The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-11
SUPPLY OF MORPHINE
FLossIE KEEFE, Ut DEVELOPS,
PURCHASED A fBOITLE SAT-
URDAY NIGHT
THROUGH A MESSENGER BOY
The Woman I'm Whose COMPANY
John A. VETS Spent Some Time
Before His Death, Says She Told
the First story Because She Was
Frightened - Indications Point
Strongly to Accidental Death.

In the investigation concerning the
mysterious death OF John A. Weis. at
the city hospital, Sunday, from opium
poisoning, it was established yesterday
that Flossie Keefe, the woman under
arrest, with whom Weis spent the hours
previous to his death, had purchased
a large quantity ,,of morphine several
hours before the young man visited
her at the Third street resort. The bot
tie that had contained the drug was
found in her room yesterday It was
empty. 1t had contained enough poison
to ordinarily kill fifty people, The la
bel had been scratched from the bottle.
as though to conceal the name Of the
druggist selling the morphine. Up to
the time these FACTS were discovered
the Keefe woman had declared posi-
lively that she had purchased no NOR
phine after last Thursday When con-
fronted with the empty bottle and the
records of the drug store where the
poison was purchased, she admitted
having made false statement. and
acknowledged purchasing the morphine
Saturday night.
The autopsy conducted at the CITY
hospital, according to Deputy Coroner
l.. A. Nelson, showed conclusively that
Weis died from opium poisoning While
impossible to ascertain positively, DR..
Nelson said the conditions rather in
dicated morphine poisoning. The Keefe
woman disclaimed having had NOR
phine in her possession later than last
Thursday to prove that Wells could not
have In any way by mistake or other
wise, received any. of the drug while
visiting her. Now she admits having.
purchased sixty grains Of the poison
not long before Weis visited the Will
lard resort at 1917 West Third street.
In view Of these facts Coroner Nelson
may decide to hold an inquest
The bottle of morphine was procured
for the Keefe woman by a messenger
boy at P. H. Middith's drug store, 1866
Wabasha street, at about o'clock Sat
urday evening. The drug store register
shows that the messenger boy was Civ
en- one-eighth of an ounce Of morphine.
The sale was made by Clerk Wesley
ST. Clair. At the drug store it is said
the Keefe woman was known under the
name of Miss Brown, as a habitual
user Of morphine, and that she always
sent note when getting the drug. Such
note was received from the messenger
boy on Saturday night, 1t is said. The
messenger boy was Thomas Leech. liv-
ing at 4S4 Sixth street. He saws he
went to the drug store for the Keefe
woman Saturday night and took a bot
tie back to her. He does not know
what was in the bottle. except that he
says it was white powder.
The woman under arrest says she de-
MED having morphine later than Thurs
day night when first locked up because
she was frightened. She always
empties the drug from the bottle when
she purchases 1t and scratches the label
off to prevent her acquaintance from
knowing she uses morphine. She says
all of the Saturday night supply, except
a small quantity. was spoiled and
thrown away before Weis visited her.
She says water fell on it while it Law
on piece of paper after she poured it
out of the bottle. She says she only
saved enough for two capsules. which
she claims to have used herself
Detective DAILY found the empty bot
tie in the woman's room.
All the developments indicate that
Weis' death wass accidental. and that
there was no suicide about 1t.