November 14, 2008
The Poisoned Cake
[The first paragraph is not available for this article.]
At the instance of Coroner Ogle, of Baltimore, Prof. William A. Aiken, of the Maryland University, made a chemical analysis of the cake found in the pocket of Henry Lauterbach after his death some days ago from poisoning by phosphorus from blue-headed matches. After several experiments and the “sand-bath” test, a large proportion of sulphur was found in the cake. It has been erroneously called “pound cake,” but it was in reality a species of sponge cake, which was cut into slices when it was bought by or given to Mr. Lauterbach. Mr. Lauterbach had this cake for several weeks in the pocket of a coat which he seldom wore, and the damp weather prevailing at the time impregnated the cake with the contents of nearly a box and a half of sulphur matches which were in the pocket with the cake.
This sulphur is a most deadly poison, and a gram is sufficient to cause death unless prompt remedial agents are applied. A box of these matches contains nearly five grains of the poisonous agent. When the room in which old Mr. Lauterbach died was swept, three mice, very much swollen, were found dead on the floor, and the pocket of the coat had been gnawed through and crumbs of the cake scattered on the carpet. In the analysis of the matter ejected from the stomach of the little girl, Elizabeth Eichman, a quantity of sulphur more than enough to kill was found. The family further state that, when she vomited in the dark room in which she was lying, the matter ejected smoke, and gave, when stirred, a phosphorescent gleam, like that of a match rubbed in the dark against the palm.
(January 1, 1876. The New York Times)
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Oh Christopher Walken, you bring to light such wondrous things!
[...] 1) “The family further states that, when she vomited in the dark room in which she was lying, the matter ejected smoke, and gave, when stirred, a phosphorescent gleam, like that of a match rubbed in the dark against the palm.” (January 1, 1876; The New York Times; via) [...]