The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1905-03-09
SUSPECT POISON PLOT IN
DEATH OF MRS. STAMFORD.
millionaire Widow Dies in Homo.
lulu While Attempting to
Escape Her Enemies.

6oIopo H0t EtictiticS.
Honolulu, March Airs. Jan,
Lsthrop STANFORD, widow OF Senator
Leland Stanford and one OF tn,
founders Of Stanford university, died
here about midnight last night al
the Mona hotel, the result OF taking
lpoisoned bicsrbonate OF soda. She
was taken i'll at IL O'Clock and bel
groans were heard by A, Hounish, q
San Francisco merchant, occupying
an adjoining room. He rushed in
and found her lying on the floor in
great distress. Her secretary Miss
Be, ner, and her maid, May Hunt,
were summoned. They revived Mrs
Stanford. She complained OF great
pains in her stomach and said she
had taken bicarbonats OF soda. She
seemed to suspect that the soda had
been tempered with, FOR she said sew.
eral times: Il have been poisoned. "
Her last words: This Is q horrible
death to die"
Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Stanford
took drive on the Pail road with
her secretary and maid. On her re.
turn she ate hearty luncheon and
did not take the regular hotel dinner.
She spent the evening on the veranda
apparently in good spirits, and went
to bed at ten o'clock, after taking
he bicarbonate OF soda. She had
made no complaint OF illness. Doc.
tors F. II. Humphris and Fl. NJ.
Murray We're called in. DR.. Hum.
|phris said all the remedies to relieve
her were applied, but 1t was not pos.
sible to save her life DR.. Hunphris
said today: "When called in Hound
Mrs. Stanford In commissions and sp.
piled the quickest remedies but 1t
was not possible to save her lie.
Mrs. Sanford said to me: Doctor l
have been poisoned"
Mrs. Staniord's condition seemed
to indicate strychnine poisoning.
Between commissions her mind was
unusually active, and she said: "Thfs
is the second time they have tried II.
They tried it last January, and l
came here to avoid them"
1t was said at one time that her
jewels were valued at $4,000, 900.
She kept them In a black burglar.
proof steel safe with q time lock.
She had diamond necklace valued
at $5OO,OO0, and she kept sixty or
seventy diamond rings strung on a
piece OF black string.
VAST ESTATE FOR UNIVERSITY.
When Senator Stamford died he be
queathed 80, 500, 900 to the univsr.
sity. At the same time he left debts
to the amount PSI, 900, 900, ostly
for money borrowed for the purpose
OF construction OF the university
buildings. Mrs. Stanford, however,
Immediately undertook the payment
fthe bequest to the university. This
proved difficult task, as the govern
ment sued the STANFORD estate for
SIS, 100000, and during the litiga-
ton the property was tied up so that
Mrs. Stanford was able to draw but
$40, 200 month. All this, except
enough for her living expenses, Mrs.
Stanford turned over to the univer-
sity, but the sum was not sufficient
for its maintenance, and lit more than
once was In danger OF closing its
doors. Mrs. Stanford declared that
she would sell her jewels and the 600
horses on her stock farm to keep the |
university going. After litigation
lasting year the United States Su.
preme Court decided In favor of the |
estate and the bequest oi$2, 500, 900
WAS paid to the institution.