The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1906-06-29
POISON VICTIM.
Richard Tilghman, a Rich Presi.
dent of Philadelphia, Pa,
TAKES FATAL DOSE

Ing Ills hllstaks, Calls Ills Wife
and Children, But Nothing
Could Save Him. Phones
Friends Good B,e.
A awful tragedy occurred at Phila.
delphis about ton days ago.
Knowing that his life was to pay
| forfelt In q few hours for his fatal
mistake In taking poison from bot.
tie In the medicine chest instead Of
| 5he harmless drug that he sought iu
the dark, Richard Iilghman, q So
ciety man, clubman, member OF the
Olty Troop, q descendant of one OF
the original Maryland families and
closely related to the Whelans and
Ltppincotts, made every arrangement
that pruderce or sentiment dictated
before he died.
He first had hope that his life GOULD
be saved and waking up his wife in
their apartments at the fashionable
Lincoln, No. 1920 l. Gust street, and
nis daughter, fifteen years old, and
son thirteen years old and told the 10
what had happened.
Mrs. Tilghman, who was Gabriella
30 Potstad, daughter of the beautiful
marcioness de Potstad. Fornari, at
one Une lady-in. waiting TO Isabella,
q leen Of Spain, and the children did
everything possible to aid husband
and father In the eff )rts to save his
life, but when they found that they
did not make favorable progress, Mr.
Tllghman directed them to telephone
for doctor.
The physicians fought hard to of
set the eff sots Of the poison, but had
to admit that they had exhausted
their remedies and that Mr.. TilRh,
man would have to be prepared for
the worst.
He took their verdict philosa pically
and directed that telephone message
be sent TO hiB brother In Bryn Mawr,
summoDing him to the Lincoln.
Tell him to Jake an automobile,
40 that he will get here In Time" said
the dying man.
Send for the priest, aud when 1t
Is all over take my body to the house
| OF my brother, 80 that i may be
j buried from there, 3 9
Mr.. TilRhlnan expressed his regret
to his wife and children that he
should have made such fatal mis-
take, 0hen they were going to sail
from New York the next day for an
extended tour Of the Continent.
Then, after he had told them OF
some arrangements that must b.
made, he had telephone brought to
his bedside, snd called up many OF
nis friends In the city, to bid them
farewell
The priest came and heard the con-
fassion Of the dying man, and admin.
istered the last rites Of the Church.
Tilghman then asked his wife and
Chi dren to draw near the bed, and
while ohe physicians, one Of them a
friend from boyhood. withdrew to a
corner OF the room, he made his
touching farewell to the little group
that he loved above all. He told
them not to worry, as it was fate
from which there could be no escape,
and then he sank back In his bed,
still racked with the pain which he
had endured with such wonderful for
titude, and In q few minutes wax
dead.
Mr.. Tllghms had sp9nt the aven.
ing at q reunion a1d banquet OF tfe
class of 49, University Of Pennsylva-
MIA given at the University Club. He
had been In the habit Of taking tab,
lets when troubled with slight attack
Of rheumatism, and when he returned
to his apartments shortly after 2
O'Clock, darkened his room and re
tired, before he remembered that he
should have taken a tablet.
After extinguishing the light
said Mrs. Tilghman, The desired to
take the l.thia tablets, as he has been
suffering lately from muscular rheu-
matiam. Two bottles of tie saue
Size and shape were aide by side, one
containing antiseptic bichlcri1e OF
mercury tablets and the other citrate
OF lithia, and In the dark he chose the
wrong bottle.
He placed two OF tho tablets In 8
tumble OF water, stirred them until
they dissolved, then he took three o.
four swallows before he noticed the
error. BY quickly drink ng some
tepid water, he produced nauseea and
thought that he brought up ho entire
contents OF his stom ech. Very soon,
I however, he was seized with cramps
Then he called me and explained the
mistake he had mGde.
DIR. w j. Roe, OF No. 1910 Locust
street, was Immediately summoned
but the antldotes administered anC
the washing out OF the stomach faileC
to save his life, and he died o few
minutes before eight in the morning
; For six hours the physicians fought
for Tilghman's life. After DR.. Roe
: had worked over the Cubman FOR 8
while, they decided to send for Dr.
' Robert @. LsOonte, who had bean 8
. lifelong friend OF the olubman. Tier
) they all went to work together.
The dying man suggested number
; OF antidotes, all OF which we're tried
without giving him any rcllef.
i. The bookings for the European
! tour were cancelled by Lieut.. Col
Eiighman, 8 brother Of The deceased
last evening, and arrangements wer,
made, In accordance with Mr.. Thigh
mans request, to take the body t.
the brothers house, whore the funer
al took place.
Mr.. Tilghman was born in Phila
delphia at the residence of his pa
rents, Mr.. and Mrs. Richard A. Tilgh
man, No. 32l South Eleventh street