The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-21
HAD TASTED WHISKY
 WHICH WAS SENT HIM
officers Are Entirely at Sea as to Who Caused Double Tragedy Which Has Shocked the Whole
 Community

 I.allande Contracting company, died in agony yesterday afternoon at s:30 o'clock at his boarding place, 2122 Fourth avenue, north, and Mir. Strickland died about twenty minutes later at the Copeland
 Solomon Wilder infirmary.
 | It was later found that the liquor was poisoned and the belief is expressed by physicians and the coroner that it con tained strychnine.
 | MT. Coleman, in company with MT. Strickland, had just seated themselves
 at the dinner table when they were both seized with convulsions resulting from the drink. MT. Coleman had a room at 2l24 Fourth avenue, north, and took his meals ct boarding house adjoining. The
 drink had taken effect in the short time 1t required the two men to walk from one house to the other.
 Greeted Friends Pleasantly In company with his friend, MT. Cole man entered the dining room and toos his seat with the usual pleasant greet ings from his fellow boarders. AS the two men were drawing up their chairs II was noticed by K. T. Millsaps, who was on the opposite side of the table that MT. Coleman turned to Mr.. Strickland al his side and whispered something 10 him.a Mr. Coleman then looked over to- wards MT. Millsaps and smiled in apology | for the confabulation.
 MiIIsaps Describes Conduct According to MT. Mllsaps, the two men seemed acting a little strangely and be- gan eating doughnuts and other things | on the table before they touched the soup that had been set for them. Mr. Mill saps said that almost immediately MT Coleman was attacked with convulsions and at the same time MT. Strickland showed signs of the same sickness MT 1 Coleman was not too i'll to perceive the condition of his friend, who was toppling out of his chair, and he pulled his strength together sufficiently to assist
 Mr. Strickland's chair from the table With almost insupportable pain MT Strickland was removed to another room. MT. Coleman immediately became help less also and required assistance. To those who were assisting him MT Coleman said, We only took little drink, hardly enough for one. It was a small sample bottle that was given me. ' He was shaken with a convulsion, and could say no more for several seconds | in answer to the queries of his friends | His next speech was. That stuff was | doped," and in a few moments he re- peated. 'It was poisoned" He asked
 the men who were supporting him if the pupils of his eyes were not larger, and
 he insisted that they must be so l.. E. Anderson's Statement | According to L. D. Anderson, who was present, MT. Coleman realized his own condition sooner than anyone else, and acted in a way which indicated that lie knew more than he would tell MT. An l derson said: ''He was sufficiently con scious to leave some instructions in re- gard to some private matters, but he avoided any question as to how he go: I the sample bottle of whisky. He only said 1t was sent him. Shortly before he expired he said, My God, it's hard to die 1 like a dog"
 Those present say that during all his agony MT. Coleman's greatest considera- ton was for the condition of MT. Strics- land and he kept asking, How is my | friend?, It is said that he seemed to regret the, condition of the man who had taken the drink with him more than any thing else. He died just after pr. E. E. May, who had been rushed to the
 house, entered the room.
 | MT. Strickland was hurried to the Cope land.. Solomon & Wilder infirmary where | the stomach pump was applied in the hone of saving his life. The attempt, perhaps, only prolonged his existence a short while, for he died about 20 minutes later.
 The remains of the two men were re- moved to Lige Loys parlors, where an autopsy was held last night at 7:3O o'clock, the result of which may not be fully ascertained for several days. Prominent in Fraternal Orders MT. Coleman was district deputy grand | chancellor of the Knights of Pythias of Alabama, affiliated with Phoenix lodge No. 25. He was & member of Temple | ledge No. 636, A. F. and A. NJ, and Fra ternal lodge No. 30S, I. o. o. F. He was also a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner.
 Guy R. Coleman was the son of Thom- l as l.. Coleman of Mt. Willing, Lowndes county, Alabama. He Is survived in ad- dition to his father, by two sisters, Mrs. w. J. Coker of Mt. Willing and Mrs. I Riley of Cullman, and two brothers, Co., l burn C. Coleman and Thomas L. Cole | man, Jr., of Mt. Willing, and Jesse Cole man of Hayneville.
 l His remains will be removed to the
 Masonic temple this morning at 1t | o'clock, which will be opened to all who wish to view them. They will be | sent to Mt. Willing tomorrow morn l inr at S:3S o'clock by Lige Loy. where they will be inferred.
 | MT. Strickland was also a thirty-second degree Mason. and a Shriner, and mem- Der of the Scottish Rite bodies of Bir- mineham. He was a graduate of the University of Alabama, and was until l the time of his death employed in the l tax collectors office. He is survived by three brothers and sister.
 His remains will be removed to Pratt l City today The funeral services will | take place from the Methodist church at Pratt City tomorrow at o'clock. Police Investigation
 Immediately after the death of Guy R. Coleman the police department was noti- fled and Detectives Ray, Fully, Williams uf ot h,,~ foa fn be