The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-08
THE MODERN POlSONER AND THE
METHODS THAT ARE EMPLOYED
Some of the Processes That the State Chemist, DR.
W. H Taylor, Adopts TO Discover How the Vic
tim Net His Untimely End and
Trace the Slayer
there /, HxHasas,asaaa0Da:aAe>a

b.
as the art OF Christianity has advanced
ana wiped from its eyes the cobwebs that
eeszntrched its fair countenance during
EIrope's c,,tlehood
The potson-brewing means and members
of determination leagues that during
the middle ages dwelt along tae Nediter-
-anean and in the light Of the tropical
sun and the double blue of the landscape
deelt out their poisons to whosoeveT looked
At them aslaance, have generated a sue
cess'on that will do no credit to its su-
peraor birth. Lucrezia Borginas OF the pres
eat day are fmposSibiiities
Notwithstanding these facts, however
no more Interesting subject than poisons
cou!c De chosen FOR contemplation
Coroner William II. Taylor, State Chem
Isl, can relate facts of any length and
Interest relating TO the cases he mas
come .n touch with IN Virginia. A few
OF these facts, for the benefit OF posteTity,
are herewith appended:
THE SEVERAL CLASSES.
Poison cases break themselves into three
general divisions: viz-accidental, suici-
dal and homicidai.
Accidental poisoning. of course. suffer
no regulation. since In this instance the
poison IS neither taken nor given win In
tent It IS all a, mistake: and arsenic,
laudalAIrl. roush-on-rats. are taken as
often one SIS another,
-
ent As the act is premeditated the per-
son naturally considers taste and the
harShness with which he is to be let into
the other world tat least this is true in
Eirginia), and selects the easiest-going
poison FOR a. soul and body separator
yaudanun1, therefore, and morphine are
most generally lised-in this corner of the
world This latter distinction is made, for
II Is a, fact, curious as il is true, but none
the less q fact, that different people pre-
fer different paisons; though why. they pre-
fer any. Is beyond the ken OF. man. In
the North, for instance, there is a decided
instinct among suicides TO take carbolic
acid This is probably due to the fact
that carboNc acid is somewhat more cas-
lily obtained Ian others; but even this
fact should not carry much weight, since
death by this method is most diSagreeable.
In Coroner Taylor's remembrance. only
one person has committed suicide in Vir-
GINA with carbolic acid and that was in
the case Of a Northern woman who was
sojourning here.
Arsenic and strychnine are the favor
ties in homicidal poisonings. Since arsenic
has no taste it has the preferment over
strrci1ni7le which is very bitter. Doctor
Taylor does not recall a single case
IN which a murderer has been convicted
OF poisoning with kinds other than these.
Both kinds are very easily obtained. es-
ISC4l4S ID SENT, ''ii-SiA - >'OtA 90 49, - 80
orally.
The Virginia poisoner Is typical. There
j. as much difference between him and
the accomplished artist Of bygone days as
there is between a tobacco factory and
Gothic cathedral. Crude and essentially
modern that is. business-like. ne goes
about his work in a roundabout fash
ion. kills his man in a. straightforward
way and promptly gets caught where
the New Yorker. for instance, would use
a poison the effects OF which are almost
beyond detection. or employ some tortuous
method or Riding himself of the existence
Of his enemy.
The Nirginian does not bother ABOUT
the thousand and one delicaces of detail:
does not torture his victim, nor does he
often make elaborate preparation to coun-
teract investigation. He commits an act
and takes the consequences.
The most complicated cases known to
virgtnians are those IN which the BODY
Immediately after death is embaimed- the
poisonous fluid used in the embaIming
process rendering rluEatory any inVesu-
cation by the chemist. To accomplish TINS
however ii is necessary that the poison
used In killing the man and the fluid used
in enlhalming him be identical. Thus when
man is poisoned with arsenic he must
be srnbalmei with arsenical fluid, and the
coroner will be unable. in most cases. to
killed the man or embalmed him.
THE INVESTIGATION.
The method of investigation is most MI
mute. delicate and d!sagreeable.
DR. Taylor goes through something nke
TIA following formula i'll eXaminS 1le
stomach:
The frs, tains 10 be done IS to get an
entirely new apparatus The necessity of
new appliances in each investigation arises
from the fact that fractions lawyers
recurring The last degree Of proof and
patience, may claim that poison, II as
covered, came from implements nseu III
former similar operations. Inc p!a'e uSsu
may be a t1ve-cent plate, but 1t must DE
a new plate: the scissors necessary 10
-. or-.ration NAV have been gotten with
soar-nra ppe-s. but they must be likewise
new. And this is not all. The appliance
scissors, plate and other appurtenahceS-
have all 10 be thoroughly cleaIlseo by
the chemist himself. and all chemical SUD
stances used in the operation must oe
carefully tested TO see that they contain
10 poison.
THE EXAMINATION.
The stomach to be examined Is placed on
the pow plate. and IS cut with the ne"
scissors and the contents. df any. trans
ferred to a clean vessel. The contents are
generally analysed separately from the
stomach
Actual particles OF tlpis'il az O. ~
covered Ia the stomach, and Or. Taylor
has never yet had such an experience.
The reason for this is that the particles
would be expelled by vomiting or Wouia
be dissolved and carried off into the blood.
The chemist, therefore. has to extract the
poison
The entire stomach IS never used in
single analysis. for fear of an accident
a portion is taken, probably half. and
is CUT UP into very small pieces. These are
put inc a mug. containing water and GER
tain acids, regulated by the occasion. and
the whole rs placed on a vessel contain
Ing boiling water and is cooked. The name
is never directly applied TO the vessel
containing The particles.
Up TO this time the operation has been
repuls.ve to the last degree, but now
things begin 10 take on more toieraoie
aspect.
After cooking the nugful is placed upon
q linen strainer. the material strained
through. being afterwards further purified
though fltering paper.
II is now quite clear, and for mineral
poiso:s at this stage. is usually IN
condition 10 be satisfactorily examined.
For vegetable poisons, however. such as