The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-29


thaus. the expert chemist, has reporte'
TO Coroner Hart that William Marsl
Rice. the aged millionaire, whose mil
lions Albert Patrick and Charles F. Jones
are accused OF conspiring to obtain. wal
poisoned.
In a formal report 10 the coroner Pro
fessor Witthaus says that he found botl
cyanide mercury-the same subtl,
poison used by Molineux in the Adam.
case-and arsenic in all the vital organ,
OF the dead man.
DIR. Curry. who attended the millionaire
saws that he prescribed no medicine con.
tanning either OF these poisons
The presence of the arsenic may be &C.
counted for by the fact that the body was
embalmed after death. No mercury wal
used In the process OF embalming.
THE CHEMISTS REPORT.
The report of Professor witthaus fol.
lows:
i have the honor to report that on Sept
Is. 1900, / attended an autopsy made al
the morgue by DIR. r. J. Donlin, in the
presence of DIR. Hamilton Williams. upon
a body said TO be that of William Marsh
Rice.
] took away certain organs from the
said body and submitted them TO analysis
with the results detailed below
On Sept. q, 1900, called at Plowrights q
undertaking establishment in Fourth ave-
nue., near Twenty-sixth street. and there
received from Mr.. Potter a sample OF
embalming fluid. which 1 also analyzed.
This embalming fluid contains. besides
formaldehyde. the following mineral in
gradients: Potassium. sodium, zinc and
aluminium. suphuric acid. arsenious acid
and chlorine.
These are probably combined I'm making
the liquid In the form of sodium. arsenite.
zinc chloride and alum. The embalming
LIQUID contains no marcnry.- The analysis
of the stomach and OF the intestines for
vegetable poisons has given negative re-
suits.
The analysis OF the stomach. Of the in
testines and of the kidney for volatile
poisons falls TO show the presence OF
any foreign substance other than formal
dehyde, a constituent of the cmbalminp
fluid mentioned above.
The analysis of mineral poisons referred
10 below has not been carried TO the
point where xinc would appear. That
metal may or may not be present.
MERCURY IN THE STOMACH.
The stomsch was found to contian ar
penic IN notable quantity and an un-
woighabls minute quantity OF mercury.
The presence OF the arsenic In this and
the parts mentioned below would be ac-
counted for n the empalming liquid. a
sample Of which I analyzed. had been
used In preserving the body.
The intestines were round to contain
both arsenic and mercury The quantity
Of arsenic present has not been deter
mined.
The quantity OF mercury present in
che sample examined was found to be
oooee grams In $50 grams of tissue. equiv
alent to l7-10oo grains per ounce (of $50
grains).
The kidney contained arsenic and mer-
curry also. The quantity of arsenic has
nat been determined. The quantity OF
mercury present and the sample exam
fined was found to he o.oos1 grams in 167
grams OF tissue. equivalent to 23-1ooo grain
per ounce.
INTRODUCED BEFORE DEATH.
would infer from the very small
quantity OF mercury found In the stom-
ach and the relatively large amount
found In the intestines. and particularly
IN the kidney. that the metal In some
form OF soluble combination had beer
introduced into body during the life oi
the deceased, probably several hours, pos
sibiy days, previous to his death.
Respectfully submitted.
r. A. w1TTHAUs.
District Attorney Gardiner and Coroner
Hart had a long conference In regard tc
tbs case Coroner Hart stated that the
district attorney had told him he thought
the report made by Professor Witthaus
was not explicit enough. inasmuch as the
report did not state whether the amount
OF mercury found was sufficient TO cause
death.
AS result OF this state OF affairs 8
conference was arranged for this after
noon between Professor Witthaus. Coro-
ner Hart and District Attorney Gardi-
ner.
PATRICK AND JONES Held.
Patrick. who was Rice's lawyer. and
Jones, who was valet for the millionaire
are now In the Tombs They were held
for the grand jury on a charge OF forging
cstensibiy signed by Rice, and which
were presented at the bank before the
news of the milltonaires death was made
public.
Jones was a nurse as well as valet tc
The old man. and the only one who had
access TO his rooms at all times.
A note was sent 10 Patrick and Jones
IN the Tombs. notifying them OF the nnd.
ings in Professor witthaus' report. Jones
would make no reply. Patrick sent bach
word that he did not believe the state
ment. and that I'm his mind such dis
covery was irnpossibia
Fred B. House. counsel for Patrick ant
Jones. said that he had not read Profes
sor witthaus report and could not ssl
anything After reading the copy which
was handed 20 him he said:
well. I do not sec much In this tina
will affect my clients. Beyond that
cannot say anything at present"
Yer Over rfwy vsss.
MRS. wrNsLow's SOOTHING sYRUI