Letters of Condolence on death of Jane Stanford, 1905

#19097 Original Draft In our judgment, after careful consideration of all facts brought to our knowledge, we are fully convinced that Mrs. Stanford's death was not due to strychnine poisoning not to intentional wrongdoing on the part of any one. We find in the statements of those with her in her last moments, no evidence that any of the characteristic symptoms of strychnine poisoning were present. We think it probably that her death was due to a combination of conditions and circumstances. Among these we may note in connection with her advanced age, the unaccustomed exertion, a surfeit of unsuitable food, and the unusual exposure on the picnic party of the day in question. These conditions were perhaps

somewhat aggravated by the presence of strychnine, and other drugs in a medicinal capsule, and possibly also by the presence of a very small amount of strychnine contained in its medicinal proportions contained in a dose of bicarbonate of soda.

The occurrence of this strychnine {with?} bicarbonate of soda is as yet unexplained. The fact that it is as yet not in excess of the usual medicinal proportions suggests either an error of a pharmacist or else that the combination was prepared for tonic purposes.

There is no evidence that there is any connection between the presence of a medicinal minute quantity of strychnine in the bicarbonate of soda, with the unexplained occurrence of the same drug strychnine in large

quantities as noted reported to be found in a bottle of Poland water at an earlier date in San Francisco.

We must recognize that the preliminary hypothesis of accidental poisoning seemed a natural one under the extraordinary circumstances, we regard it however as without foundation and wholly imcompatible with the evidence before in our possession.

David Starr Jordan

We cannot express in too high terms our appreciation of the generous sympathy and friendly hospitality shown by all the people of Honolulu Hawaii with whom we have come in contact,

We have come to Honolulu on the saddest of errands, and, we leave with the warmest feelings of gratitude towards the beautiful island, the generous-hearted city and its helpful and sympathetic citizens.

Honolulu

March 16.1905

David Starr Jordan

Timothy Hopkins

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Mar 14th 1905

Doctor David Starr Jordan.

Dear Sir:--

After thinking the thing over again I have come to the conclusion that I had better leave the communication relative to my opinion as to the causes of Mrs. Stanford's death, for you to do with as you see fit, should you at any time find it of any service whatever in anything more than a private way, though in all probability there is no further use you would have for it.

All through the communication I have purposely left out any thing whatever in the way of criticism of any doctor connected with the case, with the exception of course of what can be read between the lines. I have said nothing as to the reasons why Dr. Humphries did not put Mrs. Stanford to bed, why Dr. Humphries if he considered it a case of strychnine poisoning should have allowed Miss Berner & Miss Hunt to keep rubbing her and using all sorts of counter irritation up to the very end &c.

I wish to thank you for your hospitality last evening. I have enjoyed very much having the privilege of meeting one of whom I have heard & read so much & in whom all College men are especially interested.

Yours sincerely, Ernest C. Waterhouse.

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