
No. 1O5 East Eghteenth-st, from morphine
poisoning. Her death caused by taking an
overdose Of the drug. Soon after the birth OF
her child. nearly three years ago, Mrs. Hamil-
ton underwent an operation. Since that time
she had been afflicted with nervous affections,
and to alay the pain from which she constantly
suffered, she was in the habit OF taking
morphine.
From the time Of their marriage in 1885, she
and her husband spent most OF their time
in France, and II in Paris that morphine
was first prescribed for her. In August last.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hamilton returned to this city.
and soon after making their home at the Flor
ence. DR.. George V. Foster of No Ill East
Eighteenth-st., was called to attend upon Mrs.
Hamilton. She was then In highly nervous
condition and asked for morphine. but the
physician, in the endeavor to dissuade her
from resorting to so insidious a narcotic. sue
ceeded in urging her to use less harmful
sedatives. Unknown, however. to DR.. Foster
and her husband. Mrs. Hamilton contrived to
seek relief in morphine an overdose OF which
was responsible for her death yesterday after
noon.
The thunderstorm which broke over this city
on Tuesday night threw Mrs Hamilton into
state of Mysteries, and in her fear OF the light
ming and the peals Of thunder. she hid In
dark closet She was then in a state of high
tension, and 1t not until after 10 o'clock
that her husband succeeded in calming her.
She apparently in a normal condition wnen
she retired at about II o'clock, and neither her
husband, nor the French maid, who slept with
the child in an adjoining room, heard her move
in the night. Just before O'Clock yesterday
morning, Mr.. Hamilton was awakened by the
heavy breathing of his wife. and, going to her
bedside. found that she was unconscious
PHYSICIANS SUMMONED
DR. Foster was Immediately called in He
quickly determined that the symptoms were
those Of morphine poisoning, and when he failed
to arouse her he called In DR.. Lewis, neigh
boring physician. Both doctors worked over her
increasingly, but without restoring her TO sensi-
bity. and at 80 o'clock in the afternoon she
died.
Dr. Foster at once informed the Coroners
office of the circumstances of the death. The
investigation, which was held last night by
Coroner Jacob L. Bausch and Dr. O'Hanlon, the
Coroner's physician, left no doubt that Mrs
Hamilton's death was inadvertently caused
They decided that there were no grounds what
ever to justify any belief of premeditauon, ana
agreed that no autopsy necessary. 1t is
thought that in the night Mrs Hamilton was
seized with another attack of nervous pains
and endeavored to benumb them with morphine:
She was known to be careless in her use OF
drugs, and in the opinion Of the physicians
she sought alleviation In swallowing too many
of the morphine tablets, of which partly emp
tied boxful was found upon the mantelplece OF
her bedroom last night by Coroner Bausch.
There was nothing 10 indicate whence the tab
lets were obtained. but DR.. Foster, comment
ing last night upon the ease with which NOR
phine could be obtained in this city, said 10
Tribune reporter: 1T is an outrage that such
little restriction should be placed upon the sale
of morphine in this city. 1t is supposed TO be
hard to get a glass Of beer in NewYork dur
ing prohibited hours, but morphine can be
bought with greater facility. Such indiscrimi-
nate sale of poisons ought not to be allowed
for moment
Schuyler Hamilton jr.. is well known in the
social circles of this city, and Newport He is
the only son now living Of General Schuyler
Hamilton, and a lineal descendant of Alexander
Hamilton. He first married In 1877 Miss Ger
trude Van Cortlandt Wells. of Sing Sing In
1894 she secured a divorce from him upon the
grounds of desertion, receiving the custody or
the three children who were born OF the union.
Tn the following year. to the surprise OF ms
friends who were unaware OF his intention. ne
married at Baltimore Miss Jane Byrd Mercer.
the woman who died yesterday. Although she
was for time g0VerneSS IN tne fanny VI
Mrs A. L. Mason. OF Newport MISS Mercer pc
longed to one OF the oldest families In Balti-
more. and was connected with some OF the most
prominent families in the South some or them
being the Carriers. Pages and Byrds. or Vir-
ginia She was the reat-granddaughter or
John Francis Mercer fourth Governor OF Mary
land. and one of the trainers Of the Constltu-
tion. Her grandfather was Colonel John Mercer
Aid to General Winfield Scott, while her fatner
was Colonel Richard Sprigg Mercer. OF Cedar
Park. long famous for it's hospitality. sne was
also a lineal descendant of George Mercer, VINO
brought over the copy of the Stamp Act, from |
england and whose family came from Aide
scotland She was connected with the WASH
ineton family through her grandaunt, Mrs |
7 nrenzo Lewis a niece Of the late Governor |
swann' of Maryland, and direct descendant
Of George Mason, who framed the first Bill Oh
NJ Hamilton's three children by his first |
wife were benehciaries under the VIII OF ms
brother. Robert Ray Hamilton: VINO was
drowned on his ranch In Idaho IN lo9o'