The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-05-11
Stories Told By Domestic at the
First and Second Hearings
Of the Inquest Differ
Widely
MRS. STANNARD IS ACCUSED
Held by Coroner's Jury to be Respon-
sible For Husbands Death. Sui
eide May be Defense That
Will be offered.

Decelopments in the Stannard case in
Ontonagon county have come thick
and fast. The conclusion yesterday
afternoon of the inquest conducted by
Coroner Corgan at Mass City and the
rendering of a verdict TO the effect
that charles Stannard came to his
death on March 26, 1911, by strychnine
poisoning administered by the hand
Of Mrs. Laura Stannard." will be fol-
lowed by the arrest at her home at
Greenland of Mrs. Stannard on the
charge of murder.
Attorneys O3Aien and LeGendre,
representing the defendant have ask
ed for an adjournment of the examin-
alton until next Monday. The exam
nation probably will oe conducted in
one of the Ontonagon justice courts.
Two theories, based on the testi-
mony introduced at the inquest, are
being advanced as to the cause of Mr.
Stannard's death. one, that the poison
was administered to him by Mrs.
Stannard. the other that he took the
strychnine himself. and IL is believed
suicide will be the line of defense in
Mrs. Stannard's behalf
Charles Stannard died on March
26 at his home in Greenland, follow
ing a series of from twelve to fifteen
convusions, in rapid succession. on
Saturday night, March 25, he had at
tended a caucus and from the evidence
introduced, he returned home at 4;30
O'clock Sunday morning, intoxicated
lie got up at about 10 O'clock, ate
breakfast. which consisted of two
eggs and cup of coffee, and went to
his room. He soon complained of be-
ing very sick and began to vomit He
called to his son. Alva, aged 16. and
told him TO go and get a doctor as
he was very sick. The boy thought
nothing was wrong except the reac-
tion from his fathers indiscretions OF
the night before and delayed going.
Mr.. Stannard soon took another spell
of vomiting. more violent than the
first. and Mrs. Stannard urged her
son TO go to get the doctor as quickly
as possible. at the same time sending
her daughter, Elaine aged IA years, TO
summon assistance. She returned with
Sam Gourd, and before the doctor
came. MFR. Stannard had two violent
commissions. After an examination by
DR. Larned, he thought there was
nothing wrong with Mr.. Stannard eX-
cept the result OF his alcoholic ex-
cesses. He remained about half an
hour and left the patient I'm charge
of Sam Gourd. who remained with
him until his death. lie died about
2:40 o'clock I'm the afternoon.
Afterwards. DIR. Larned was called
again, and he summoned - Hanna
Of Mass and DR.. Evans OF Rockland
who assisted IN, conducting a post
mortem examination.
Coroner Corgan was notified and
lmpanelled a jury to conduct the in
quest. taking the testimony of DIR.
Larned, Grace Hammes. who was en-
ployed as n domestic at the Stannard
home, and Sam Gourd.
Miss Hammes' First Story.
Miss H9mmes. who is one of the
most important witnesses, testified
mat Mr.. Stannard got up about 10
o'clock went down TO the cellar and
got two bottles of beer and after COM
ing up, he drank both bottles. stating
to the girl. IL don't think l am long
Tor this world" He then went up
stairs where he remained until called
Tor breakfast about ten or fifteen min
utes later. In the meanwhile. Miss
Hammes testified she had gone into
the pantry. procured the coffee pot.
nnsed 1t out, ground the coffee and put
IL In the pot. She then fried two eggs
ana poured the coffee In the cup. She
mad not looked into the cup before
pouring the coffee I'm It. however. She
then went to the foot of the stairs and
called MIR. Stannard. who come and
drank the coffee. She testified that all
"f the other members OF the family had
eaten breakfast before Mr.. Stannard.
. ana that Mira Stannard had nothing
TO do with preparing the breakfast
ana was not In the kitchen. II was
N"'h 'M'. Sldnndru idu fc'uiheu
10 his room that there was any COM
plant about anything being wrong.
soon after he became violently III.
AT the first hearing of tho inquest,
samuel Gourd testified as to the num-
per OF commissions Mr. Stannard mad
up to the time of his death and DIR.
Larned testified as to what he knew
OF the case and as TO the fact that the
conditions found at the pest mortem,
indicated strychnine poisoning.
Mrs Stannard expressed n desire Ia
20 on the stand at this time and tell
her story but the coroner refused to
permit her to do so.
An adjournment was taken OF the