davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05
FINDING OF STRYCHNINE BOTTLE AT THE STANFORD
MANSION GIVES POLICE STRONG LEAD

from severe cold and Mrs. Charles
bed at the time Miss Berner said, oh,
here is a note from Wakelee's. guess
1t must be the analysis of the Poland
water
Mrs. Stanford said, Read it, Ber-
tha.' Miss Berner then read the whole
analysis and when she came to that
part stating there was strychnine in it
a great look of surprise came over the
face of everybody present and Mrs.
Stanford fell back on the pillows and
said. Good God, why should any one
harm me?'
There was quite q sensation for a
few minutes in the room, but Mrs.
Stanford quieted herself and soon after
/ left the apartment"
Here in full is Miss Richmond's ac-
count of the poisoning:
Il entered the chamber of Mrs. STAN
ford on the night of January a. Mrs.
Stanford had just thrown off every
thing from her stomach, and I went
over to where she was and took UP the
glass of Poland water by her bedside
and tasted it and it was very bitter.
Miss Berner came into the room and
put her finger into the water and then
to her lips. She at once detected the
bitterness and Mrs. Stanford said she
had swallowed nearly a whole glass;
full, and it burnt her stomach SO
she put her finger down her throat and
was relieved.
II then took the bottle and what was
left of the contents and started with
it down TO Wakelee's drug store. I was
SO afraid that 1 might drop the bottle
getting on or off a streetcar that
walked all the way down town. l left
the bottle with the clerk at Wakelee' 8
and asked him to have an analysis
made and send the analysis and the
bill FOR the same to Mrs. Stanford when
the work was completed.
II told the clerk what had happened
to Mrs. Stanford, and he said the
symptoms were like those of poisoning.
and he told me unless she was better
when I got home to telephone for a
doctor at once.
81 rushed home, and found Mrs. Stan
ford feeling quite herself again, but
hungry. At her request I heated some
milk, which she drank with relish.
The next day was Sunday and she was
feeling we'll. and, with Miss Berner,
went to Palo Alto for the day and re-
turned Monday morning.
81 left the employ Of Mrs. Stanford
on January 27. had said some eight
months before that I was very tired,
and 1 wanted to rest; but she begged
me to stay, raised my wages $5 a
month and gave me a larger room in
the California-street home. Before
Christmas. however, again told her
I needed rest, and she said: Very
we'll Will you wait until the end Of
january I assented and remained
until January q. and at that time Mrs.
Stanford was in San Jose. Mr.. Lathrop
paid me off on that day and I left
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05

foregoing Will: I have bought neck
lace of Oriental pearls, consisting of six
rows or strings; five strings are Joined
together by a large antique clasp of
diamonds: one string is single
and has a clasp of diamonds,
with single emerald center.
have also three chains for the neck.
composed of small seed pearls. / direct
that all be sold by my executors, and
also my private car, Stanford" be
sold by them; also all of my other jew
els which are not in the box of jewels
heretofore given by me to the trustees
of the Leland Stanford Junior Univer-
sity, be sold by them. and that the
proceeds of all such sales be turned
ever to said trustees, to be held and
used by the said trustees for said uni
versity upon the trusts referred to in
the foregoing will.
JANE L. STANFORD.
The will is TO come up for hearing
before Judge Hyland at San Jose on
March "a
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05
ENJOYED THE VOYAGE.
Mrs. Stanford in Good Health During
Trip to Honolulu.

Walter L. Johnstone, chief clerk of
the Hartman steamship lines, passen-
ger department, was a fellow passen-
ger on the liner Korea with the late
Mrs. Jane L. Stanford. Johnstone was
on his honeymoon trip and he and his
wife saw a great deal of Mrs Stan
ford during the voyage.
Nobody on the Korea, excepting. of
course, Mrs. Stanford and her attend
ants, knew anything about the sup
posed attempt at poisoning which had
furnished the motive for Mrs. Stan
ford's hurried departure from home
and the topic was not referred to by
any one.
Johnstone returned yesterday on the
liner Mongolia and was shocked to
learn that the delightful old lady,
whose cheerful conversation was one
of the bright memories OF the out
ward trip, had passed away, a victim
of poison.
MRS. Stanford said Johnstone yes
terday, appeared to be in splendid
health during the voyage from first to
last, and during the five days we stay
ed at Honolulu she appeared to be en-
joying life with great deal of zest.
The day before we left my wife and /
called upon her, but she was out driv-
ing.
We saw a great deal of her during
the voyage and she seemed to take as
much healthy enjoyment out of life as
any of the younger people. We went
through very heavy storm and even
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05

in that Mrs. Stanford found much to
delight her. She was glad she was on
a big ship and pleased to find herself
such good sailor.
She intended taking the Siberia from
Honolulu to Japan and she talked long
and frequently of the lovely time she
expected to have in the Orient AS the
Korea passed into Honolulu she point
ed out to US her rooms at the Moana
Hotel and told of her plans for making
the most Of the time she would be in
Honolulu until the Siberia, outward
bound, would arrive to take her to ia
pan.
Mrs. Stanford and Miss Berner-
Bertha, Mrs. Stanford always called
her-appeared to be very devoted to
each other. Miss Berner never left
her employer and was constantly busy
ing herself to keep Mrs. Stanford in
terested and comfortable
From what I saw of Mrs. Stanford,
and saw a good deal during that trip
on the Korea, I would say that her
health was good and her mind won
derfully clear. In discussing the ar
rangements for her transportation af-
ter leaving Honolulu, she was as busi-
ness-like as any man of affairs. Judg-
ing from her appearance and conver-
sation the last time 1 was with her.
she seemed vigorous and happy and I
am sure she was in no doubt that be-
fore her lay a long span of life which
she would have the health and spirit
to thoroughly enjoy
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05
Palo Alto residence Guar,,-a

PALO ALTO. March 4.-The magnin-
cent Palo Alto residence OF Mrs. STAN
ford is as well guarded as a modern
citadel and equally difficult of access.
Patrols are stationed at every entrance
and visitors are not allowed on the
grounds.
On the estate there are Nora Hop
kns, the housemaid; Hong. the Chi
nese cook. and c. l.. Wooster. the old
coachman of Mrs. Stanford. Nora
Hopkins refuses absolutely to be seen
and will not even answer telephone
calls- Hong is equally unapproachable.
wooster. the cOachman. can be inter
viewed, but he declares that he knows
nothing Of the case.
My duties are with the horses and
carriages he said this afternoon. "and
4 seldom saw the servants OF the house.
mere was never anything in their de-
meanor that would indicate jeaIousy
among them"
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05

brother, Ariel Lathrop, now living in
Albany. is a pleasing piece of news to
the latter's many friends in this city,
where he was formerly social favor
lite. Years ago Ariel Lathrop held the
same position practically as that now
filed by his brother, Charles G. Lath-
rop, at Palo Alto. and apparently en-
joyed the full confidence of Mrs. Stan
ford in all her private and business af-
fairs and was also a favorite with the
late Senator Stanford. Although living
in Palo Alto he was frequent visitor
to San Francisco. and during his stay
here he was invariably the guest Of his
bachelor friends, whom he, in turn.
entertained at his home in the south.
One day the news suddenly spread
that Ariel Lathrop was going to leave
Palo Alto, and the following day found
him in San Francisco. Rumors of a
breach between him and his sister
reached this city and were accepted
with considerable credence by Lath-
rop's friends, who afterward claimed
that some sighting reference made BY
him to the much-loved dead son Of the
Stanfords had reached Senator Stan
ford's ear and that the latter had or
dered Ariel to Immediately leave the
Stanford University. How much truth
there was in this story no one seems
to have been able to learn, but at the
time 1t was In circulation Ariel Lath-
rop left for his old family home in Al
bany, where he has since lived
Although every one understood that
Lathrop and Senator Stanford were at
outs, when the latter died he left his
brother-in-law 100000. Now his dead
sisters will adds to his fortune-the
income on $2.0O0.000. which is set aside
for him during his lifetime. Whether
he will return to San Francisco to at
tend the funeral of Mrs. Stanford is a
question that is causing much specula-
ton among his many former friends
here.
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05

The discovery of bottle of strych-
nine in the Stanford mansion on Fri
day has reused the local police to ac-
tivity. The find makes certain that
the person who attempted Mrs. STAN
ford's life on January IA and who
eventually murdered her was an in
mate of the mansion on Mob Hill.
The heads of the Police Depart
ment, of course, strenuously deny the
statement that bottle of the poison
was found. I'VE have no bottle of
poison in our possession" Acting
Chief Spillane maintains. But it is
known that it is in the possession of
Captain Callundan of Morse's agency.
The clew is a valuable one and the
police think 1T Is necessary to keep it
quiet. 1t concentrates the number of
suspects to those who were in or
about the mansion at the time that
Mrs. Stanford drank the poisoned Po-
land water. 1t substantiates the the
ory that the murderer at the same
time scattered the drug into other in
gradients that were in the Stanford
medicine chest.
Without this evidence the detectives
would be working in the dark. The
bottle of strychnine establishes the
facts that:
First, the poison was purchased in
or near San Francisco.
Second, it was purchased by some
one who was very close to Mrs. STAN
ford.
Third, poison from this bottle was
placed in the Poland water and in the
bicarbonate of soda.
Fourth, the grains of poison were
placed in both by the same person and
at the same time.
Fifth, the person who handled the
poison is probably some one who is
or has been in Mrs. Stanford's en-
ploy.
The important evidence in the case
rests with Captain Callundan and De-
tective Reynolds, who are now on the
way to Honolulu to question Miss Ber-
tha Berner. Meanwhile All Wing is
guarded closely in the Stanford man
sion.
Chief of Detectives Burnett yester-
day said: I'VE are ready to make ar
rests when the time comes. Every
suspect Is within reach and we can
place our hands on the person that
may be wanted at any moment"
The heads of the Police Department
denied yesterday that they were TAX
ing any active interest in the poison
ing. I'VE are waiting for a cable
from Honolulu" said Acting Chief
Spillane. There is nothing new in
the case to-day. Detective Reynolds
is the only detective from this office
who is on the case"
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05

professed to open communication with
the beyond, neither was seriously in
terested.
WE'RE NOT SPIRITUAIISTS.
During Senator Stanford's life"
said DIR. Jordan. the statement was
made more than once that the idea OF
founding the university came to the
Senator as 8 suggestion from the spirit
world Not long before his death Sena-
tor Stanford discussed this matter with
me. He was afraid that the spiritual
istic fake would live after he had
passed away and feared that unscru-
pulous people might endeavor to make
capital out of il. To Offset this and
to make his own position clear in the
matter he dictated to me an emphatic
denial, which is still in my possession.
but the exact wording of which 1 do
not recall. In substance. however. it
amounted to this, that spiritualism had
had absolutely nothing to do with the
foundation of Stanford University.
The Senator said that the only basis
anybody could have for starting such
report was the fact that he and Mrs
Stanford, in company with General and
Mrs. Grant, had attended several spir-
ituaiistic seances. partly through inter-
est in what then was a novelty. Be
yond this it had no significance. And
in the commercial spiritualism Of the
professional medium neither Senator
ncr Mrs. Stanford had a particle OF
faith"
I Timothy Hopkins arrived on the
wharf a few minutes before the gang
plank was pulled up He was accom-
panied by Whitelaw Reid Of New York,
a fellow trustee of Stanford University
and old-time friend. likewise. of Mrs.
Stanford. Hopkins face reflected the
seriousness of his purpose in embark
ing on the ocean voyage. He. too, had
been reluctant to believe that the
tragedy at Honolulu was the outcome
of foul purpose to destroy the life OF
one of the worlds noblest characters.
CONVINCED 1T WAS MURDER.
1T is hard to bring ones self to
think that Mrs. Stanford was MUIR
dered, but in the light Of recent de-
velopments such must be the accepted
fact" was all Hopkins had time to
say as he hurried aboard while the
steam screeched In the whistle.
Harry N Morse. head of the detec-
tive bureau in charge of the case, was
present to give his final instructions TO
Captain Callundan. When the latter
arrives at his destination they will
open communication by cable and i'm
portant steps are expected to follow
at once.
Detective Reynolds win represent the
Police Department of the city. 1t
looks as II the crime had it's root in
San Francisco and If that proves true
the duty will devolve upon the depart
ment to ferret out the murderer. 1t
Is not certain how long Callundan and
Reynolds will remain in Honolulu. for
there may be much or little work for
them TO do there.
Arrangements have been made with
the steamship company to hold the
China, which is returning from the
Orient. at Honolulu until the arrival Of
the Alameda. so that President Jordan
and Hopkins can turn about and start
back at once with the corpse.
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05
MISS RICHMOND WORRIED.
Rigid Questioning by Detectives Wears
on Her Nerves.

OA AASA AtSINCS.
PALO ALTO. Mar. 4-Miss Elizabeth
Richmond was to-day interviewed for
several hours by force of detectives
from San Francisco at the home of AL
bert Beverly, near Burlingame. She
gave her testimony in a STRAIGHTFORWARD
manner and talked freely of all the
events surrounding her connection with
Mrs. Stanford and the occurrences of the
night in January when Mrs Stanford
drank the bottle Of Poland water. She
was piled with many questions as to
what motive or theory there could pos
sibly have been for any one attempt
ing the life of Mrs. STANFORD, but she
was unable to offer the slightest sug-
gestion why any one should have at
tempted the deed.
AT the end of the interview she was
very much excited and her pale face
was much flushed. 1t had been a try
Ing ordeal, telling severely on her
nerves, and she was bordering on a
state of nervous collapse when the de-
tectives started back for San Francisco
after s o'clock tonight. She then
went out in company with Mr.. Bever-
ly for short, walk, to get the air and
generally collect herself She said as
she was starting to go on the walk:
The detectives say that I am free
now to go where I please I would like
to fade away to some distant spot
where no one would know me, for this
burden of suspicion weighs on me.
Once there might change my name"
Why don't you get married and do
it?" laughingly interrupted Mrs. Bey-
erly, who was standing near.
NO, indeed" retorted Miss Rich
mond, a faint smile lighting up her
troubled features for the first time
since the detectives had arrived. She
continued: II realize I am In for ii and
1 know l must face any possible accu-
sations that may be brought against
me. but I have told the detectives all
/ know of the terrible matter I have
tried to help them sift the matter to
the bottom. The detectives tell me I
can go where / like, but If 1 am ar
rested I shall not fear, for 1 know I
am innocent and except for the nerv-
GUS strain of trial shall not be seri-
ously troubled. Mr.. Gibson and the
other detectives were all very GENTLE
manlike. They were quiet and after
allowing me to tell my story they
asked some questions. not many. how
ever, and all the questions were prac-
tically What was my theory of the
occasion Of the poisoning? OF course.
in the presence of four strange big de-
tectives 1 suppose / must have been
more or less upset, but tried to give
them every detail of the scenes on the
night of January A.
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05
FOR A CLEW TO PURCHASER Of POISON CONTINUES
THOSE REMEMBERED IN WILL

of
TRUST FUND Of 100000 Be e and finally distributed the follow
benefits ARIEL L7ROP CHARLES
WE W70N AMY GARDNER HANSEN DANIEL CUNNING CUNNING
CHARLES GARDNER LTHROP of Pao Ato SlO00OO0
MISS BERTHA BERNER $4,000
All WNG Chinese cook $1,000
MRS CHARLES ROBERTSON $1,000
CHARLES WOOSTER coahmao
EDWARD LARGELY vaet Sf0OO
JOHN KELLY gardener $1,000
LADIES' HOME, NJ E,SO
francisco
HOSPITAL CHILDREN
CALIFORNIA WONANS HOSPITAL $4,000
SISTERS OF THE HOLY FAMILY $1,000
HEBREW HOME FOR THE AGED DISABLED, $4,000
HOME BEREV0LENcE $4,000
SOCIETY," San beS5
COLLEGE OF NOTRE DAME San Jose $4,000.
SAN JOSE SAN7ARIUM AND HOME $4,000.
FRANCISCO PROTESTANT ASYLUM SOCIETY S50O0
ROMAN CATHOLIC ORPHAN ASYLUM $5O00
of San Fnancwc and San
LELAND STANFORD JR
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05
Stanford Alumni to Meet.

The alumni of Stanford University
Is making arrangements to hold a
meeting at the Young Mems Chris
tan Association Hall, Mason and
Ellis streets. to make arrangements to
attend the funeral of the late Mrs.
Jane L. Stanford. The meeting will se
called to order at 7:s0 o'clock Mon
day evening and all Stanford alumni
are invited to attend
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05
Niece Visits Palo AIto.

PALO ALTO. March Miss Jennie
Latnrop. niece of Mrs. Stanford. drove
downtown to-day from her home on
tne heights back of Palo Alto for the
hIs1 time since the death of her aunt.
Sne was dressed in deep black. She
came down to bring box containing
some farm products that were intend
cd as gifts to friends of her mother in
san Francisco. 70 whom Mrs. Lathrop
sends little remembrances each week
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05
OFFICIALS OF UNIVERSITY
AND DETECTIVES LEAVE
Alameda Sails for Honolulu With Men Who
Are to Bring Back Mrs. Stanford'S
Body and Avenge Her DEATH

DR.. David Starr Jordan, president of
Stanford University, and Timothy Hop
kins, one of the trustees of that insti-
tuition, left on the steamer Alameda
yesterday for Honolulu to bring back
the body of Mrs. Stanford. With them
went two of the brightest detectives in
the West, Captain j. j. CaIlundan OF
the Morse Agency and Harry C. Rey-
nolds of the San Francisco Police De-
partment. The mission of the presi-
dent and the trustee, representing the
university faculty and board, is to per-
form the formal and sad duty of es-
corting the body TO the place where Nit
shall be laid to rest. The purpose of
the detectives is to gather more evil
dence toward laying bare the horrible
crime at which the world shudders.
What terrible ending for a life
that meant so much Of good to man
kind" commented President Jordan as
he paced the wharf in a manner un-
usually fretful while awaiting the sail
ing hour. What horrible thought it
Is that such a great good woman
should meet her death by rat poison. .
President Jordan was convinced that
murder had been committed. The pub
Ieation of the exclusive news in The
Call yesterday morning that the chem
lists at Honolulu had definitely reported
the presence Of strychnine in Mrs.
Stanford's stomach removed all doubt
in his mind on this point. Another vital
piece of news The Call gave its readers,
that of the discovery of the bottle of
strychnine in the Mob Hill mansion,
strengthened his views very much as
to those among whom the guilty per-
son or persons is or are to be found.
JORDAN is AGTTATED.
1t is not often that the head of the
university gives way to agitation or is
seen with poise ruffied. But yesterday
morning his usual imperturbabflity was
overcome. His sentences were quick
and sharp, expostulations almost, and
the betrayal of nervousness could not
be mistaken.
Mrs. Jordan was at the dock to bid
him good-by. But it was not a happy
leave-taking. The ocean voyage on a
great, comfortable ship was not looked
forward to with the customary antici-
pations of pleasure. The president
spent most of his time in earnest con-
ference with Mountford S. Wilson, at
torney for the Stanford estate, and the
plans for conducting Investigations at
Honolulu were thoroughly discussed.
The detectives will work under the di-
rection, to some extent. OF Jordan and
Hopkins at Honolulu.
Just before embarking on the liner
the president said he wished emphatf-
cally to deny that Mrs. Stanford's in
terest in spiritualism was other than
purely scientific. The matter had come
up more than once during her lifetime.
said the head of the university. and
Mrs. Stanford had made herself very
clear to him regarding her views to-
ward psychic phenomena of all kinds.
Both Senator and Mrs. Stanford, said
DR.. Jordan. held hopes that scientific
investigation would show a scientific
basis for belief in a future life Beyond
that their interest did not extend, and
in professional mediums, who for a fee
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05
BROTHER HEARS GOOD NEWS.
Herbert Berner Learns of His Sisters
Inheritance.
Special to The Can.

PALO ALTO. March 4.-Herbert
Berner, brother of Bertha Berner.
made hurried trip to San Francisco
to-day. 1t was reported that he tried
to catch the steamship Alameda for
Honolulu. but missed IT. He returned
here about o'clock this afternoon.
Late tonight a messenger rode out
to the Berner residence TO inform Her
bert Berner that his sister had re-
ceived $3.50 in the will Of Mrs. STAN
ford. After many knocks at the door
Berner stuck his head outside a sec
ond-story window and asked what was
wanted.
.You sister has been bountifulIy re-
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05
QUESTION MISS RICHMOND.
Maid Is Cross-Examined by Four De-
tectiyes at Burlingame.

N1dIu Oy OuE Dc-
: tectiyes at Burlingame.
Miss Elizabeth Richmond, who was
with Mrs. Stanford when the attempt
was made to poison her on January IA.
gave a detailed account yesterday of
what she knew of the affair to Chief of
Detectives Burnett, Detective Ed Glib
son and two representatives of the
Morse Detective Agency. She was
closeted with the four cross examiners
for four hours in the home of ..rthur
Beverley, near Burlingame.
Miss Richmonds description of the
scene that occurred when Mrs STAN
ford learned that an attempt was made
on her life is particularly vivid.
She says: The first question asked
by Mrs. Stanford on the Monday after
the attempt was made on her life was,
Did you get it7'
".Get whats? / asked.
'.She replied, The analysis of the Po-
land water
II said, No. 1t has not come yet, but
i will telephone to Wakelee's and have
them hurry it up
Miss Berner in few minutes came
in and repeated. Did you get it?'
|, IT again asked what she wanted and
she said I want to see the analysis of
that Poland water, and then added
that her mother was very anxious 20
know what the analysis was, and l told
her I did not understand why her
mother should be so particular about
the affair, as it meant great deal
more to us than any one else
II telephoned every day to Wakelec's,
and on Friday the analysis was re-
celved through the mail.
II handed the mail to Miss Berner.
Mrs. Stanford was in bed suffering
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05

membered in Mrs stanford's will"
was the reply.
I know nothing about it and do
not care to talk" answered Berner.
and he withdrew his head and shut
the window.