Coroner's inquest in re: Death of Jane L. Stanford (photocopy), 1905

from time we left till we came back to the Hotel. Her active interest in the scenery which she remarked and her singing on our way back to the Hotel. She did not intimate anything of occurrence in San Francisco. When we arrived and after we got up after her rest, she came to my room and she made a remark, well, how do I look? And said, why someone else is looking fine. I cannot say who went up with us on the elevator. On our way up Mrs. Stanford said to Bertha, now I am going to take my medicine.

On our way home from the picnic she said she had eaten rather freely of chocolate candy, of course, I ought to have known better, then she said, well, I can take a little medicine and it will be alright. When she spoke of medicine, I said, I suppose we will have some Garfield Tea, she said no. Mrs. Stanford was frequently troubled with acidity of the stomach.

On our way up from the verandah Mrs. Stanford remarked, now I am going to take my medicine and wish you would put out the soda for me, on reaching the room I went to the telescope basket in which the little medicine basket was kept, asked the maid for a spoon and Mrs. Stanford turned and said I will take a half teaspoonful of soda. Placed it on the dressing table as I wish to take a drink of water first and give it time to get it out of my stomach. Therefore I placed 1/2 teaspoonful of soda with cascara capsule beside it and left her for the night.

It was bicarbonate of soda in a bottle of about 2- or 2 1/2 inches high, neck large enough to insert a teaspoon into the bottle. I had to put spoon into bottle and dipped powder out. I laid spoon with soda in it on dressing table and laid it beside the cascara capsule.

These capsules were prepared in Wakelee Drug Store in San Francisco from a prescription made by Doctor Hillman. It was prepared for me, I have taken these capsules since 1899. I have frequently taken capsules from this prescription since that time, I have had this prescription refilled at more than one drug store. This bicarbonate of soda belonged to Mrs. Stanford. The last time Mrs. Stanford took the soda was the first week after New Year, I took some myself at that time, I felt no bad effect. This dose I took was out of the same bottle. Mrs. Stanford uses very frequent this bicardonate soda. This soda was packed on the 14th of February, when Mrs. Stanford indicated what was to be packed, this was at the City House. The packing was finished on the morning of the 15th.

The Bicarbonate of Soda was kept in a medicine closet attached to the wall in an alcove. This bottle of Bicarbonate of soda was packed in a trunk which Mrs Stanford took with her to San Jose on the 23rd of Jan'y and was brought in that trunk to the City on the 8th of February when she returned. Mrs. Stanford stayed on her return at the St. Francis Hotel. Do not recall Mrs. Stanford taken bicarbonate of soda on her return. The bottle of bicarbonate remained in that trunk from that time until we returned to the City House. The trunk never went to the St. Francis Hotel, we only took a basket containing our night clothes. The bottle remained out for a week in the center of a room on a table in the City House, the same room where the packing took place. The doors to the room was open in the day. At night the room was locked. Bicarbonate of soda was kept in a telescope basket newly bought. The basket was taken by an expressman to the steamer, do not know who he is. The basket was left in Mrs. Stanford's room. The first two days the maid occupied room with Mrs. Stanford and became ill and we changed places. The medicine basket was used on our way to Honolulu not the bicardonate of soda. The

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basket was brought to the Moana Hotel and placed in Mrs. Stanford's room. Sometime after I bid Mrs. Stanford goodnight, I heard my name being called, I did not go to sleep soon, I was aroused out of my sleep I recofbized [sic] Mrs. Stanford's voice, calling for me and for May the second time. Mrs Stanford called Bertha, May, I am so sick. We rushed out and found Mrs. Stanford clinging to the frame of her door. The next exclamation was Bertha, run for the doctor, I ran to the elevator and rang the elevator and found the elevator ascending, I told the elevator boy to run to doctor Humphris' room and to come to Mrs. Stanford's room, and to come as soon as possible and not to wait to dress. I saw no one at the elevator. The gentleman at the next of me ran out of his room and ran down the stairs, his name is Mr. Heunisch, I returned to the room and I saw Mrs. Stanford coming to me in the hallway, saying again Bertha, I am so sick, she put her arm on my shoulders lean on me, and I led her back to her room. I beg of her to go to her bed and lay down and she said no. I brought her a chair and tried to induce her to sit, but would not, and she said again I have no control of my body, I think I have been poisoned again. So I said Mrs. Stanford, do sit down, you must drink some warm water. I began to draw the hot water at the wash stand and held it to Mrs. Stanford's lips and she said I cannot take it my jaws are set, so I rubbed her cheeks making her face pink, and said try, and held up the glass of water to her lips again, and she did drink the whole glass of water, while May and I were rubbing her limbs, when the doctor arrived. Mrs. Stanford drank in all 6 or 7 glasses of water, this with view of inducing vomiting. Doctor Humphris arrived, Mrs. Stanford was sitting before the washstand. Doctor Murray arrived a few minutes later. Doctor Humphris was with Mrs. Stanford some time before Doctor Murray arrived. I cannot say how long the doctor were there before Mrs. Stanford expired.

Mrs. Stanford made statement from time I returned from hallway when doctor Humphris arrived Mrs. Stanford remarked to him, doctor, I think I am poisoned, won't you bring a stomach pump and pump my stomach? Then she turned to me and said, Bertha, tell the doctor what has happened to us referring to the San Francisco matter, I explained to Doctor Humphris briefly what had happened in San Francisco, saying we were giving Mrs. Stanford the warm water to drink hoping to make her vomit, as we were told vomiting had saved her life, Dr. Humphris inquired, what she had taken and who had given it to her, I replied that Mrs. Stanford had taken a dose of Cascara and some soda, Mrs. Stanford said I had forgotten it and got up from bed and had taken it myself. This is as I remember of what she said. Mrs. Stanford then asked the doctor, can't you give me something to vomit, then she asked again about the stomach pump, and the doctor replied it was being brought out as fast as it could be brought. Mrs. Stanford asked for some Epicac to make her vomit and I remember hearing the doctor remark it might effect the heart, saying that he was giving her mustard and water to induce her to vomit, bidding her not to be afraid, by that time hot water had arrived from the kitchen, and I placed Mrs. Stanford's feet in a pail of hot water and her hands in a vessel of hot water, while the doctor was rushing for his medicine bag. He came to the room with two bags and prepared some medicine, also prepared hyperdomic [sic] injection, for a short interval she was quite comfortable, I comforted her with a remark saying she was looking better and said not to be afraid she was coming out alright. Then she remarked to the doctor another spasm is coming on, saying, Oh God, forgive me my sins, also said is my soul prepared to meet my dear ones, then she said, this is a horrible death to die, doctor Humphris

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handed her some medicine, a violent spasm came on from which she didi [sic] not recover. This must have been about 12 o'clock. I heard someone say so. Mrs. Stanford was born in Albany, NY, in her 77th year was the time of her death.

This is her favorite medicine this bicarbonate of soda, as a corrective she usually takes it once a week. The maids knew of her taking bicarbonate.

The house maid knew of her taking Bicarbonate, her name is Nora Hopkins, she lived I the country house.

We had a new butler, do not know if he knew about it.

Longest time she ad left off taking Bicarbonate Soda. 3 weeks. Miss Richmond brought up a bottle of Poland water to Mrs. Stanford's room and left standing there some time. I never heard Mrs. Stanford speak of suicide. She regard, whn reading instances when people commit suicide, she would only read the headings. Saying the details distressed her, and expressing pity for people who could be driven to take their own lives. I jnew of no one visiting Mrs. Stanford in her room, she always visited them down stairs. No other way gettig into her room. Only a balcony infront of her room. There was a large wardrobe, was place at the door between the rooms. It was a hard thinf to enter. She never said anythig about Jan'y happening made no remartk of bitter taste that night.

Mrs. Stanford complained to Mrs. Henry Highton about the Jan'y happening, they met on the veranda in this HOtel, about 2 or 3 days after our arrival. I saw Mr. Highton on a previous visit to Honolulu, I was introduced to her. I never saw Mrs. Stanford with Mrs. Highton.

Mrs. Stanford frequently spoke of her son and husband and hope to meet them some time.

This long interval occurred to me and the way I explain it in my own mind is that the week in San Francisco proior to mailing Mrs. Stanford and I ate bur 2 meals a day. Breakfasr at the St. Francis and went to the City House to pack trunks and arrange the clothes closets. Mrs. Stanford reached the Hotel quite tired and ate but a light dinner, as the doctor had directed her to, and for that reason was free from acidity.

Mrs. Stanford drank the hald glass of bitter water and her stomach rejected it at once, then she drank some warm water from the the fasset [sic], and as soon as the glass of warm water was down it came out , it tasted very bitter , and her maid came out of the next room, on the maid reaching the room with hot water and salt, she drank this, she vomited about 8 times, she slept well and felt no bad effect, we traveled from Palo Alto to San Francisco and remain until Monday.

Sgd. Bertha Berner.

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Honolulu, Mar. 9, 1905

Coroner's Inquest In RE J.L. Stanford Miss.Bertha Berner, sworn: (Testimony continued)

I recall Sunday afteroon Feb. 26, 1905. I recall being on the end of pier that afternoon. Miss Hunt was present and a man unknown to me. This man was lame and use the crutch. I also recall Miss Hunt leaving end of pier with an umbrella. I also recall or remember putting something into the umbrella. Mrs. Stanford and I left the Hotel about 5 o'clock with intention of taking a long walk and choosing the Waikiki road, we walked briskly down the road for about 1/2 hour, then turned back not walking quite as fast as on our return reaching the hotel about 6:15.

Mrs. Stanford said I am very warm and tired and shall walk down the pier and cool off, when we reached the end of the pier we found Miss Hunt there, we all walked into the small structure at the end of the pier, where Mrs. Stanford sat down making the remark it is so pleasant here, I shall sit down and rest before going to dinner and not to go to the room first. Mrs. Stanford turned to Miss Hunt and said I wish you would bring down my little white shawl and fix the fan and leave them with the manager of the Dining room, as we were not to go to our rooms before going to dinner, I asked Miss Hunt to please take my parasol up with her and taking off my gloves I rolled them up and dropped them into my parasol and Miss Hunt took it to the room with her. Sgd. Bertha Berner

Miss May Hunt being first duty sworn, testified as follows: Mr. Rawlins. Your full name please? A. Eva May Hunt. Q. Where is your home, Miss Hunt? A. In San Francisco. Q. In San Francisco, State of California? A. State of California. Q. And you are residing here in Honolulu temporarily at the Moana Hotel? A. I am Q. How long have you been living here, Miss Hunt? A. Since the 21st of February. Q. This year? A. This year, 1905. Q. Was that the first time that you had been employed by Mrs. Stanford? A. No. I was employed by Mrs. Stanford some years ago. Q. Some years ago, and retired from her employment on account of some illness, was it not? A. Yes, sir, I was ill at the time. Q. You accompanied Mrs. Stanford and Miss Berner to Honolulu, did you? A. I did. Q. Leaving San Francisco on what day? A. On the 15th of February. Q. 1905? A. 1905. Q. During the interval between the 6th day of ---the 9th day of February and the 15th [x'd out word] the day upon which you sailed from San Francisco, will you kindly state very briefly the duties you performed for Mrs. Stanford at the Stanford home with regard to the preparation for this trip? A. I assisted in the packing of Mrs. Stanford's wardrobe. Q. Do you remember what you packed, of having packed---did you pack the medicine basket? A. I did. Q. At that time where were you staying? A. I was staying at Mrs. Stanford's town house. Q. In San Francisco? A. In San Francisco on California Street. Q. Do you recollect whilst packing the medicine basket that you packed a bottle of bicarbonate soda? A. Yes sir. Q. From where did you take the bicarbonate of soda to put into the medicine basket? A. From a table in the center of the room where we were doing the packing--Q. How log---I beg your pardon. A. There were number of bottles there. Q. And all of which you packed in the medicine basket? A. Yes, sir, and amongst the clothing. Q. Who selected the bottles which you were to pack into the medicine basket? A. Mrs. Stanford.