New-York tribune., 1900-10-29
DOUBT ABOUTRICE'S DEATH
DR. wITTHAUs'S REPORT DOES NOT
PROVE FATAL POISONING.
CONFERENCE OF AUTHORITIES TO BE
HELD To-DAY-A STATEMENT
FROM DR.. CURRY.

FROM DR.. CURRY.
The report made by Professor Rudolph A.
witthaus detailing the results he obtained from
the chemical analysis Of the viscera OF the late
william Marsh Rice is so doubtfully worded that
the authorities and the representatives of the
interests concerned in the prosecution of Albert
T Patrick and Charles F. Jones for forging the
signature Of the aged millionaire hesitate to ex-
press opinion to the possibility of Mr..
Rice's death having been caused by criminal
means. AS reported in yesterdays Tribune.
Professor Witthaus stated that he found mer-
curry and arsenic in the stomach. intestines and
kidneys Of the dead man. The presence of ar
senic he accounts for by the of the en-
balmng liquid which was employed for pre-
serving the body, but no mercury was contained
in this Regarding his discoveries of mercury in
the organs. Professor Witthaus reports that in
the stomach he found "an unweighable minute
quantity Of the poison; in the intestines he
found what was equivalent to seventeen one
thousandths Of a grain of mercury to the ounce,
and in the kidney the equivalent OF twenty-three
one-thousandths of a grain to the ounce
CONFERENCE TO BE HELD TO-DAY.
The whole virtue of Professor Witthauss
analysis depends upon whether or not the
amounts mentioned were sufficient to cause
death. Upon this vital point Professor Witt
haus is silent. The element Of doubt which the
report consequently leaves was discussed on
Saturday night by Coroner Hart and District
Attorney Gardiner and in order that a report OF
a more specific nature may be obtained a con-
ference Will be held to-day between the Coroner
and the District Attorney and Professor Witt
haus-
u can sag nothing in the case until to-mor-
row" Coroner Hart said when he was seen yes
terday. There are two or three points left IN
doubt by the report. For instance, it is requis-
ite that we should know If the quantities Of mer-
curry found by Professor Witthaus indicate that
a sufficient dose administered to Mr. Rice
70 cause death. Again, while the report shows
that there no mercury in the embalming
fluid. we do not know whether or not there was
any Of the poison in the medicine prescribed by
DR.. Curry. This physician will probably be
asked to attend the conference which will be
held to-day, ana If it should appear that mer-
curry was given to Mr.. Rice in sufficient quantity
20 cause death. there will. Of course. be an
inquest"
While DR.. Walker Curry. who attended Mr..
Rice. was somewhat reluctant, presumably for
professional reasons, to comment upon the re-
port made by Professor Witthaus he made 1t
evident that he did not believe that Mr.. Rice's
death by poison.
1T is impossible" he said ito draw any con-
clusions from the report. One pertinent onis-
sion in that document is that Professor Witthaus
does not state what kind Of mercury he found
Again. he says that from the unweighable
quantity Of mercury found in the stomach, and
the relatively large amount found in the in
testines he would infer that the metal in some
form of soluble combination had been intro
duced into the body probably several hours pos
sibly days. previous TO death.
THE UNWEIGHABLE QUANTITY
This statement conveys very little. because
Professor Witthaus takes his basis the un-
weighabIe quantity found in the stomach. In
that case the quantity must have been so small
as TO amount practically nothing, because
physicians can weigh almost a breath of air,
and any particle Of mercury that could be dis
cerned by a microscope could be weighed I am
unable to say if the quantities Of mercury men
toned in the report would cause death, for the
reason that Professor Witthaus does not say
how they were distributed.
The medicines that I gave to Mr.. Rice con-
tanned no mercury, but then 1t is possible that
he may have taken other medicines before was
called 10 attend him which would contain mer-
curial substances. Mercury will remain in the
body for twelve months without being
eliminated, and in certain forms it can be taken
in large quantities without producing more
harmful effect than purging. Before his death
I saw no indication Of mercurial poison in Mr..
Rce's system"
Dr.. Curry was asked as to the whereabouts Of
the bottle of pills TO which his attention was
drawn by Jones shortly before the old mans
death
I DO not know what became of them.' the
doctor replied, nor do know what they were
composed Of When Jones gave the bottle TO
he said, Doctor, Mr.. Rice is taking these pills
and, you are attending him. think it IS right
that you should know about it The label on
the bottle said that the pills were TO promote
sleep. relieve deafness and prevent restlessness
told Mr.. Rice not 10 take the pills, and pre-
scrfbed tonic with nux vonica instead"
A PHYSICIANS VIEW.
Replying to inquiries based upon the circum-
stances Of M. Rices death and the report Of the
analyst. physician said yesterday:
From the quantities Of mercury found by Pro-
essor Witthaus, would regard II as doubtfuI, IN
deed that death was caused by the poison. MI
Rec. have read was in the habit Of acting upon upon
the advice Of socitous friends to the medicines
ne should take. An instance Of this was his eating
or several baked bananas, which nearly killed hlIn
i is conceivable therefore, that he swallowed upon
these gratuitous advices drugs and proprietary
medicines Many OF these contain mercuTlaI IN
grecienrs, which might account for the discoveries
OF the chemical analysis
Professor Witthaus could not be found yester-
day either at his house, No. As West Thirty
second-st.. at his laboratory. No. 45 East
Forty-seccnd-st-
E-TE-