POISON MYSTERY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7802, 5 September 1903, Page 4

POISON MYSTERY.

ACONITE POUND IN THE BODY OF A MILLIONAIRE. Remarkable revelations have been made concerning the death of Colonel William Eesfc, a New York millionaire^, who died suddenly at San Rafael, California, on April 16, at the house of a certain " Dr " Woodß, with, whom he 1 had some business dealings. Woods attended the millionaire during hi« illness and) filed a certificate that death, was due to cerebral apoplexy. The body was sent to Caidwell, New Jersey, for burial, and Woods and his wife immediately afterwards disappeared. Colonel Best's relations opened an investigation, and discovered that a large sum of money and some mining stock belonging to Colonel Best were missing. The body was exhumed) at Caidwell on July 8 and an autopsy made, which showed that it had been opeired before leaving San Rafael. The digestive organs and lungs had been removed andi sawdust inserted. .Evidences of aconite poisoning were also discovered. The brain was found to be perfectly healthy, thus disproving the death certificate. The San Rafael authorities issued warrants for the arrest of Wood^ and his wife, but there is no trace of the. fugitives. Woods 'has had a remarkable career. He was formerly a popular Methodist minister, but was expelled from the Churab. He afterwards posed as a doctor, although it is alleged he had no right to the title..