Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-21
CHALKHOLDS
Chill IN
POISON
GRIP
7-Year-0Id Mary TribbIe Dying
After 2 Weeks Paralysis
From Eating Crayon.

seven-year-old Mary Tribble,
daughter of Policeman w. c. Tribble,
lies partially paralyzed and speech
less at her home, Porter Street,
East Atlanta. where her strange case
has baffled physicians for the last
two weeks.
Two doctors have worked over her
almost constantly since she came
from school two weeks ago Friday
and told OF eating some pieces Of
brightly colored crayon. A few min
utes after she complained of being
Ill her little body was rigid in the
mysterious paralysis and she has been
able to utter but few words since.
The physicians say that the color
ing matter in the crayons 10 one Of
the deadly poisons when taken into
the human system.
Physicians Are Powerlsss.
The case is so unusual thew ara
powerless to combat it. Only a flick
er of life apparently remains in the
tense body Of the stricken child
The doctors fear this bit Of life
viii go out at any moment.
Mary Tribbles uncle. Policeman
Charles II. Brannon, still has in his
possession the remnants of the. chalk
which the girl ate. The impuants of
her little teeth plainly are discern
ible upon it,
The girl was pupil in the frsA
grade at the Faith School fnaEast At
lanta. Several days before the close
Of school her parents bought her some
Of the attractively colored crayons.
She had pleaded for them for weeks.
saying that she wanted to draw pref
ty pictures on the blackboard like the
other children.
On the last day OF school she went
home sick. She was questioned bv
her mother but was only able TO tell
that her head hurt
A little later she was unconscious.
Several of her little sch0olmates
among them Ada Parker. who Occur
pied the seat just behind Mary told
Mrs. Tribble that they had seen the
child eating some of the coIored
crayons that are used in the draw
ing classes of the school.
In Rigor of Death.
Drs. P. E. Pearce and r. e. stons
were called. They were told OF the
cfrc1rrr, ct a pcas op5 o,,,- 4. -
clusion that aniltne coloring. a deadly
poison, had been used in the cravons
They used every method known to
the medical profession to bring the
girl out of her strange state, but were
unsuccessful.
From that time she has remained
as in the rigor Of death. The
physicians can not hold out much
hope. They say that If the condition
lasts much longer the girl must surely
die. Her quick release from the para
lytic state they believe to be the only
thing that will save the young life
The parents are heartbroken. Mary
was a bright, happy little child and
was one of the bright spots of sun
shine in the little home. She was
popular with her playmates, and thew
cali every day at the TribbIe house to
see if there is any sign of improves
ment.
Case Puzzles Doctors.
DR.. R. E. Stone, the physician who
has been in almost constant attend
ance upon the little girl, told Geor-
g1an reporter Saturday morning that
the case is one Of the most remark
able in his experience.
Il have never seen anything like
it" DR.. Stone said. THE symptoms
are unlike those of any disease in
my knowledge. Some appear to be
those of auto-intoxication. combined
with a pressure on the brain that
produces a paralytic condition. Wet
have not yet been able to determine
whether her condition is the result.
of eating the chalk, or from some
other cause. AS a matter of fact, III
be frank enough to say that we dA
not know what is the matter with
her, though it is evident that she has,
been poisoned by something
The little girl rallied for few
moment Saturday morning, and
when DR.. Stone called her pulse was
stronger than it has been for sev-
eral days. The physician declared
that it is impossible to tell whether