Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-08
RESULT OF INQUEST
GEORGETOWN RESIDENT TOOK
CROUCH ON RATS"
Died in Cell at the Seventh Precinct
Police Station From Arsenic
Poisoning.

The coroner'S jury which was called today
10 inquire into the death of William Storch,
who was found dead in cell at the seventh
precinct station house early yesterday
morning returned a verdict to the effect
that the deceased's death was caused by
arsenic poisoning. taken with suicidal in
tent No blame was attached to any one
for the mans death. Deputy Coroner
Glazebrook conducted the inquest, and a
large number of witnesses were examined,
including the physician at the Georgetown
University Hospital and the sergeants OF
the seventh precinct station.
The jury was composed of G. W. Down
ing, F. ]. Acker, w. H. Sleeper, W. E.
Wilkins. William A. Stewart and Charles
A Caho.
Miss Grace Storch, daughter of the dead
man, was the first witness called She
said her father had been drinking for
about ten days prior to his death, ana
that for several days past he had been
had used violent language toward her
Thursday evening, and after quarreling
awhile stepped out of the house and took
a dose of trough on rats" before he could
be prevented
Mrs Cora Storch, widow of the suicide,
corroborated the testimony of her daugh-
ter relative to her husband having been
on an extended spree. She said that he
noon in a stupid condition She did not
think he was drunk, but he was acting
strangely and was very quarrelsome. Mrs
Storch said that he went upstairs and
started cursng her daughter. And She in
terfered, whereupon Storch ran down stairs
and taking a box out of his pocket emptied
the contents in his mouth Witness said
when her husband informed her that the
box had contained rough rats, she
screamed for the police, and two officers
came around and took him away.
Po1iceman's Story.
Policeman John Sullivan of the seventh
precinct station said about o'clock Thurs
day evening Mr.. Jennings, who lived next
door to the Storch family, came around to
the police station and complained that
Storch was raising a disturbance at his
home. Officer Walsh and I went to
Storch's home,'' said the witness, land
when we arrived his daughter. who was
standing the front steps, told US her
father had taken poison. Storch admitted
he had taken rough on rats but he didn' t
want to go to the hospital, because he
wanted to die. / asked him why he took
the stuff and he said, If you got hit up
alongside the head you'd want to take it,
too"
Witness told Of taking storch around to
the station and sending him to the George
town University Hospital in the patrol
wagon. He said Storch was not under
arrest and therefore no detailed report
was made of the matter at the time.
The next witness, Offlcer J. G. Walsh,
corroborated the previous witness as to
the arrest and taking to the hospital OF
Storch. and his return to The station house.
Testimony of Hospital Physician.
DR.. s. L. Owen. resident physician at the
hospital. testified to receiving Storch a few
minutes before o'clock Thursday evening
The man. he said, seemed to be excited and
the officers accompanying HIN stated that
he had taken rough on rats. The physi-
clan said he used the stomach pump on
Storch and also examined the mans heart
and found it In good condition.
Acting Deputy Coroner r. w. Baker, who
performed the autopsy. stated that Storch's
death was due to the effects Of arsenic
poisoning.
not alter the story already told.