Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-12-07
TELLS STRYCHNINE STORY
John BOhOnnOn Claims TO Have
Taken Eight Grains of Poison.
wife Declines to Rush TO His ALLEGED
Dying bedside and Hospital Au-
thorities Work stomach
Pump Effectively.

John Bohonnon was taken to the Mary
Fletcher hospital about nine O'Clock Tues-
day night In tho police ambulance after he
had made the statement that he had
taken eight tablets each containing n
grain of strychnine. II is believed, how
ever, that GohCnnon did not take that
quantity of strychninc. which would ccr-
tainly have resulted in his death Ions
before the time he called a physician,
and it is more than probable that Bohon-
non was attempting to play upon the
sympathies of his wife. with whom he
has been having trouble and who abso-
lutely refused to rush to his bedside
when n Inc sage was sent to her by him
that he was dying and wanted her to
comfort him In his last moments on earth.
A physician was called and administered
antidotes, after which Bohonnon was
taken to the hospital, where his stomach
was washed.
The trouble began Tuesday night when
Mrs. Bohonnon telephoncd to the police
office that Bohonnon was raising a dis
turbancc at the house where she lived at
81 Peru street. Officers were sent to the
house and on their arrival Mrs. Bohonnon
stated that her husband had left hut
before departing had taken the contents
of n box which was labeled 10 contain
one grain strychnine tablets. The police
took the box and returned to the station.
Soon afterwards Mrs. Bohonnon tele-
phoned that her husband was diving at
his rooming place at ~ Main street and
had sent for her. She was asked why she
did not send n physician to the place
and she replied that she would have moth
ing whatever to do with the matter.
Bohonnon. after leaving his wife. went
back to the house at ~ Main street,
where he has roomed for the pas. six or
eight weeks, and informed the landlady,
Mrs. barney. that he had taken a large
dose of Strychnine and expected 20 die.
He asked her to take n cab and go after
his wife Mt 81 Peru street. This Mrs.
Rarney did but Mrs. B%ohonnon, While
apprcciating Mrs. Barney's kindness. re-
fused to- go near her husband BohOnnon
up to this time had refused 70 have n
physician but Mrs. Barney made it i'm
p~erative 10 him that if he refused to allow
her to summon n physician she would
telephone to ,4e police station, This
brought the man TO time and DR.. r. l."
Maynard was summoned.
To Dr.. MAYNARD the man stated that
he had taken eight strychnine tablets
tive 400 ard five o'clock in the
afternoon while at the home OF his
wife on Peru street. He wished to die
and did not want to he helped. He did
not appear to be suffering from any
symptoms which such n dose of poison
would have brought on, but as a pre-
cautionary measu Dr. Maynard had
him removed to the hospital.
Bohonnon, in his talk, said that he
had had enough Of the horrible trou-
bles of this cruel world and hat he
was eager to die and end it all. He
said that his family troubles had been
great and wanted his mother. Mrs
Jennie Eohonnon, who lives in West
Bolton, notified so that he might see
her before he answered the last call.
He wept bitterly when he stated that
he had sent after his wife and she
would not come to him.
Bohonnon has been employed as yard
and storeioom man at tho Hotel Yer
mont, but Monday night he was dis
charged because he was not attend
ing to his work and had Quarreled
with other employees about the place
He purchased the strychninc at q
drug store Tuesday afternoon, saying
that he wanted it to Kill rats and a
dog. lie asked whether or not it must
be registered and was OF the opinion
that il should not be. He at h'S'
wanted to purchase the poison in pow
d. form, but his request was refused
II took it in tablet form, each table
containing a grain.
He was sold but five tablets ant
stated tina I'VE had taken eight. At tn,
house he said that his age was forty
four and at the hospital gave it Il:
forty wears.