Evening star., 1926-04-30
AUTOPSY REVEALS
DEATH BY OYSTERS
Inquiry Started Into Alleged
Ptomaine Poisoning OF
Naval Man.

Indications that chief pharnlar rtst
old. of Callejo. Caiif.. died Yesterday
as the result "f ptomaine poison.
after eating fried oysters for luncheon.
we're revealed BY an autopsy super
vised hy Deputy Coroner Joseph ID.
Rogers at the Naval Medical School
today.
Smith died last night snd two OF his
companions. chief Carpenter Ellis b.
Berkstresser 40 years old. and chief
Boatswain James e. t.egg. IS years
old. also were seriously III after hav-
ing eaten fried oysters at the same
luncheon. at Harveys restaurant :.
Eleventh street and Pennsylvania ave
nue. Three other naval warrant off
GERS. Pay Clerk G. r. Anderson. Chief
Machinist Edwin r. Abel and Chief
Radio Electrician n. n. Blevins. who
comprised the others in the luncheon
party of six did not eat fried oysters
and were unaffected hy their meals
Blevins ate fish and the other two ate
raw oysters.
\eviff Reserves Decision.
Coroner hewitt will consider the re.
port Of DR.. Rogers before deciding
whether an inquest will he conduct ed
tomorrow or next day. The case was
placed entirely within the jurisdiction
Of the District authorities hy naval
ofTicials.
The six warrant officers were In
Washington to testify before the Sen.
ate naval affairs committee today re-
eardins A hill readiustins the pay of
commissioned warrant officers. In which
class each of the six belong. They
were stopping at the Raleigh Hotel
and decided 20 partake NJ sea food
luncheon. They went to Harveys.
Berkstresser became III shortly after
having eaten some Of the fried oysters
and vomited. Legg was III for several
hours but today was believed TO he
recovering.
shortly after the six men returned
To their rooms at the Raleigh Hotel.
DR.. Charles ". Hyde was summoned
to treat Smith. DR.. Hyde diagnosed
the case as an attack Of ptOmaine
poisoning. He returned later and
had left for the second time only
short period before a third emergency
call was given him. Before his arri-
val for the third time Smith became
violently i'll and died. Meanwhile.
Legg was in a serious condition and
DR.. Hyde accompanied him TO the
Emergency Hospital.
At Harvey's restaurant today the
MANAGEMENT stated that the dest
and illnesses We're inexplicable. 1t
was stated that the oysters served
fried were fresh and in hrst class
condition so far a. could be ascer-
tained.
An analysis Of the oysters from the
same consignment was heing made
today under the orders Of the
restaurant management. Thus far
no indication Of any taint or harm
full condition had been found, II was
said.
Detectives Brodie and Varney Of
police headquarters Investigated the
case.
Coroner hewitt said that he had
been informed by DIR. Hyde that the
case OF Smith did not present a typical
clinical picture" OF ptomaine poison
topsy. stated that every indication
uncovered in the post.mortem pointed
toward ptomaine poisoning.
An analysis to determine whether
any chemical poisons could have in
fected the oysters from the cans 10
expected to he completed before to-
morrow
Smith according to the Navy De.
partment. is survived by wife and
two children at Vallejo. Calf. He was
stationed at Mare Island Naval Hos
pital Calf. T<gg was stationed at
Hampton Roads. Va: Berkstresser
At Mare Isls nd Navy Yard. Anderson
at Boston Navy Yard. Abel at Hsmp.
ton Roads. Va. and Blevins at the
Brooklyn Navy Yard