Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-01
MRS. STANFORD DEAD
ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN POISON
ED IN HONOLULU.
The Widow Of the Late Senator From
California-Her Long and
Busy Life.

Onlteu states senator Leland otdHIoio'
died at 11:4O o'clock last night at the
Moana Hotel here. Suspicious circum-
stances surround the death Of Mrs STAN
ford. She was taken Ill at IL 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 Fran
cisco on the Korea February q. In con-
versation with Mrs. Henry Highton Of
San Francisco, who is now here, Mrs. San
ford said that an attempt had been made
to poison her in that city. and that this
was her reason for sailing on the Korea
II was Mrs. Stanford's belief. according to
Mrs. Highton, that enough poison had
been used to kill twenty persons.
1t 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. Stanford
took dose Of bicarbonate of soda, which
she purchased at San Francisco. 1t is re-
ported that the soda contained strychntne,
but this report cannot be verified. DR.. F.
II. Humphreys, who attended Mrs. STAN
ford. Is now making an examination of the
contents Of the bottle. which had not been
touched since Mrs. Stanford left San Fran
cisco.
Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Stanford went
to a picnic. She ate heartily. On returning
to the hotel she took no dinner and retired
shortly after 10 o'clock. "
At II o'clock a guest of the hotel. who
had occupied an adjoining ROOM heard Mrs.
Stanford grooming. and. running to the
room. found her lying on the floor. She
had evidently tried to summon help. At
the time of Mrs. Stanfords death there
were present Miss Burner, her secretary.
and her maid May Wilson. Both are pros
trated No statement has been issued by
DIR. Humphreys or by DR.. H. V. Murray.
who was called into consultation.
Body to Return on First Steamer.
SAN FRANCISCO. Cal, March 1.-The
body of Mrs. Leland Stanford will be re-
turned from Honolulu on the first steamer.
Until its arrival it is probable that the uni
versity will remain closed. The funeral
will take place from the Stanford Memorial
Church, and interment will be made in the
Stanford mausoleum on the university
campus. e.-.
The death OF Mrs. Stanford will stop all
student activities that have been scheduled
for the next few days. Base ball games,
track meets and students theatrical per-
formances have been postponed.
President David Starr Jordan, when in
teryiewed today, said that The death of
Mrs. Stanford would result in no change
whatever of the policy of the university;
that things have been in the hands of the
board of trustees for some time, and that
the trustees are in entire sympathy. with
Mrs. Stanford's wishes. President Jordan
expressed great sorrow and said Mrs.
Stanford's death was great shock.
I'm view of the fact he said, that Mrs.
Cf.r, ff,rI hnc ~ n n hnn
was expected that she would live for sew
eral years. Her death at this time was
wholly unexpected" ~
Sketch Of Her Life.
Jane Lathrop Stanford was born in Al
bany, N. Y, August 20 1925. Her parents,
Dyer and Jane Lathrop, were in good cir
cumstances. She received an academic edu-
cation. to which a special taste added a
business training. She was young when
her marriage to Leland Stanford, then a
young lawyer. took place. She remained
with her parents while her husband made
his first trip to California. to accomplish
which he sold his law labrary He returned
after his first success and she made the
second journey around the Horn with him.
Since that period, the early fifties, she
called California her home. Her early life
there was in the vicinity of Sacramento.
where her husband kept a store, supplying
groceries, clothes, ETC., 10 a mining region,
was full of the hardshps of the period
Their small home, a story and half
high, was still standing a few years ago
in the neighborhood of the spacious dwell
ing built by her husband and occupied
during his term of governor of the state to
which he was elected in 1861. Seven years
later in 1868, their only child. Leland SIAN
ford was born, his father then being presi-
dent of the Central Pacific railroad The
boy was six years old when his parents
moved to San Francisco shortly after taxi
ing possession of their mansion on Mob
Hill, and nearly sixteen years old when
he died in Florence, Italy His dea til
changed the life of lis parents. and in his
place California was made the heir to their
colossal fortune, and the Leland Stanford
Junior University. at Palo Alto, the me-
dunn. Since the death of Leland STAN
ford, in 1893. then senator from California
his widow has given her private fortune
and nearly all her time to the interests
of the university. she opened three or
four years before the death of it's founder
has now thousands of pupils
A Deeply Religious Woman.
Mrs. Stanford was of deeply religious
turn of mind, but never connected herself
with any special denomination. While
practicing the broadest philanthropy in all
her large concerns she had a personal feel
ing for the poor and distressed. While the
senator and she lived at 17O1 X street in
this city, during his senatorial term she
gave away thousands of dollars in charity
outside of regularly contributing to the
organized associations and church affairs
She was especially considerable of the sick
poor and could not rest if a case reported
to her was not investigated and relieved the
same day.
Both she and her husband were of large
build and commanding figure. Both
enjoyed the best of health until the last
summons came.
Mrs. Stanford was in this city last win
ter and greatly enjoyed meeting her old
acquaintances She was there after COM
plotting a tour of the world while here
young niece, Jennie Lathrop, finished her
education in France.
Returned From Europe Last Fall.
Returning again from Europe the past
fall, she anticipated with pleasure the de-
but of this young lady, who Is probably
the heress to her aunt's private fortune.
The Stanford fortune was willed to the
university, excepting requests to his own
and his wife's relatives. Mrs. Stanford is
survived by one brother. Mr. Charles I4ath-
rop, who was in charge Of her business af-
fairs during her frequent absences from
home
Mrs Stanford's departure from San Fran