Evening star., 1925-04-10
But Brain Evidence Must Be
Backed Up by Further Test,
Says G. W. U. Doctor.
HYPOTHESIS OF DOSING
WITH RARE DRUG STUDIED
Report to Coroner's Office by Chem
ist Held Up Pending Clear
ing of Suspicious.

Suspicious" pathological evidence,
which. if confirmed, will tend to bear
out charges that the late Samuel T.
Curtin Thoman was poisoned mas
been uncovered by Prof Oscar B.
Hunter, assistant dean OF George
Washington University Medical
School, he announced today.
The "suspicions' were OF enough
Importance to warrant postponement
until Monday OF the pathologists re
port to the coroner's ONCE. The re-
suit of the pathological findings was
to have been turned over to Deputy
Coroner Herbert f. Martyr today.
The peculiar signs were found upon
intensive study of the brain of the
recently exhumed body, Or. Hunter
said. OF themselves, they do not
show conclusiyely an unnatural orl-
gin. he explained. but If they actual l.
ly are the result of poisonous drugs
a study OF the blood corpuscles OF
the dead man will undoubtedly reveal
corroborative s. mptoms.
Awaits Conclusive Tests.
The professor said he worked most
of last night on the brain tests ana
indicated that his observations had
aroused his interest. He empha-
sized that unless the blood tests now
10 be instituted back up the suspi l.
cious evidences" noted in the Dralh
he would be inclined TO disregard
the some what unusual appearance OF
the brain tissues.
Dr. Hunter said he has discussed
with Deputy Coroner Martyr the pos
sibility of some OF the so-called rarer
drugs having been administered the
deceased In such a way as not to re-
veal themselves by chemical analysis
of the vital organs.
Certain of these drugs might have
affected the brain of Mr.. Thoman SO
.as TO produce the suspicious appear
ance presented to the pathologist un-
der microscopic examination, he
stated.
Effects Dimcuit 10 Trace.
"Tbere are a number of coal-tar de-
rivatives that might have anected the
brain as indicated" Prof. Hunter as
serted. They are organic COMPOUNDS
exceedingly difficult to analyze III an
autopsy test such as was necessary
in this case They would tend, If
administered in small quantities, TO
produce a lethargic condition, not un-
like sleeping sickness.
"Furthermore. and you understand
that am merely discussing the
various possibilities from scientihC
standpoint, IL Mr.. Thoman was al
ready suffering from encephalitls' or
Inflammation of the brain, as we nave
found to be the case. 1t would take
but a few small doses TO shove MIN
over the border and no one wouio
have been the wiser.
-Of course, the peculiar condltion
of the brain in this case may not
mean anything sinister. But we
cannot afford to overlook the slightest
possjbilit-. That is why l have de-
cided to continue my examination for
several days"
VIII Confer With Deputy.
DR.. Hunter arranged to have an
other conference today with Dr.
Martyn, who is in personal charge
of the general autopsy for the
coroner.s office. The chemical tests
completed by DR.. T. NJ Price, Health
Department chemist. showed negative
results for all metallic and alkaloid
poisons.
DR. Hunter commented upon the
fact that coal tar poisons are all made
up in the form of white, crystalline
powder. A letter, now In the hands
Of the police, names a certain IN
dividual as having given Mr.. Thoman
"a white powder" in a drink whlle ne
was Ill a year ago.
If the present pathological examlna-
ton finally confirms the chemists re-
port that no poison existed in Mr
Thoman's body. the police automatically
will drop the whole investigation, which
began two weeks ago following mys-
terious attack on the dead mans daugh-
ter, Mrs F'leta Motherwell, at her home,
1905 c street northeast.
The attack, police were led to believe,
was made by persons interested in OBJ
tanning possession Of the discriminating
letter held by the police. The letter, in
itself, police say, does not warrant MAX
ing an arrest