The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-04-10
Coroner Bramkamps Verdict Makes This Positive Finding
But Does Not Fix the Responsibility for
the Alleged Crime.
SENSATION IS CAUSED BY VERDICT
Franklin Township Now Has Mystery on Its Hands That
the Wayne County Authorities May Have
Difficulty in Solving.

Solving.
with the case was concerned he had
completed his investigation. Prose
cutting attorney Charles Ladd stated
that II any convincing evidence was Sc
cured and arrests made on suspicion,
that the grand jury will be called, and
at the same time investigate the muir
der of Mrs. Frank Allison. The call
for the grand jury has not been issued
as yet.
Sends Stomach to PathoIogist.
The coroner removed the stomach
and few other internal organs Of Ed
die White. That these might be chem
ically analyzed. the stomach was sent
to Prof. Albert r. Alburger, head OF
the department Of pathology OF Indi-
ana university and he, in turn. deliver
ed the organs over to DIR. Robert e.
Lyons q we'll known chemist. In the
Introduction OF his verdict the coroner
says:
Rumors Of Foul Play.
Inc IcUOII Wd6 Oiou6Ak w LIZ
from various sources that the death
of Eddie X. White of near Whitewat-
er, December 23, was under suspicious
circumstances, that the indications
were that death had not occurred
from poisoning by canned corn. as
was alleged by the attending physi-
clan, but by some other person. per-
haps Intentionally administered by
someone for the purpose of causing
death.
An Autopsy 10 Held.
arrangements were made to have
the body exhumed from the grave in
the cemetery at Whitewater by Sex.
ton A. B. Austin, on January 28, and
on this date at about o'clock p. m.
under instructions Of the coroner, an
autopsy was held by DR.. J. e. Weller,
of Richmond, whose report is hereto
attached.
"The microscopic findings failed to
establish satisfactorily the cause of
death; therefore specimens of various
viscira were sent by me to the pathol-
Eogical laboratory of the state univer-
sity at Bloomington, Ind. The path.
ologist, there, DR.. Alburger, reported
that the microscopic findings also
we're not sufficient to establish the
cause of death, and in answer to the
direct question, stated that the find.
ings were such as would occur il arse.
mic had been ingested. Under my in.
structions, DIR. Alburger delivered to
Robert ID. Lyons, chemist, at the uni.
versity, the specimens and he at my
request, carried out on them, the
tests for arsenic with positive results
as shown by his report under date OF
March %, 1910, herewith appended
The embalming fluid used was proved
to contain no arsenic (see Frigid
Fluid Co., letter.)"
Letter From Or. AIburger.
A letter dated February 1s. and ad
dressed to Coroner Bramkamp by DR.
Alburger, the pathologist, is in part
as follows:
"s However, 1t would seem
that am already, more or less involv'
ed so will say to you that the his
trologic findings might easily have
been caused by the arsenic, especial
ly the condition of the stomach. The
lack of decomposition could also be
explained by the presence of the arse
mic in the tissues. We can make an
! analysis for arsenic, provided no arse
mic was used in the embalming fluid
IL I have the specimens in the
original containes in which they were
sent and can proceed ON advice from
you.'
Positive Tests For Arsenic.
The letter from the university
chemist, DR.. r. E. Lyons will also be
of interest. 1t Is dated March %, 1915
and is in full as follows:
In accordance with your request
I have made the chemical examina
ton for arsenic in the postmorten
material (stomach and piece of liver)
delivered to me by DR.. Alburger or
March II, 1910. and beg to report as
/ follows:
The liver and stomach, each gave
positive tests for arsenic.
Il find the stomach membrane tt
/ COut0ib lOIty-AlNS
| (45-100l of a grain of arsenic, calcu
lated as arsenic tri-oxide."
Or. Weller Reports.
DR.. J. E. Weller of this city, who un
der the direction of Coroner Bran
kamp, conducted the post mortem ex
animation, reported to the official hi:
findings. Some of the salient point.
are:
Height feet 9 inches: weight 14t
pounds; body shows no wounds. ex
sept a penetrating wound to the
dominal wall. made by the undertak
er In process Of embalming; bod,
comparatively well noLrished shown,
that death was due to some acute
process; peritomeum and intestine.
normal; stomach-sixe normal, ON low
er curvature there are four perfora
tons. having the appearance Of hav
ing been made by the needle used il
embalming. The stomach contai1et
one-haR pint OF chocolate coloret
fluid. The mucous M .nbrane show,
evidence Of chronic gastritis. Will
some erosions on the lower curva
tnre having the appearance Of ulcers
The pyl0ris is normal but infiltrate.