The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-15

Inc pOCy OF MISS MaOei L. iH5ohSs "iio
died at Ballard nearly two weeks ago un-
der suspicious circumstances, was yes
terday morning exhumed by order OF
Coroner Sparkling and an autopsy held.
The remains were in state OF perlect
preservation and Deputy Coroner Powers
and DR.. Emil Bories, who were delegated
to examine the stomach and other vital
organs for traces Of poison, iouno no
dificulty whatever in the first part OF
their task. They at once began the
chemical analysis.
The result of the analysis win govern
the entire case. Should traces OF pol
son be found an inquest will be held A
report from the two physicians VIII not pc
received before the end Of this week In
the meantime the Ballard woman whom
the dead girls parents suspect, Will be
kept under surveillance by the sheriff's
once. Her arrest will follow should the
suspicion against her be confirmed. The
woman is now at her home In Ballard.
having returned yesterday after weeks
absence from that city.
The Facts in the Case.
The Post Intelligencer has heretofore
pnd ne 81 er
10. together with the statement that soon
after her funeral. on the Sunday follow
se Ml ana Mrs nsr &
of Ballard. was called to certain circum-
stances which they had not needed in the
agony of their sudden affliction. but
which, after the lapse of more than a
week, determined them to call upon the
authorities to set at rest their suspicion.
Inc facts IN the case We're laid before
Coroner Sparkling who proceeded at once
TO investigate. The testimony OF a young
girl who accompanied Miss ingalls, to the
house Of a mutual acquaintance. wo-
small quantity OF wine from a cup given
ner Dy that woman. and who herself
drank some Of the wine, determined the
Inc young girls story that the woman
had poured the wine drunk by Miss In
gals first into glass and then into
wine remaining in the cup, together with
the fact that Miss Ingalls,. young and in
the bloom OF perfect health. was almost
within a few hours, gave him the ciew
upon which the chemists are now at
Early yesterday morning. with tho f,u
consent of Mr.. and Mrs ingalls,, the bodv
OF the dead girl was exhumed from what
zen days before the officiating clergyman
resting place In Mount Pleasant cemetery.
The work was quickly done and the cas-
ket conveyed to Bonney & Stewards
On the casket being opened IT was found
that the body had undergone not the
slightest change since the day OF the fu-
neral. owing to the continued cold wealth
=
ana il was ess to o' ass,o %
cola Ssnd Ct deah 1 had e,apsa since nee
heart OF the fair young girl whose piacid
face lay on the pillow OF the comm. and
mat INA u 1or ten days she had lain under the
DR.. Powers and DR.. Bories quickly per-
Formed In the seclusion of the operating
room OF the morsue the first part Of the
task before Them Owing 10 certain facts
which had come TO their knowledge before
beginning the autopsy they decided to re-
move more Of the vital organs and soft
tissues OF the body than is usual in such
cases. When they had finished the body
vaas replaced In the casket. II will today
be replaced In the grave.
Dr. Powers Statement.
DR., Powers Yesterday explained the rea-
son for the b removal q more than the CON
topsy. Arsenious acid, he said had been
used by the undertaken In preparing the
body for interment; the u u, deadly
ed in this case through the nostrils. II
was entirely likely. he said. that tho fluid
had found its way into the stomach dur
Ing the process or dressing the body for
the grave, thereby rendering II impossible
to detect the presence in the stomach OF
nrsen swallowed before death. IT was
therefore, Imperative to examine other in
ternal organs and tissues OF the body for
traces of that poison.
IT so happens that arsenic is the very
death Of Miss ingalls,, 1t was the belief
OF the physicians who attended her In her
last Illness that she died of cholera NOR
bus. The symptoms OF this disease and
OF poisoning by arsenic are so similar, Or.
Powers says, that II is practically Inn
possible for a skilled physician TO distin-
euish them. In the absence OF history
OF the case.
The physicians who attended Miss In
gals having had no suspicion Of poisoning
did not administer the antidotes for
arsenic and therefore lost the only OPP
portunity TO prove that the poison had
been swallowed
1t happens. however. that arsenic Is the
least difficult OF all poisons TO detect In
the human body after death. After the
lapse of many months, II is said traces
Of its presence may be found even when
the quantity Is almost inhnltesimai. II
thoroughly, Or. Powers says. and after
death may be found in the lungs. kidneys
and other vital organs, I'm the soft tissues
and even In the bones.
II viii be a simple matter. therefore
DR.. Powers thinks. 20 ascertain whether
poisoning by arsenic was the cause %
Miss Ingalls, death. II the poison is found
IN the portions OF the body now being
analysed II will prove that II was taken
into the body before death occurred. and
was not introduced In the form of arsen-
ious acid as an ernbalming fuid.
Naturally the physicians who are max
ing the analysis are conducting their op-
erations in secret. They will make no
rerort until they have fully satisfied
themselves OF the cause OF Miss ingalls,
death. Startling Developments may or
may not follow the completion Of their
task.
Deputy sheriff Wilson has been assigned
by sherifY Van De Nsrter to assist
Coroner Spsriing In the ingalls, case Mr.
Wilson last night admitted that he had
been ordered 70 keep the Ballard woman,