The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-10
CHILD TREATED FOR
OPIUM POISONING
But Physicians Testify at Inquest Over Shirley
Carter Nelson That Symptoms Might lndi-
cate Some Brain Trouble.

Although pointed and rather humil-
iatng questions. necessary because of
the nature " the inquiry, were put to
Mrs. Florence Nelson, mother OF Shir-
ley Carter Nelson. the nine-months-
old infant who died at o'clock Tues
day morning in the Memorial Hospi-
tai after coma lasting eighteen
hours and although Drs. L. II. Terrell
and c. a. Blanton inclined to the poi
soning theory, nothing definite was
brought out Yesterday afternoon by
the coroners jury.
Or. Terrell stated that the child was
treated at the hospital for opium poi
soning. and both he and DR.. Blanton
were inclined to think that opium pol
sonng caused death, though agreeing
that the symptoms could be explained
by reference to some brain disease
Asked About Drugs.
Many rumors IS to the habits OF the'
father. Robert Burwell Nelson. and
gossip that the child had been i'll
direct and pointed questions of Mrs
Nelson in order that rumor might be
set at rest. She was asked If her hus-
band was addicted, as rumor had said.
20 the drug habit
My husband" she replied does not
use any Of those things called dope.
The only poison know Of that the
N'4iu tpuIu NosSiplN get Is NeuDuS pol
son and poisonous toys that 1t might
suck. and 1t could not have gotten any
OF these that morning. except the toys
that 1t had in bed with it" Then Cor
oner Taylor asked her as to an indi-
rect charge that Mr.. Nelson had i'll
treated the baby.
My husband" she answered. has
never struck the child with a strap
nor threatened to choke il About six
ks off IF ~.
Society came 10 our room Din the
Guerrant HoteN at our request, be-
cause We had been falsely charged
With lltreatinF tho child. In regard
10 the money said to have been left to
the infant. amounting to $4,000, 1t Is
q life interest of my husband, which
would descend TO my child at the death
nor myself benefit by the death OF tho
child -:
That was ha. sls,'of the statements
made by Mrs Nelcon and read and
signed ny her,
Snys Woman Gossiped.
Later II was learned from Mrs. Nell
son that rumors had been started by
one Of the guests in the Guerrant
Hotel, as she alleges. that the infant
was sometimes beaten by Its father.
She was Informed OF the gossip. after
an officer of tho Humane Society had
called al the hotel and made a quiet
investigation and given up the case as
groundless. But she and nor husband.
she said. became very indignant. and
called on the officer to learn from
whom the rumor had emanated He
Informed them that the woman who
had made the charges refused 10 give
her name. preferring that she should
appear In the case only anonymously.
But Mrs. Nelson continued her Inquiry
and learned the name of the woman
who is alleged to have done the talk
Ing. and then Went 10 consult with
her attorney She was preparing 10
take action against me woman. She
stated last night. but the latter left
the city.
she locked herself in her room up
to train time" said Mrs Nelson. nut
II she ever returns we shall proceed
to take action against her In the
courts."
But whether the gossip. Of which
mere has been much. /ir rumars have
oeen banded from tongue to tongue
s 'or seyera! days is groundless or based
III fact may be determined later By nc
police, for Detective Krengel was yes
terday afternoon detailed to gather
all the evidence ne could In the matter
No more definite details are ex-
pected however. until the chemical
analysis of the chiIds stomach has
been completed ny Coroner Taylor and
tie process will take two or three
days. The autopsy performed over the
Infants body was negative in char
acter there being no traces Of poison.
Ing or Iil-treatment
History of Case.
Dr. z II. Terrell was the first Wit
ness called yesterday afternoon. He
said he saw the child first at IL.
p. VI. on August :. The child died nj
Z o'clock Tuesday morning in the
Memorial Hospital, after having beer
In a moderate stupoT. which grad
uaily deepened until death on sec
Ing the baby he called In DR.. Blanton