Los Angeles herald., 1905-03-07
HAVE FOUND NO
STRYCHN|NE YET
INQUEST ON MRS. STANF0RD'S
DEATH HELD
Physicians Say, However, That the
Body Shows Symptoms Similar
to Those Caused by
This Drug
BY Associated Press.


lively asserted in reliable quarters to-
night that up to the present time the
chemists have found no strychnine in
any of the organs Of Mrs. Stanford
examined by them. 1t is further stated
that II the chemists testify at tomor-
rows session of the coroners inquest
they will testify to this effect, unless
further tests, to be made tonight, re-
veal the presence Of strychnine.
Thus far It is said careful expert
ments fail to show traces of 1t. but it
Is believed that this statement does not
apply to the bottle of bicarbonate from
which Mrs. Stanford took a potion a
short time before her death.
The inquest into the cause of the
death of Mrs. Stanford was begun this
afternoon at the Moana hotel, where
Mrs Stanford died.
The first witness examined by the
coroner's jury was Miss Bertha Ber-
ner, who had been Mrs. Stanford's sec
retary for the past twenty years and
who came to Honolulu with her on the
Pacific Mail company's steamer Korea
from San Francisco.
Miss Berner, who was examined by
Deputy High Sheriff Rawlins, after she
had made preliminary statements re-
garding her relations with Mrs. Stan
ford, testified that the latter had left
San Francisco on the advice of her
brother, her physician and her attor-
ney who told her it was not advisable
to remain in the latter city. Miss Ber-
ner testified that Mrs. Stanford said to
her.
Preferred to Go to Honolulu
"If l am not to stay in my San
Francisco home, and as the wet season
il coming on, rendering 1t inadvisable
for me to go to my country residence,
I prefer Ito go to Honolulu, as it is
warmer there"
Miss Berner continued:
1.-THE occasion which compelled Mrs.
Stanford to seek advice on this ques-
when she drank mineral water at her
California residence and found 1t bitter
to the taste. This water was after
ward examined by a chemist, who re-
ported that it contained strychnine. I
saw the written report made by the
chemist at the time.
ION the steamer coming to Honolulu
Mrs. Stanford appeared to be sad and
troubled in her mind, but after her ar
rival here she recovered her spirits and
took numerous drives, which she ap-
peared to greatly enjoy"
Attorney General Andrews questioned
Miss Berner regarding the bottle of
of soda. The witness said
it was Mrs. Stanfords custom to take
the soda only occasionally, and added:
mo one knew of this custom, so far
as I am aware, but myself, May Hunt
and Nora Hopkins an employe at the
San Francisco residence of Mrs. Stan
ford"
Suicide Theory
Questioned by Deputy High Sheriff
Rawlins with regard to the possibility
Of Mrs. Stanford having committed
suicide, Miss Berner expressed pity for
any one who could be driven to such
a conclusion. II have not read the
reports of the case" said
she because they would distress me. |
Mrs Stanford" she said in conclusion,
ION a few occasions said she hoped |
some day to rejoin her son and her
to whose memory she was
always devoted, but this was not a
frequent topic of conversation with
her"
DR., C. r. Wood, one of the physicians
who conducted the autopsy, testified
that the symptoms found by him and
the other physicians We're indicative of
strychnine poisoning, which was the
cause of death. The body had the ap-
pearance of that of a woman of s.
years of age, one who enjoyed good |
health. No other cause of death ex-
tept that indicated could be discovered |
by the physicians.
indications of Strychnine
The body, DR.. Wood said, was first
examined for external causes of death,
but without result, and then for ex-
ternal appearances, for the reason that
the physicians had been informed there
was suspicion of poisoning by the ad-
of strychnine. One symp-
tom of such poisoning the doctor said |
IL unusual rigidity Mrs Stanfords |
mouth was rigid and the teeth were
locked. The neck was not rigid and |
the muscles of the upper arm were re-
axed. This would not be expected ir
a case resulting from strychnine poi
5oning, but the doctors were informed |
that the undertaken had broken up the
rlgidity OF the body so as to put a |
gown on it. The forearms. DR.. Wood |
said, were rigid to a marked degree
and also the thighs and the legs. The |
appearance of the feet according to
he witness, would indicate strychnine
The instep was arched, the
feet turned in and drawn up at the
Toes
Mrs. Stanfords body. DR.. Wood said,
was Of the color Of violet or purple.
He said that he had examined all the