The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-04

He complained of feeling burning
sensations in his stomach about three
months ago and his family physician,
DR. Dick, was called in. Despite the
efforts of the physician he grew gradu-
ally worse. the pain becoming more in
tense and constant and finally on the
9Th of November DR.. Keith was called
in on the case and a week later the
patient was removed to the Keith hos
pital.
An analysis made at this time indi-
Gated that arsenic had been taken by
Mr.. Grice in large and continued doses
and his diagnosis of the physicians was
verified by an analysis made by Pro-
fessor Dains of the chemistry depart
3nent at Washburn college. Enough
arsenic was found during the analysis
to indicate that Mr.. Grice must have
taken enough of the drug to have kill
ed a dozen men had it been taken into
the system at q single dose.
Z, Ilaspfte the fact that every care was
given Mr.. Grice by his relatives and
the attendants at the hospital his con-
dftion grew more serious and his syS-
tenn more weakened until death ended
his sufferings last night. When 1t was
learned that Mr. Griceg was suffering
from arsenical poisoning, consulting
physicians were called in and from an
of the trouble. ~.
Mr.. Grice was visited by the officials
of the county who have charge of the
enforcement of the laws and to them
he repeated that he had at no time ia
ken arsenic to his knowledge. When it
was suggested that he had been fed
on the drug he steadfastly refused to
believe that such was the case stating
that he had not an enemy in the world
whom he would suspect of such thing.
The superstition is that the poison
has been administered in small doses
and covering an interval of consider
able length and when he was first
taken to the hospital the idea pre-
vailed among the physicians called on
the case that it would terminate ia
tally. Arsenic Is cumulative poison,
according to one of the physicians
familiar with this case, and repeated
doses loads the system, death result
ing sometimes months after the adj
ministration of the drug has ceased.
An autopsy was performed this
morning by Coroner Keith assisted by
Doctors Outland, Hensley, Menninger,
Rhinehart, Bandal and Hammell and
a number of the organs removed from
the body These have been placed in
the hands of Professor DANES of
Washburn college who will make
chemical examination Of the organs
Immediately and his findings will serve
to either clear up the mystery or deep
On 1t.
The doctors present at the autopsy
this morning are unanimous in their
belief, from the appearance of the
organs, that death was caused by the
administration of arsenic, though
there is bare possibility that cancer
Gus trouble may be discovered when
closer, examination Is made. A COR
oners jury will view the remains late
this afternoon after which they will
be buried and the jury will be dis
missed until such time as the re-
port of Professor DANES is ready to
be submitted to the members.
Mr Grice was a wealthy man, own
ing farms in Shawnee and adjoining
counties besides other real estate. and
mining properties in Nevada said to be
of considerable value. Besides this
he carried considerable life insur-
ance and his estate Is variously esti-
mated to be worth from fifty to
seventy-five thousand dollars. Mr..
9rice came to Topeka about thirty
years ago and shortly afterwards en-
tered the grocery business. His last
place of business was at sos West
sixth street this store being purchased
by his son-in-law George Brown, who
has conducted the business since Mr..
Grice's retirement from active bust
ness.
Mr., Grice lived with his wife and
his rnother-in-law and ssister-in-law at