The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-04-09
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 Its Hands That
the Wayne County Authorities May Have
Difficulty in Solving.

were turned over to DR.. r. E. Lyons.
one of the chemists at the university.
DR.. Lyons addressed the coroner, stat
ing that he found positive evidences of
arsenic and 1t was on this, as basis,
that coroner Bramkamp, rendered his
verdict this morning.
Grand Jury May Be Called.
Coroner Bramkamp stated this
morning that SO far as his connection
with the case was concerned he had
completed his investigation. Prose
cutting attorney Charles Ladd stated
that IL 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 a well known chemist In the
introduction of his verdict the coroner
says:
Rumors Of Foul Play.
"The report was brought to me
from various sources that the death
OF Eddie X. Whita Of near WhitaWat=
er, December %, 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 faUed to
establish satisfactorily the cause Of
death; therefore specimens of various
viscira were sent by me to the pathol-
ogical laboratory of the state univer-
sity at Bloomington, Ind. The path
ologist, there, DIR. Alburger, reported
that the microscopic findings also
were 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 If arse
mic had been ingested. Under my in
structions, DR.. Alburger delivered to
Robert E. 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 23. 1910, herewith appended.
The embalming fluid used was proved
to contain no arsenic (see Frigid
Fluid CO., letter."
Letter From Or. Aiburaer.
A letter dated February Is, and ad-
Alburger, the pathologist, is in part
as follows:
However, 1t would seem
that l am already, more or less involv-
ed SO win 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.
/ 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. It is dated March %, 1910
and is In full as follows:
In accordance with your request,
have made the chemical examina-
ton for arsenic in the postmortem
material (stomach and piece of liver)
delivered to me by DIR. Alburger on
March II, 1910, and beg to report as
follows:
The liver and stomach, each gave
positive tests for arsenic.
Il find the stomach membrane to
contain forty-five One-hundredths
(45-l0O) Of 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 his
findings. Some Of the salient points
are:
Height feet inches: weight 40