The Washington times., 1920-09-12
CASE
!. IS REOPENED
Aim OF Post Mortem Is to Show
II Death Really Was
Accidental.
CONTINUED from First PageJ

(Continued from First Page.)
shrewd judicial officials of this
capital.
"Why did she drink from the bot
tle?" is another query heard this
afternoon in the halls of the pre-
lecture OF the police. With the array
OF bottles lined up on the bathroom
table, the presence OF glasses is pre-
sumed. and II is pointed out that II
Is not the custom OF women OF the
refinement of Miss Thomas to lift q
bottle TO their lips unless In a state
OF extreme, perhaps desperate, excite
ment.
But the main thing which the au-
thorities hope they will be able to re-
veal Is the precise quantity OF the
deadly poison the actress drank.
Much hinges on that. Bichloride OF
mercury may be taken in tablets OF
seven and a half grains with i'm
punity to the taste; the effects will
not make themselves felt for an
hour or so. But with a solution. OF
the poison, medical observers pointed
out today, 1t is different. Taken in
that form. IL affects the throat like
liquid fire and the first drops, when
they reach the stomach, cause a
terrific burning sensation.
To drink a large quantity OF the
poison in this form is conceivable to
the authorities only in two cases
that OF an intoxicated person whose
burning throat might be impervious
to the feryent fluid. or that OF, mind
intent to lend II all" and therefore
willing to stand the worst of pains
to terminate all pains forever.
HAVE JACKS STORY ONLY.
ad
practically on what Jack Pickford
told him of how his wife came to
swallow the deadly. poison. Miss
Thomas condition was such toward
the end that no ante-mortem state
ment could be taken and the judi
cial authorities were indisposed to
close the matter until Jack Pickt2rd's
story is supplemented by additional
facts.
appeared to have been closed, proved
a sensation.
lowing to Mrs. Pickford dyinN
without making. a statement and also
because of the fact that she was
alone when she took ths poison. the
only possible verdict Is accidental
death from poisoning"
Such was the summing up of M.
Catrou, as submitted to the higher
officials. His inquiry dealt only with
the cause Of death, Jack Pickford. the
physicians and Mrs. Florence w. Wul-
felt, who says she was olives best
friend, being the only witnesses.
RETURNED VERY NERVOUS.
All testified that Miss Thomas had
been in a very nervous and abnormal
condition when she returned to the
Ritz Hotel early Sunday morning
following her round Of the night
clubs and restaurants.
Jack Pickford testified that he, his
wife, and some others went to his
room, where the party talked for half
an hour. when the gathering broke
up. When he was preparing to retire
he heard scream from the bathroom,
followed by this cry from his wife:
11've taken poison. Goodbye, Jack"
Pir 'kford added that he administer
ed first aid and then called the hotel
physician, who ordered the transfer
of the patient to the American Hos.
pital at Neuilly, where she died Fri
day morning.
Pickford stoutly denied all reports
that he had quarreled with his wife
and that she had threatened to COM
init suicide.
1t was learned today that the
tragedy may mean the death knell of
Lewis J. Zelnick's plans for a Paris
studio in which Miss Thomas was
scheduled to star. 1t is intimated
that the dead actress affirmed the
Zelnick offer, which was made in New
York a month ago. Olive accepting
despite the objections of her husband,
who urged her to throw over Zelnck's
offer and return to Los Angeles to