Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-20
Prof. Whitney of Harvard Tes-
titles in the Trial of Mrs.
Eaton Today.
SAYS ORGANS REEkED
WITH DEADLY ARSENIC
Declares Discoveries Indicate That
Drug Had Been Taken in More
. Than One Dose.

PLYMOUTH, Mass. October 20.-Prof
William T.. Whitney of the Harvard
Medical School was called TO the stand
today In the trial of Mrs. Jennie May
Eaton charged with the murder of her
husband. Rear Admiral Joseph G. Eaton,
TO recount the result of his analysis of
The organs removed from the body OF
Admiral Eaton. District Attorney katz-
mann asserted that Prof. Whitney found
afteen grains of white arsenic in the ad-
mirars stomach.
Prof. Whitney testified that the vital
orFans of the admirals body were per
meated' with arsenic He found total
OF 1851 grains of the poison.
Replying to a hypothetical question
asked by District Attorney Barker. at the
suggestion of Judge Aiken. the witness;
said that his discoveries would indicate
that the poison had been taken in more
than one dose. The first dose was proba-
bly, taken within a few hours of the time
that suffering began. The hypothetical
question supposed that the patient became
i'll Thursday and died Saturday. In the
opinion of the witness indications were
that the sick man had received poison six
hours before he died.
System Rejects Portion.
The witness said that large amount of
the poison received by the admiral had
been thrown off. The body probably had
ridden itself of several times the amount
that had been retained. The poison must
have been taken through the mouth. eth
er pure I'm some fluid. in order to have
reached the stomach in the form found.
Prof. Whitney said that death was not
caused by arsenic in the form to be
found in the paris green kept IN the
Eaton home.
On cross-examination Prof. Whitney ad-
mitted that the presence of large
quantity of arsenic In a PERSONS stomach
led to the presumption that IT was self
administered. because IT was so easily
detected. He said that the poison might
have been in the admirafs system the
day before he was taken i'll. but that one
who had taken fifteen grains of arsenic
would suffer intense pains. He said that
the conditions were not inconsiStent with
a theory that the poison had been ad-
ruinistered In many doses. The first dose
was probably taken within an hour OF
dinner time Thursday
Letter Written by Mrs. Eaton.
A letter written by Mrs. Eaton to Prof
Whitney In 1909, while the chemist was
examining the digestive organs Of an
adopted child Of the Eatons who had died
suddenly, was introduced. The writer
said In part:
"Will you kindly inform me how much
longer ii will be before you can state ex-
actly what my dear little healthy. strong
child died from? / am here alone In this
Isolated place with my husband. Admiral
J. G. Eaton, whom / know to be a dan
gsrous insane man.
Now, please search for foreign poisons.
as he has talked to me freely about for
eign poisons, and he has al the c-ever-
ness of a man &c, and is cunning enough
TO use one that would be hard to detect.
lie has been planning my death all day
today and yet | am poweriess, and 1
trust. on the finding of poison. TO have
him examined for insanity and then taken
care OF
Prof William Balch. another chemist
from the Harvard Medical School. testi-
lied that in his opinion poison was admin
iStsred 10 Admiral Eaton in more than
one dose He said that arsenic mieht be
taken vita tea. with saleratus and water,
With milk, and with certain other bever-
ages without detection by the patient.