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Surnames: CANTWELL, M'MILLEN, McMILLEN
Classification: Death
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http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JWH.2ACEB/228
Message Board Post:
Not related but may be of interest to someone who is.
Vern D
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Transcribed by : "Betty" <betty(a)unisette.com>
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The Daily Union
Sacramento, Cal.
Tuesday, November 17, 1874
CORONER'S INQUEST
Coroner COUNTS had at first decided that it would be unnecessary to hold an inquest in the
case of Mrs. CANTWELL, who committed suicide Saturday evening, but on more mature
consideration, decided that it was his duty to do so, and accordingly an inquisition was
held yesterday afternoon at Judge CANTWELL's house. This interfered with the
arrangements made for the funeral, and it had to be postponed until to-day. The following
evidence was taken:
MISS KATE L. M'MILLEN
Testified: Was at home last Saturday evening when my sister was sick; Judge Cantwell told
me she had taken strychnine; I saw her a few minutes afterward; she did not deny it; said,
"You do not know what I have to contend with;" all she said up stairs was that
she and Herbert could not get along; this has been my home since last April; do not know
of any further trouble she had with the family; she never confided in any person; she
never intimated to me an intention to commit suicide; for several days she had complained
of a severe pain in her temples, but on Saturday she said nothing about it, although she
had an unnatural color in her face; was not
aware of there being any poison in the house - thought I had thrown it all away; she was
down town Thursday afternoon; went alone but returned with Herbert in a street-car; she
always thought her husband was kind to her, and her last words were that she loved him and
that she never expressed a desire for anything that she did not get."
DR. A.B. NIXON
Testified: On Saturday evening last, about 6 o'clock, I was summoned to see Mrs.
Cantwell to consult with Dr. NELSON; when I arrived I found Mrs. Cantwell insensible and
in convulsions; I was informed by Dr. Nelson that she had taken strychnine, and that the
convulsions were the effect of that drug; he told me that mustard and sulphurate of zinc
had been administered
as an emetic, but they failed to operate as such; he told me that he had tried to use the
stomach pump, but on account of the convulsions and spasms about the throat he had been
unable to introduce it into the stomach; I suggested that we could try again to introduce
the stomach pump, and after considerable effort we succeed; we pumped warm water into the
stomach, as much as it would hold, and then pumped the contents of the stomach out; we
repeated this twice, when we concluded that the stomach had been well washed out and
emptied of all its contents; chloroform in moderate quantities was administered to keep
down spasms, but they continued to occur at intervals until death closed the scene; in my
opinion death was caused by strychnine; was present when she died; never knew a case from
the effects of strychnine, after unconsciousness caused thereby (similar to this one), to
recover, and I have seen many in the course of my practice; this I remarked to Judge
Cantwell at the !
time."
DR. H.W. NELSON
Testified: I am a practicing physician in this city; Saturday evening H. Cantwell desired
me to come up to his father's house immediately and bring a stomach-pump with me,
stating the Mrs. Cantwell had poisoned herself - had taken strychnine, and to hurry; I got
the stomach-pump immediately, took also my satchel containing medicines, etc., and went to
the druggist's (KIRK's) and procured the medicines that I presumed would be needed
in the case; when I arrived I found Mrs. Cantwell lying on the bed dressed, surrounded by
her mother, sister and husband; I said, "Mrs. Cantwell, I am sorry; why did you do
this?" she answered, "Doctor, I am not sick; I don't feel bad." Her
husband stated, "Yes she is; she has taken strychnine, I believe." I asked her,
"Have you taken strychnine?" She answered, "Yes." "How much did
you take, Mrs. Cantwell?" "Don't know, but I think about a
teaspoonful." "When did you take it?" Judge Cantwell answered, "About
an hour ago." She answered, "Yes." I !
remarked that if she had taken that about an hour ago it was strange that she was not
dead; I brought a stomach pump with me, and, after the conversation, I got it ready and
sent for some hot water. I asked the Judge to raise her in order to facilitate the
introduction of the pipe or tube of the pump, the water and pump being ready; while
attempting to introduce the tube, she took a spasm, and I could not get it down, and was
compelled to pour down her nostrils everything that was for some time injected into her
stomach; I suggested to Judge Cantwell that we must send for another doctor we sent for
Dr. Nixon, and he came immediately; we were compelled to use a spiral instrument to pry
her mouth open in order to admit the tube of the stomach pump; when we finally introduced
the pump, we washed her stomach but three times, I think, and twice, I am positive; during
the spasms we gave her chloroform to shorten them as much as possible; I requested Dr.
Nixon to remain with the !
lady, and he did so; I went down town, and on my return the lady was d
ead; in my opinion death resulted from poison - strychnine; undoubtedly.
W.R. CANTWELL
Testified: On last Saturday afternoon I came home about 4 o'clock; she had dinner all
ready; I said, "Go on, I will be ready in a moment;" she met me on the porch and
kissed me as affectionately as she ever had, and walked out on the porch and took the
bottle from her pocket, and I ran out and grabbed the bottle from her and threw it into
the stove; she took some out in her hand and threw it in her mouth, and I then asked her
if she had taken any of it, and she said, "Yes, I have; and I want some more;" I
then took the bottle and threw it in the kitchen stove; last Summer (a long time ago) I
bought some strychnine, and I do not know that there was any of it left; I bought it to
poison cats with, and did poison the cats with it; I do not know whether this poison or a
portion of it was what my wife used, or whether she bought it herself; I never saw the
poison since I used it for the cats; I notified her sister at once that she had taken
poison; her sister came down perfectl!
y frantic; Gussie tried to pacify her; they came into the house; went up stairs and she
threw herself on the bed; she talked to her mother and told her she had done it, and then
took off her rings - one, a diamond, she wished given back to her brother (one given her
by him).
She said she loved me as she loved her own life, and could not live only for me. She and I
never had any words at any time; she spoke of Herbert; she and Herbert had some
differences; I told her not to mind him, that they must get along together and have a
happy home altogether. She did object to my drinking, and that might have been one of the
causes that led her to this. She put her hand to a chain that I had given her on out
marriage day, and said "give this to Herbert," and our marriage ring she gave to
me. "And the balance of my things give to my sister Kate."
THE VERDICT
The jury returned the following verdict:
We, the jury impaneled to inquire into the death of the deceased, do find that Mrs.
Gussie M. Cantwell committed suicide in the city of Sacramento, on the 14th day of
November, 1874, by taking poison.
Signed: W.D. GOODELL, Wm. M. PETRIE, W.A. CHITTENDEN, N.L. DREW, C.C. BROWN, J.L.
DONNAILE.