The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-07-26
ACCUSED FATHER
IS DISCHARGED.
Tomarro Adjudged Not Guilty
Of Causing Sons Death.
Boy Died From Oxa|iC Acid Poisoning
deadly Dose Given Him Under I'm
preston That It Was E psom Salts.
the death hofh andth wasa


The trial was based upon a complaint
brought by Coroner II. H. Lincoln. AS
sistant Attorney Cen. stearns appeared
for the state and James T. Egan for the
respondent
Detective Cannon testified that he was
sent 10 Tomsrros house to investigate
the death OF boy and was informed of
the ciTcnms tsnces.
T0mmarro, who is a shoemaker, in ths
employ Of thomas +. Pierce & Son, told
him that on the lith OF May Mrs. romar-
70 sent the boy TO the Florence drug store.
on Atwelis avenue, 10 purchase cents
worth of EPSON salts and cents worth
OF 1axseed meal.
Antonio could not speak English and
for the reason that there was an Italian
clerk at the pharmacy the boy was in
stucted 10 visit IL TO make the purchases.
Subsequently Antonio returned with both
articles.
Carlo Tomarro told Detective Cannon
that on May 2lst Antonio was 81 and that
at Z 80 a. m. he gave the boy half tea
spoonful OF American or English salts,
from the package which the boy bought
from the Florence drug store.
After that administration the respond
net went TO his work and at sfo'clock his
wife gave Antonio another and a similar
dose.
An hour or so later Tomarro received
a telephone message from his wife, in
forming him that Antonio was very i'll
and urging him 10 return home at once.
He lost no time in starting for the house;
but before ne arrived the boy died.
While Detective Cannon was in the house
making his investigation, somebody mem
toned the subject of oXalic acid.
Tomarro said that oxalic acid was used
by shoemskers to stain black the edges
OF shoe taps; but that he had no such acid
In his house.
Medical Examiner william H. Palmer
detailed his first and superficial examina-
tion and then the autopsy, and said that
death had been caused by oxalic acid. He
asked for the package from which doses
OF EPSON salts were alleged to have been
given the boy.
The package was produced and was
identified by Or. Palmer in court today.
1T WAS, ,oxALIc ACID.
DR.. Palmer said that he had tested the
contents OF that package and found the
substance TO be oxalic acid. Both this
witness and Detective Cannon said that
the respondent declared that on the 10Th
he took q dose from this package and
that he was made i'll.
While DR.. Palmer was testjfying about
| the package, some OF the powder IL con-
tanned was spilled. The proceedings were
| temperorarily suspended, and at Judge
| Sweetand's suggestion the powder was
carefully swept up and nobody but DIR.
Palmer was allowed To touch the crystals
or the paper they were swept upon.
Resuming. DR.. Palmer said that the age
| OF the boy was given to him as 10 years:
also that there were certain superficial
and old scars on the head and abdomen.
| Neither of these had the remotest bearing
| upon the death OF the boy.
Gilda Nutlni testified that the father
| told her that he gave the boy dose
from the package on the closet shelf
| the package which was shown In court.
George II Havens. of the Florence
! drug store testified that he sold no oxatic
acid 10 Antonio Tomarro or TO any other
boy on or about MAY l4th The witness
knew neither the respondent nor Antonio
| Tomarro.
The state here rested.
THE FATHERS DEFENCE.
Carlo Tomarro briefly recited the make
| ND or his family. also how the hoy was
sent 20 the drug store, as told by previous
witnesses.
Antonio. so Tomarro said, was q great
eater but on the evening Of May 10th he
refused his supper and said that he was
not feeling well.
The next morning Antonio still com
plained OF distress from over eating and
the respondent gave him what he believed
TO be English salts. This was at 1880
o'clock
-"Antouio said that he felt better
Tomarro then went to his work and
later IN tho morning he was sent for
When ne arrived home he found the
hoy alive and complaining that he was
distressed in his stomach.
He asked Antonio to put ont his tongue.
The boy did ~ requested and then To-
marro went oui 10 the drug store 10 call
a doctor This was at S:20
Tomarro said that originally the salts
were wrapped IN blue paper That COW
erinc becoming wet from water on the
shelf the salts were put in piece OF
nevspaper.
The respondent avorred that he never
had any uxalic acid I'm the house for he
had no occa sion 90 use II there.
Tomarro said that there could he no
doubt that tho dose OF salts given to An
tonic was taken from the package the
boy brought to the house from the Flor
cncc druE store.
In cross-eXsmination Tomarro insisted
that he lid no shoe repairing At the house
excepting that now and then he took
few stitches
All that he actually knew about the