The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1906-06-28
POISON VICTIM.
Richard Tilghman, a Rich Presi
dent of Philadelphia, Pa,
TAKES FATAL DOSE
By Mistake in the Dark, and. Rsaliz-
Ing His Mistaks, Calls His Wife
and Children, But Nothing
Could Save Him. Phones

! duo tuliuEeu, Dut NOtHluy
Could Save Him. Phones
Friends Good Bye.
A awful tragedy occurred at Phila-l
delphia about ten days ago.
Knowing that his life was to pay
forfeit In q few hours for his fatal
mistake in taking poison from a bot
tie in the medicine chest instead Of
the harmless drug that he sought IN
the dark, Richard 1ilghmsn. a so
ciety man, olubnan, member or the
City Troop, descendant Of one OF
tho original Maryland families and
closely related TO the Whelans and
Lippincotts, made every arrangement
hat prudence or sentiment dictated
before he died.
He first had hope that bis life could
be saved and waking up his wife in
their apartments at the fashionable
Lincoln, No. 1929 Locust street, and
his daughter, fifteen years old, aud
son thirteen years old and told them
what had happered.
Mrs. Tilghmar, who was Gabrielle
de PoGstad, daughter of the beautiful
marcioness de Potstad. Fornari, at
one time lady-in- waiting to Isabella,
Qleen of Spain, and the childlen did
everything possible to aid husband
md father In th0 eff )rts to save his
life, but when they found that they
did not make favorable progress, Mr..
Tilghmsn directed them to telephone
for doctor.
TIE PHYSICIANS fought hard to of
set the effscts Of the poison, but had
to admit that they had exhausted
their remedies and that Mr.. Thigh
man would have to he prepared for
the worst
He took their verdict philosaplcally
aud directed that telephone message
be sent to his brother in Bryn Mawr,
sum moning him to the Lincoln.
Tell him to take an automobile,
so that he will get here In tine," said
the dying man.
Send for the priest, and when it
Is all over take my body to the houTe
Of my brother, so that I may bs
buried from there
Mr.. Tilghnan expressed his regret
to his wife and children that he
should have made such fatal mis-
take, uhen they were going to sail
from Nav York the next dsy for an
extended tour of the Continent
Then, after he had told them Of
some arrangements that must be
made, be had a telephone brought to
his bedside, and called up many Of
his friends In the city, to bid them
farewell
The priest came and heard the con-
f,ssion If the dying man, and admin
isteled the Iaat rites Of the Church.
Tilghnan then asked his wife and
children to draw near the bed, and
while The physicians, one Of them q
friend from boyhood, Withdrew to
corner Of the room, he made his
touching farewell to the little group
that he loved above all. he told
them not to worry, az IL was fate
from which there could be no escape,
and then be sank back In bis bed,
still racked with the pain which he
nad endured with such wonderful for
Gitude. and In, a few minutes was
dead.
Mr.. Tilghman had spent the even
ing at reunion and banquet OF the
class of '86. University Of Psnnsylva-
MIA given ut the. University Club. He
lad be- n 10 the habit of taking tab.
let's wnen troubled with slight attack
Of rheumatism, and when he returned
70 his apartments shortly after 2
o'clock, darkened his room and re.
tired, before he remembered that he
should have taken tablet.
AFTER e1tinRuishing the light"
said Mrs. Ttlghman, ''he desired to
TAX, the l.Jhia tablets, as he has been
suff ring lately from Muscular rneu-
nati,m Two bottles OF the same
ize and shape were side by side, one
,ntsIning antiseptic bichlcrl1e Of
mercury tablets and the other citrate
If litnis, and in the dark he chose the
wrong bottle.
He placed two Of the tablets 10
tun 1le OF water, stirred them until
they dissolved, then be took three or
four swallows before he noticed the
error. By quickly drinking some
tepid water, he produced nausea and
Thought that be brought up the entire
contents of his stomach. Very soon,
however, he was seized with cramps.
Then he called me and explained the
mistake he had made
DIR. w ]. Roe, OF No. 1910 Locust
street, was Immediately summoned,
but the antldotes administered and
Tho washing out OF the stomach fai!ed
10 save his life, and he died a few
minutes before eight in the morning.
Fr six hours the physicians fought
for Tllghman's life. After DR.. Roe
lad worked over the clubman for q
while, they decided to send for DR..
r bert G. LsConte, who had bean q
lifelong friend Of the cluoman. Then
, tney all went to work together.
I The dying man suggested q number
uf antidotes, all Of wnlcn we're tried
without giving him any relief.