Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-11-13
POISON CIDER KILLS
EIGHT IN ELKS HOME;
L OTHERS ARE ILL

LYNCHBURG, Va, Nov. IL
Eight members of the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, residents
of the Elks National Home, at Bed
ford, about 25 miles from here, are
dead today and seventeen others are
in a serious condition from drinking
sweet cider late yesterday, The cider
is said by physicians, Charles Mos
by, superintendent of the home, and
county officials, to have contained
arsenate of lead. At least two of the
sick are said to be in a critical cen
dition.
The cider was delivered to the
home yesterday afternoon in bar
rel thought to have been used at
some time to hold the arsenate of
superintendent Mosby and county
officials said they are satisfied there
was no criminal intention in using
the key and there seemed to be no
likelihood of an inquest into the
deaths of the eight men.
The cider, it was stated, was
bought from a farmer. 1t was in a
barrel, which, it is thought, was
used last spring in connection with
spraying. Several other veterans.
residents of the home. are ill from
the cider.
The dead:
Chester Tucker, 5eweler, Lima, o.
Alvin Spalding, railroad man,
Loveland, Colo
Joseph A. Kenny, hotel man,
Marion, Ind.
F. E. O'Connor, railroad man, Dial,
las, Tex.
Thomas Madigan. railroad contrac-
tor, Long Island City, L. I.
George w. Slade, lumber mer-
chant, Saginaw, Mich.
c. S. Whitney, general contractor,
Omaha, Neb.
B. F. Allen, shoe man, Portland,
Oregon.
B. F. Allen, Snowman, Portland,
Oregon.
The cider was made last Friday,
especially for the home by E. M
Richardson, of Kelsoes Mills, Bed
ford county, Superintendent Mosby
stated. 1t was delivered in the bar
rel and in a demijohn, and was
served at a luncheon yesterday after
noon. superintendent Mosby said
about 25 of the aged Elks became
violently i'll soon afterWard, and that
he called in all physicians in Bed
ford three from Roanoke and two
from Lynchburg All diagnosed the
cases as arsenic poisoning, and Mr..
Mosby said an analysis made at Ran
academy showed it was
arsenate of lead.
investigation, the superintendent
added, showed that Mr.. Richardson
the barrel for the purpose
or using 1t for vinegar for his family,
but when received the order for
the cider he used it to deliver the
beverage. Mr.. Mcsby declared Mr..
Richardson said he washed the key
thoroughly before he put the cider
into it. Officials believe the poison
had saturated the wood.
Commemorative Attorney Edward
G. Burks said his investigation show
ed there was no criminal intent en-
the part of Mr.. Richardson bu, that
he would make a thorough inquiry
into how the poison got into the key,
and how 1t came into the possession
OF the merchant, who said he bought
it from a resident of the section
L ne commonwealth s attorney char
acterized the affair as very unfor-
tunate," and said at present there
seemed to be no reason for a coro-
ner's inquest, and as far as he was
advised none ~ be held DR.
Thomas b. West, county coroner,
also declared there seemed to be no
likelihood of an inque
AS soon as the seriousness of the
situation at the home was appre-
ciated by superintendent Mosby he
got into touch with Robert A. Scott,
of Lineton, Ind, home member OF
the national board, who wired him
to spare no expense or effort to
handle the affair, and to ascertain
the cause Of the tragedy. Mr.. Scott
left almost Immediately for Bedford,
and was expected to reach the home
tomorrow morning.
Spalding's body will be sent to
Loveland, Col, for burial. The 9th.
ers will be inferred in Bedford, Mr.
Mosby announced.