Evening star., 1913-10-31
VICTIM OF POISON
CHANGES HIS MIND
James W. Sampson, Who
Took BichIoride of Mercury,
Is Now Anxious to Live.

| Suffering from the effects of bichloride
| of mercury, taken. it is stated, with
suicidal intent, James W. Sampson, a
| painter thirty-three years old, is a
patient at Casualty Hospital. He has
changed his mind about wanting to die,
| 1t was stated at the hospital this morn
| ing, and is anxious that DR.. W. L.
Kelly. who has charge of his case, should
save his life.
| DR.. Kelly fears he will be unable to
save the patients life ii the report that
lie took forty grains of the poison is
true, although it is yet impossible to
tell the true condition Of the painter
He may die within forty-eight hours,
or he may linger ten days." said the
physician, 'and he may recover. HIS
condition is not promising
Simpsons conduct last night created
some excitement in the vicinity of SIS
North Carolina avenue southeast, the
home of his mother-in-law, MIS- Matte
Payne, where he and his wife have been
res ding recently. The poison was taken
| In the presence OF the wife and her
| mother. the husband. it is stated, de-
ciarlng he wanted to die.
Directing to What he termed outside
| interle ence. it is stated, sampson be-
came belligerent. and when Dr. Kelly
| tried to take charge of him he alta cked
him with Il fork. In the ambulance on
+! the way to the hospital. it is stated
sampson became troublesome and tt Ed
| - take an additional amount of poison.
Submissive at Hospital.
When the hospital was reached the
patient became more submissive, taking
antidotes without objection and obeying
the physicians instructions. He related
the story of the family troubles that
led to last nights attempt to end his
life, and concluded by expressing sor-
row for his conduct.
Sampson told DR.. Kelly that he left the
| city following domestic trouble and that
he recently returned and found his wife
had broken UP housekeeping and return
ed to her mother. Last night he went
to his mother-hl-law to effect a recon-
ell. alton and the taking of the poison was
the result
Il am in. what are you going to do
about it?' Mrs. Payne declared Sampson
said as he walked into the kitchen of her
home last evening. She said she told
him he had better leave the house as
he had been placed on Ibis personal
bonds to keep away from her home.''
When he saw his wife in the Kitchen
Mrs. Payne said, me took small bottl.
from his pocket and poured six tablets
on the kitchen tab e.
You take six of these and I'll take
slA, Mrs. Payne said the husband told
j his wife.
Wife Refused Tablets.
Mrs. Sampson, however, refused to dc
so. and the husband walked to the sink,
where he secured some water in a glass
He then placed his hand to his mouth.
and think he sWa lowed the other six
tablets" said Mrs. Payne. In a few
minutes he said he was burning up
Ne.ghbors We're summoned and they
remained until DR.. Kelly responded WITH
the ambulance. Sampson dec ared he
would not go to the hospital. He had
taken the poison to end his life. he de
clared. and he did not want to have the
physician save his life
He then tried to use the fork to pre-
vent DR.. Kelly from taking him out 0
the house He was soon overpowered
however, and placed in the ambulance.
Before the vehicle had gone far he took
tablets from his pocket, tried to take
them and started a fight in which the
physician and driver took an active part
Sampson finally reached the hospital
Antidotes were administered and the
stomach pump applied but the patient,
it is stated, disp aged unmistakable symp-
! toms OF the poison soon after he reached
the hospital.
Sampson arrested on charge of threat
ening her life. She told the judge in
j the Police Court that Sampson came to
her home and threatened to kill her with
shotgun Sampsons personal bonds
were taken for him to stay away from
his mother-in-laW'S home and not to
trouble her any more
Mrs. Payne declared that Sampson has
not complied with the order of the
court, and said that he frequently came
to her home and demanded adnlittance
Another Treated for Poison.
Lillian Short, colored, eighteen years
old. giving her address as 133 street
northwest, was treated at Emergency
Hospital this morning for bichloride of
mercury poisoning, having been found
sick in cell at the fourth precinct po-s
lice station, where she was held on
charges of petty thefts.
The police had been looking for tie
woman the past five or six months. they
say, and yesterday afternoon Detective
kleindienst arrested her. Shortly be-
fore it was time for tile prisoner to be
taken to court the janitor in the station
noticed she was sick.
Questioned about her condition, she
told the jan:tor she had taken bichioride
of mercury tablets
Il knew the police had been looking
for me long time" the prisoner told
the janitor. and fearing ] would get
severe sentence / took bichloride of rner-
curry"
When placed under arrest the prisoner
was searched, but no poison was found
on her. and today the police were told
that she had it secreted i'll her stocking
| The police hurried the sick woman to
| the hospital. She told the physicians
! she had taken two tablets of the poison
and symptoms of the poison were de-
| tected.