The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-01
Was on a Trip to Japan for Her
Health.
CAUSE OF HER DEATH.
Is Said to Be Result of Strych-
nine in Soda.
Her Dying Utterance Was 81
Have Been Poisoned"

ford, died at 11:40 o'clock last night al
the Moana hotel here. Suspicious cir
cumstances surround the death of Mrs
Stanford. She was taken i'll at II
o'clock and said:
Il have been poisoned"
Her last words were:
This is a horrible death to die
Mrs Stanford came here from San
Francisco on the Korea February q. In
conversation with Mrs. Henry Highton,
of san Francisco. who is now here. Mrs.
Stanford said that an attempt had been
made to poison here in that city and
that this was her reason for sailing on
the Korea. 1t was Mrs. Stanford's be
lief, according to Mrs. Highton, that
enough poison had been used to kill 20
persons.
It is understood that an investigation
OF the case is now being made by the
police of San Francisco. The police here
are also conducting an investigation.
Before retiring last night Mrs. Stan
ford took dose of bicarbOnate of soda,
which she purchased in San Francisco.
It is reported that the sode contained
strychnine. but this report can not be
verified. DR.. F. H. Humphreys who at
tended Mrs. Stanford, is now making an
examination of the contents of the bot
tie which had not been touched since
Mrs. Stanford left San Francisco. Yes
terday afternoon Mrs Stanford went to
picnic. She ate heartily. On return
ing to the hotel she took no dinner and
retired shortly after 10 o'clock.
At II o'clock a guest of the hotel who
occupied an adjoining room heard Mrs.
Stanford grOaning and running to the
room found her lying on the floor She
had evidently tried to summon help. At
the time of Mrs. StanfOrd's death there
We're present Miss Berner, her secre-
tary, and her maid May Wilson. Both
are Frustrated. No statement has been
nv 1r nv
Murray who was called into consulta- \
ton.
The remainsewere taken to an un-
dertaking establishment where they
are awaiting an autopsy.
The Investigations of the police
have so far failed to find any evidence
of poison but the authorities decline
to express any opinion pending the
result of the autopsy and the analysis
of the bottle of bicarbonate of soda
A box of capsules was also found in
the room and these are being
analyzed.
The guest of the hotel who oc-
cupied an adjoining suite and who,
hearing Mrs. Stanford groaning, ran
to her assistance, is A Hunische, of
San Francisco
Miss Berner has been Mrs. Stan
ford's secretary for 20 years. Former
Judge W. l. Stanley represents the
Stanford estate here
No Complaint Was Made.
San Francisco, March Chief of
Detectives Burnett stated today that
his department had not investigated
the story of the alleged attempt to
poison Mrs. Stanford just before she
sailed for Honolulu. He said that no
complaint had been made to his de-
partment, and if any investigation
had been made it was done by private
parties
The News in San Francisco.
San Francisco, Gala, March IA
cable dispatch from Honolulu states
that Mrs. Jane Stanford. widow of the
late Leland Stanford, died in Honolulu
last night
on the 18th of last month it was
reported that an attempt had been
made to murder Mrs. Stanford by
means OF poison placed in a bottle of
mineral water at her home on Cali
fornia street in this city 1t was
stated that she had taken three drinks
of the deadly mixture, but the poison
had been used in such large quantities
that it served as its own emetic. Mrs
Stanford was taken violently i'll, and
medical aid was summoned. The
contents of her stomach and the water
remaining in the bottle were analyzed
and sufficient strychnine to have
Killed three persons was found Mrs
Stanford first drank of the water on
health declined. Although the story
of the attempt to poison her was posi-
lively denied. persistent rumors re-
garding the matter were circulated
Sne sailed Tor the orient on the
steamer Korea two weeks ago, and
il was believed by her friends here
that the voyage would result in her
complete restoration to health.
No one had access to Mrs. Stan
ford's apartments in this city. except
the members of her household. and
many theories were advanced. The
detectives who Investigated the affair
did not announce the discovery of any
motive for the attempted murder. if
indeed the poison had been intended
for Mrs Stanford at all.
The Shock at the University.
Stanford University. Cal. March 1.
- Mrs Stanford died suddenly this
morning at the Monoa hotel"
This brief cablegram from Homo
lulu reached Mr.. Charles G. Iathrop.
brotheII of Mrs Jane Lathrop stan
ford. at the university today. The
message was signed by DR.. Hum
phrey, a prominent physician of Hon
oiulu, who was attending Mrs STAN
ford. No further particulars have
been received. but it is supposed that
grip. which Mrs. Stanford contracted
Just before she started on health
seeking trip to Japan. A few minutes
after o'clock and just after the first
hour classes had assem- bIed in the
university. the news of Mrs. Stanford's
death spread from building to build
ing and students and professors alike
dropped all work and by the time the
official notice that the university would
be closed until further notice came
from President Jordan's Office the
whole student body had quietly retired