Amador ledger., 1904-10-21
AUTOPSY ON
MRS. DR.. STAPLES
The Body Exhumed and an Autopsy and
Coroner's Inquest Held. The Organs
Found in Almost Normal State. No
Cause of Death Revealed


N. Staples, which by the departure of
DR.. Staples from the county and state,
together with the disappearance at the
same time of Mrs. Hoxie, has aroused
strong suspicious that her hold on life
might have been loosened by other
than natural causes, led to an official
investigation of the matter in Sutter
Creek last Tuesday. Coroner Huberty
with Sheriff Norman and Drs. Eudicott
and Gall, went over there early that
morning, the body was exhumed and
an autopsy held, to ascertain if pos
sible the cause of death.
Mrs. Staples died in Amador City on
the 3lst of August. She had been suf-
fering from typhoid fever; at least that
was alleged as the trouble. 1t is usual
for a neighboring physician to pre-
scribe and treat a case of sickness of
a brother doctor or any member of his
family. DR.. Quinn was called to attend
Mrs. Staples. The case was out of the
ordinary line of fever, one popularity
being that the temperature was below
normal throughout an unusual al
though not an unprecedented circum-
stance in fever. A trained nurse was
engaged to wait on her. She, how
eyer, was discharged day or so before
the patient died. DR.. Quinn also, as
Mrs. Staples seemed to be getting along
so favorably toward recovery, told
DR.. Staples the last time he visited his
wife that it was unnecessary for him
to call again; but if any change in Mrs.
Staples condition occurred to let him
know, and he would come over from
Sutter. The patient was able to sit UP
in bed, and to partake of substantial
food. That evening it is said she was
taken with hemorrhage, aud next
morning stated to the domestic that
she had had bad night, and did not
think she would recover. The attend
ing physician was not notified. In a
few hours, with only DR.. Staples and
Mrs. Hoxie in the sick cham ber, she
breathed her last. DR.. Quinn on see-
ing the doctor afterward, asked why
he had not been sent for, and DR..
Staples said he thought it would have
been useless. The body was embalmed
at once. Death was said to be due to
hemorrhage, and the interment was
made in the Sutter Greek cemetery,
without thought that anything was
wrong about the lady's death.
The flight of the doctor, after hastily
selling out his practice and property in
Amador county, and the flight of Mrs.
Hoxle about the same time. concen-
trated attention to the circumstances
surrounding Mrs. Staples death.
Damaging rumOrs were soon afloat,
suspicious circumstances we're recalled,
and a probing of the affair was impera-
lively demanded. In response to this
demand the body, after lying in the
grave for more than six weeks. was
resurrected, for the purpose of being
subjected to scientific examination to
ascertain If possible whether death was
due to other than natural causes.
The medical experts made a careful
and exhaustive examination of all the
vital organs. They found them in
omparatively normal and healthy con-
dition. There was nothing apparent
to account for death; no disease of any
kind to bring about dissolution. It
was moreover found that death was
not due to internal hemorrhage; at
any rate there was nothing to indicate
a fatal attack OF hemorrhage-no rup-
tured intestine or bloodyessel. Beyond
this there we're internal conditions that
were difficult if not impossible, to ac-
count for on the theory that the de-
ceased had died from typhoid fever.
The autopsy so Tar has failed to settle
the points at issue definitely, except to
pretty well establish the fact that
death was not brought about by hem
orrhage, as the Doctors certificate
stated. Whether poison was admin
istered or some drug, which would sap
the life forces although not classed as
deadly poison, is undetermined. The
stomach and other organs have
been sealed up, and were forwarded to
San Francisco Wednesday morning for
analysis by an expert chemist.
1t is reported that DR.. Staples pur-
chased quantity OF veratrum viride,
a powerful drug, short time before
his wife's death. This drug is used in
typhoid fever cases, and has highly
poisonous qualities, owing to it's de-
pressing effect upon the hearts action.
A large dose administered to patient
in weak condition would be apt to
bring on collapse. All the symptoms
of Mrs. Staples last illness might be
produced by this drug. At the same
time it is conceded that the symptoms
of this particular case might be due to
typhoid fever, but the autopsy reveal
ed no evidence of this. The pres
ence of the drug named could not be
detected so long after death. It is of a
vegetable base, and would leave little
or no trace of its presence.
G. Daneri, the undertaken of Sutter
Creek, was sent for to embalm the
body. He was notified Immediately
after death, and the embalming took
place as soon as he could get to ANA
DOR probably not much more than an
hour elapsed from the time the breath
left the body until the embalming
process was started. 1t is said that
DR.. Staples told the undertaken that
he had washed out the intestines before
his arrival.
Nothing definite is known of the
whereabouts of DR.. Staples. 1t is sup
pocad that tho oouDla ,uant aosf no