The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1905-03-15
JORDAN AND HOPKINS
UNITE IN ASTATEMENT
IConunucd from raFe u


to such effect" Is Cmlundau's state
ment Of the case
DIR. Jordan and Timothy Hopkins
made their statement OF the case Just
| before the steamer left, agreeing with
! Dr. Jordan's statement in The star
| yesterday that strychnine poisoning
was not the cause of Mrs. Stanford's
| death. The two gentlemen have kept
In touch with the investigation from
| the start Last night they were busy
| until far into the evening preparing a
statement 70 be made public this morn
! ing. The statement was written out
very carefully worded. The original
! draft shows a number Of alterations to
modify or correct the language. The
! document finally given out states the
! conclusions as follows.
In our judgment after careful con-
sideratiOn of all facts brought to our
knowledge We are fully convinced that
Mrs. Stanford's death was not due to
strychnine poisoning, nor to intentional
wrong doing on the part of anyone.
! We find in the statements of those with
her in her last moments no evidence
that any Of the characteristic symp-
toms of strychnine poisoning were
present We think it probable that her
death was due to a combination Of con-
ditions and circumstances. Among
these we may note in connection with
her advanced age, the unaccustomed
| eXertion, a surfeit of unsuitable food
and the unusual exposure on the picnic
party of the day in question. These
conditions We're perhaps somewhat ag-
gravated by the presence of strychnine
+. and other drugs in a medicinal capsule,
and possibly also by the presence Of a
small amount of strychnine contained
in dose of bicarbonate of soda. The
occurrence of this strychnine in the BIZ
carbonate of soda is as yet unexplain-
ed. The fact that it is not I'm excess OF
the usual medicinal proportions sug-
gests either an error Of a pharmacist
or else that the combination was pre-
pared for tonic purposes
I'VE must recognize that the prelim-
, mary hypothesis Of accidental poison
, ing seemed natural one under the ex-
traordinary. circumstances. We regard
it, however as without foundation and
wholly incompatible with the evidence
in our possession. We cannot express
in too high terms our appreciation OF
d the generous sympathy and friendly
hospitality shown by all the people of
[ Hawaii with whom we have come in
contact. We have come to Honolulu
{ on the saddest of errands, and we leave
with the warmest feeling Of gratitude
1 towards the beautiful island, the gem
erous-hearted city and its helpful and
- sympathetic citizens.
t DAVID STARR JORDAN,
- TIMOTHY HOPKINS"
4 The statement was delivered by DR.
e Jordan to Judge Carl Smifh to b,
given out after the departure Of thu
s vessel. DR.. Jordan then made sup
@ Elementary statement, instructinl
Smith to cable 1t to Mountford Wilson
q attorney for the Stanford estate II
San Francisco The cable was TO the
% effect that Miss Berner took the sam,
doses Of bicarbonate and the same cap
sule as Mrs. Stanford did, at the same
time, and experienced no discomfort.
Z This extraordinary bit of evidence
a would be Of the highest Importance. II
- answer to a question as to why II haC
i not come out before, !C true, the reDiy
Wdb maui Allil hlH5 btlIltI MhN no
n cross examined until yesterday. Jus
: before the Alameda left DR.. Jordan
f had a further interview with Miss Der
g ner in her stateroom as a result Of dis
a cussions I'm which his attention wa
called to the discrepancy between tn
q statement and some OF Miss Berner'
o. former statements. DR.. Jordan the
sent a telephone message withdrawn
v the state Q mt that had Just been ma
= but 1t was too late to prevent It's bein
n cabled. The withdrawal was also ca
a bled.
"a At ten the Alameda left the whar
and steamed through ;he channel wit
, her flag at half-mast. The detective
- and Jordan and Hopkins have copie
Of all the testimony with them an
% may study Them on the way. Mis-
Berner and Miss Hunt are also o
board, for questioning If they ar
wanted.
The Investigation will be continue
at San Francisco. The detectives hay
, with them the rest OF the blcarb. nat
y. and the heart and organs Of the de
ceased for examination. II Is llkel
=, that matters will be at a standsti
. until they arrive at the other en-,
~, when as Captain Callundan says, d
velopments are hoped for.
in ronrnT rInr IN