Winford B Snook

Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. May 2, 1891

Arsenic Doubtless Caused Their Deaths. Medical Inquiry Into the Wedding Feast Horror. A Post-Mortem on the Body of Bride-groom Snook. Reveals Strong Evidence of Arsenic Poisoning. The Organs Turned Over to Chemist Dicore For Analysis. The body of W. B. Snook, the bridgegroom at the poisoned wedding feast, was removed yesterday morning from the Burnett House to Wiltsee's undertaking establishment.

Pursuant to the instruction of the Corner, a post-mortem examination of the remains was made yesterday morning by Drs. Walker and Kebler. Recognizing the importance of the case. Dr. Bange selected two of the most prominent members of the local profession.

The POST-MORTEM Was made with extraordinary care an detail. On the right arm and left leg were found numerous small lesions resembling wheat. In the right pleura was an ounce of duid blood, with some extravasation of normal, except slight hypostation congestion. Examination of the heart showed an extravasation of blood under the endocardium of the left ventricle about the size of a split pea. In the stomach were three ounces of a reddish fluid. The mucous membrane was markedly hyperaemic, and there was a marked extravasation of blood in its substance.

Examination of the intestines showed the small intestine contained it its mucous and sub-mucous cost extravasted blood. The mucosa was very hypersemic, and solitary follicies and patches of pererian glands were swollen. The large intestine was also hypersaemic with swelling of the solitary follicies. The liver was somewhat fatty. The spleen was somewhat larger than normal, firm and hypraemic.

The kidneys were fatty, with small extravastion of blood under the capsules and under the lining of the pelves. In the bladder was marked extravastion of blood under the epithelium and in the mucosa. The brain and meninges were normal.

"IN OUR OPINION." Add the doctors, "the cause of death was in all probability the ingestion of some irritant poison."

Speaking afterward of the post-mortem, the doctors said that nothing could be abolutely stated, as fifteen days had elapsed since Snook was first taken ill, and, of course, many of the usual symptoms attended in poisoning cases had been removed. Still, throughout the organic system fo the subject they found strong evidence of arsenical poison. This was strongly marked by the rupture of small blood vessels in teh alimentary canal and other organs of the body.

Coroner Bange also ordered Dr. Dickore to make a chemical analysis of the stomach and other organs. Drs. Walker and Kebler turned over to him the stomach, kidneys, spleen, bones of the leg and muscles of the back. It is hardly to be expected that any of the poison yet remains in the stomach, but

DEPOSITS MAY BE FOUND In the kidneys or spleen. Arsenic poison, after it enters the system, is often changed into arsenic acid, and as such is found in the bones or muscles, as as such is found in the bones or muscles. For these reasons the parts of the body where traces of poisoning would most likely be found were turned over to the chemist.

The remains were shipped last evening to Eminence, Ky. They were accompanied by Mrs. Snook and the friends who have been in attendance on the unfortunate bridal couple. Mrs. Snook is still ill, but was able to take the trip. Dr. Bange was very desirous to take her testimony, but it was represented to him that she was too hysterical and not able to give her evidence.

The Coroner began an inquest, and heard testimony of A. M. Snook, uncle of the bridegroom. He was not at the wedding and could not throw light on the poisoning.

ARRIVAL AT EMINENCE.

The Bride Bravely Bears the Trip---Two Other Victims Very Low.

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE ENQUIRER.

EMINENCE, KY., May 1.---The remains of W. B. Snooks reached here to-night, accompanied by his sorrow-stricken bride and a number of friends from Cincinnati and Louisville. A large crowd met them at the depot. The body was taken to the Moody residence, where it will remain to-night watched over by sorrowing friends.

The funeral will take place at the Baptist Church to-morrow at 10 o'clock. An immense crowd will attend.

Mrs. Snooks is very weak, but is bravely bearing her heavy burden of grief. Mrs. Curtice, who was one of the guests poisoned at the ill-fated wedding feast, is very low, and Mr. W. B. Crabb is in a critical condition. The other sufferers are about relieved.

Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. May 5, 1891

THE FATAL WEDDING SUPPER.

THE FATAL WEDDING SUPPER at Mr. Albert Herr's residence, at Eminence, Ky., on April 15, has been followed by the death of the sixth victim, the young bridgroom, Mr. Winford B. Snook, who died in Cincinnati Thursday from the effect of the poison. The bride, a daughter of Mr. Herr, was the belle of the neighborhood, and the groom a wealthy young farmer. In company with friends and relatives they ate their wedding supper at Mr. Herr's, starting for Cincinnati afterward, where they both became desperately ill. Many of the other guests at the supper were also made ill, and before the death of Mr. Snook five of them died---Mrs. Hite, Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie, Mr. Wm. Terry and Mr. Snook, the father of the groom. Mrs. Snook, the young bride and widow is still critically ill, as are also Mrs. Curtice and Mr. W. B. Crabb. Arsenic is supposed to have been the cause of death, but how it got into the food seems past explanation. In regard to the theory that the poisoning was caused by diseased chickens, Mr. Herr says:

"There has not been a symptom of disease of any kind among my chickens or turkeys for a number of years, and every hen and turkey that was killed for the wedding was selected under my immediate supervision, and I selected only those that were laying at the time in order to secure fat ones. The giblets were taken out and served for three meals the day previous to the wedding, and the entire family ate heartily of it with no ill-effects. Now as to the arsenic-sparrow theory. I did attempt to poison sparrows five years ____ and failed. The arsenic was never within a hundred yards of the house at any time. After the sparrows refused to eat it I dug a hole and burned it. I will say as to the party giving the information as to the sparrow poisoning, ot to hesitate to give his name or any information that he may get, as this is no time for secrets.

Cincinnati, Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. May 7, 1881

How W. B. Snook Was Poisoned.

CINCINNATI, MAY 7.---Dr. Dickore, who made a post-mortem examination of the body of W. B. Snooks, who was poisoned at his wedding feast has found indications of copper poisoning. Investigation fails to show that any of the food was prepared in copper vessels.

Evansville Courier-Journal. Evansville, Indiana. May 10, 1891

MIGHT HAVE BEEN ARSENIC.

Cincinnati Analysis of the Vicera of W. B. Snook as Completed.

CINCINNATI, May 9.---Dr. D. Dickare to-day finished his analysis of the vicera of W. B. Snook, the bridegroom, who died here from the effects of poisoned food he had eaten at his wedding dinner at Louisville. As stated in these patches last Wednesday night, the analysis showed no metallic poison except copper. The doctor adds that if the victim was poisoned by arsenic, it might have been thrown off during his illness. Drs. Mitchell and Hyndman, the patient's physicians, are of the opinion that he was poisoned by arsenic. The chemist found by Marsh's test very small specks of what might be arsenic, but they did not yield to the test for that poison.

Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. April 17, 1891

Poisoned By Eatng Ice-Cream.

Special Dispatch to the Enquirer. Louisville, April 16. Yesterday afternoon the marriage of Mr. Albert Snooks, of Eminence, Ky., to Miss Fannie Herr drew together a large number of two families' friends, including many from Louisville, at the residence of Robert Herr, seven miles from this city. Last night nearly all of the wedding guest were seized with all the symptoms of poisoning, and the physicians pronounce the attacks due to colored ice-cream, of which all had partaken. All of the sick are doing well to-day, and it is believed will recover.