Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-02
MRS.ST ANFORD'SDEATH
MYSTERY SURROUNDING HER
DEMISE AT HONOLULU.
Evidence That Strychnine Killed Her
Incidents Prior to Taking Fatal
Draught of Soda.

An autopsy today on the remains of Mrs
Jane Stanford of San Francisco widow
OF United States Senator Leland STAN
ford, news of whose death at Honolulu.
Hawaii, Tuesday night, was printed in The
Star yesterday. showed the cause of death
was tetanus OF the respiratory organs, but
how this was brought about will not be
known until after an examination of the
contents of the stomach, the result of
which examination will probably be known
tomorrow.
Examining Contents of Bottle.
Before retiring Tuesday night, a cable
gram from Honolulu says, Mrs. Stanford
took dose of bicarbonate of soda. which
she purchased a San Francisco. 1t is re-
ported that the soda contained strychnine.
DR.. F. II. Humphris, who attended Mrs.
Stanford, is now making an examination
of the contents of the bottle. which had
not been touched since Mrs. Stanford left
San Francisco
Mrs. Stanford took drive over the Pail
road Tuesday, accompanied by her secre-
tary and her maid. When she returned to
the hotel she seemed very cheerful. and
went Immediately to the dining room,
where she ordered only soup, saying that
she was not hungry. as she had eaten a
hearty luncheon. She spent the evening
on the verandas of the hotel, apparently
IT. good spirits.
Was Found Dying on the Floor.
At IL O'Clock, Mr.. Heunish of San Fran
CISCO a guest OF the hotel. who occupied
an adjoining room, heard Mrs. Stanford
grooming and, running 10 the room, found
her lying on the floor. She had evidently
tried to summon help. At the time of
Mrs Stanfords death there We're present
Miss Berner her secretary. and her maid,
May Hunt. Both are FRUSTRATED
DR.. Humphris made the following state
ment to the Associated Press:
when 1 was called in found Mrs. Stan
ford in convulsions. and applied the quick
est remedies, but II was not possible TO
save her life; Mrs Stanford said to me:
- +" Doctor, ! have been poisoned
Mrs Stanfords condition seemed to in
ydIcate strychnIne poisoning. Between con-
yulsions her mind was unusually active.
and she said: This is the second time
they have tried 1t. They tried ii last Jan
uary, and / came here TO avoid them.
Doctor Positive of Strychnine.
II tasted the contents OF the bottle" con-
4inued Dr. Humphris. Before making an
ANALYSIS / am unable to swear that it con-
tanned strychnine, but i am perfectly posi-
tive that it does contain strychnine"
The remains were taken to undertake
ing establishment for an autopsy.
II was reported last night that r. A. Dun
can the territorial food commissioner and
chemical analyst, Hdu IOunu Stfycnnlne IN
the bottle of bicarbonate of soda No Off
ciai report of such finding has yet been
made, and other chemists have been called
in consultation. 1t is probable that the in
quest will be delayed for several DAYS
awaiting the analysis of the contents of the
Stomach.
A box OF capsules was also found in the
room, and these are being analysed
Mr.. Heunish's Statement.
Mr. Heunish. who was the first to see
Mrs. Stanford after she was taken I'll, said:
II retired shortly before IL o'clock. and