The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-03-29
Moody Died of
Arsenic Poison

CHICAGO. March 2S-That Alex
ander j. Moody. whose death on Feb
ruary 20 was attributed to ptoma:ne
poisoning, really died from arsenic,
was the startling assertion made to-
day by Coroner Hoffman.
That the poison was contained in
hamburger steak eaten by the deced-
ent seems clear to the authorities, but
the manner in which it was placed in
the meat is a mystery neither the
coroner nor the police have been able
to solve.
While the coroner and Assistant
Chief of Police Schuettler declare they
accuse no one, it is admitted that a
woman of Mr.. Moody's household and
one Of mis- employees have been under
surveillance for month.
Mr.. Moody, like his brother. Frank,
who is a Son-in-law of Congressman
Monkey, and Charles H. Moody inher-
tied considerable fortune from his
father, founder of the big pie baking
firm Of Moody & Walters, OF which
Charles H. was the head, and Alex
ander the secretary. The latter oc-
cupied a fine residence at 210 Seeley
avenue, this city, owned a summer
residence in Wisconsin and a farm at
st. Charles, Ill.
February 20 fell on a Sunday. The
previous Thursday hamburger steak
had been purchased but not used un-
til Saturday, the intervening Friday
being observed as fast day. On Sat
| urday the family partook of the meat
without i'll effects. Sunday morning
Mr.. Moody was compelled to visit the
factory and as his wife was not feel
ing WELL Mr. Moody took breakfast
alone. the meal being prepared by
Agnes Hartwick, servant who has
been in the family for IS years. The
leftover portion of the steak had
been rolled into balls by Miss Hart
wick and placed in the icebox over
night. This box contained no ice, the
weather being cold, and was Access
sible either from the kitchen or the
rear porch. The easy access to the
refrigerator from without is shown in
the testimony of Miss Hartwick at q
private inquiry when she stated that
eggs and meat had been missed from
the box on several occasions.
Is Taken Violently III.
At the direction of Mrs. Moody. the
servant served Mr.. Moody the steak
corn bread and coffee. Miss Hartwick
ate a piece of bread dipped in the
gravy of the meat and some hours
later was taken violently i'll.
MIR Moody remained at the bakery
all day, but returned IN Carriage dt
10 D. M so i'll he could scarcely stand.
A home remedy falling to afford re-
lief, the family physician. DR.. r. b.
Hartman, was sent for, but he was
unable to succor the patient, who died
within an hour. The doctor was about
to leave the house when Informed that
the servant was ILL., exhibiting symp-
toms similar to those of Mr.. Moody
In this case medical aid proved eff
ficaciOus.
Moved by reasons which he has not
made public, DR.. Hartman admits
having secured that night the re-
manning portion of the steak, when
he sealed in a glass jar. This EXHIBIT
was given for analysis to DIR. Walter
Haines. the chemist, whose name mas
been familiar with scientific investl-
CATION in the Swope case of Kansas
CITY. DR.. Haines in a report to the
coroner suppressed until today, SAID
the meat contained enough arsenic 10
have killed half dozen persons.
The kidneys, heart and stomach or
the decedent. according to the cor
oner. showed pronounced traces Oh the