The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-03-14
ENOUGH POISON
TO KILL SIX MEN
SUFFERS GREAT AGONY
WAS FOUND IN STOMACH OF
LEoNIDAs PRESTON.
Hotel Clerk Finds Him in Convulsion.
Death Come Two Minutes After
Conversation Over the Telephone
With Friends. .a.

New YOrk.-An autopsy neld Oy
Coroner's Physician O'Hanlon, dis
closed, it was later stated, that Leon
idas Preston, millionaire, who died
suddenly at the Cumberland Hotel,
had enough hydrocyanic poison in his
stomach ito kill six men.
Coroner Hamburger immediately re-
ported the case to the police and de-
tectives were set to work upon sever
al mysterious circumstances connected
with the case. Mr.. Preston was New
York manager for the Timkin Rail.
way Bearing Axle Company, and had
an Office in West Forty-sixth street,
Mr.. Preston died while telephoning
to some business acquaintance. The
hotel physician, who was called in
when Mr.. Preston succumbed, said
death was caused by cerebral hem
orrhage.
Mr.. Peston's wife told the coroner
that Mr.. Preston returned from bus
mess trip to New Orleans two weeks
ago, suffering from a severe attack
of grippe, complicated with bronchial
troubles. Against the advice Of his
physician, DR.. Millett, he insisted up
on transacting business.
Neither DR.. Millett nor DR.. English
could definitely give the cause of
death. Coroner Hamburger deter
mined to hold an autopsy. Dr.. o.
Hanlon observed, as soon as he reach
ed the stomach, unmistakable traces
Of powerful poison.
It appears that when Mr.. Preston
died, William R. Timkin, head Of the
concern, of which Preston was New
York manager, Leonard Gray and Ed
ward o. Hewitt were In the hotel OF
fee. They had sent up word that
they wished to see him. Preston an
swered In person over the telephone,
telling them to "Come right up, f"
and when, two minutes later, they
reached his suite, Preston was dead.
Representative of a law finn were
summoned to the hotel late In the
evening and taken to Mr.. Preston S
room. They remained there until ear
~ today, going over mass Of books
and papers.
Mr.. Preston came to New York
from Dallas some years ago. He was
said to be sole heir to a fortune to
100000 in New Orleans, and to
have amassed another fortune Of ST.
100000 in business. He was 4G
years old, tail, muscular and strong.
Mr.. Preston's friends have assured
the coroner that his business affairs
were in good shape and there is no
possible temporary insanity, brought
on by illness.
j. B. Cook, one of Preston's init
mate friends, received a telegram to-
day from Mr.. Preston s brother in
Dallas, asking that the body be sent
to that place for burial.
Mr.. and Mrs. Preston took quarters
at the Cumberland last September.
They had no children, but had adopt
ed a little boy. DR.. English, house
physician Of the Cumberland, said the
millionaire died in terrible convul-
sions.
"When / reached the ROOM" said
the doctor, "Mr. Preston was lying
across the bed fully dressed as though
he had thrown himself there. The con
vLsions gave me idea that he had suf
fered cerebral hemorrhage. It was
too late for me to do anything. His
wife was hysterical for time. When
she was able to speak, she said the
only medicine he had taken was a
cough mixture"
Preston was born in Paris, Tex,
and reputed to be very wealthy. Since
his death, however, it mas not been pos
sibde to determine that he was pos
sessed of any considerable property.