OBIT: Bridget WOODS, 1879, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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POISONED BY MISTAKE.
Mrs. Thomas Woods Dies From a Dose of Yellow Jessamine.

  On Saturday afternoon Mrs. Thomas Woods died from a dose of poison 
administered to her by mistake.  She lives on Eighth avenue near 
Seventh street.  The particulars as far as they could be learned are 
about as follows:  In the morning Mrs. Woods arose as usual and 
complained of having a severe pain down one side.  She had been in 
delicate health for some time past, but very little was thought of it.  
Some old woman in the neighborhood, it is supposed, prescribed yellow 
Jessamine, and about 12 o'clock, becoming no better, she wrote a 
prescription herself and sent her two little sons to the store for the 
medicine.  They went to a neighboring drug store, but the druggist 
refused to put up the order, because it was so poorly written he could 
scarcely read it.  The children then went on up the street, had the 
medicine put up at another store and returned home with it.  Shortly 
after 12 o'clock the woman took what she thought was a proper dose of 
it.  It made her very sick and when it became evident that she was 
poisoned physicians were called in, but they were too late and she died 
shortly after 1 o'clock.  Emetics were administered without effect, and 
everything was done for her.  Meanwhile her husband was called in and 
arrived only a short time before her death.  He knew almost nothing of 
the circumstances, and said the medicine had no dose marked on it.  The 
unfortunate woman was quite young and leaves several small children and 
a heart broken husband to mourn her early demise.  The Coroner has not 
yet been notified, but it is a proper case on which to hold an inquest.  
The stuff was in a package, and the children took enough home to poison 
the whole family.  It is an herb and is made into a tea which is taken 
in very small doses.  Efforts have been made to discover the woman who 
recommended its use, but so far they have been unavailing.  Last night 
a wake was held over the remains and to-day the funeral will take 
place.

Morning Tribune, Monday, December 22, 1879

CORONER'S INQUEST.

  Coroner Humes yesterday held an inquest upon the body of Mrs. Thomas 
Woods, who died suddenly from an overdose of jassamine.  The jury 
consisted of Dr. S. M. Walker, S. Dreifus, George Koelle, Balzer 
Koelle, Irvin Logue and James Duffy.  Mrs. John Woods, the sister of 
Mr. Woods, testified that Mrs. Thomas Woods had been sick and that some 
one told her woodbine would relieve her.  She sent two of the children 
for woodbine, but they brought yellow jassamine.  After taking it she 
became very sick and said it would kill her.  The jury rendered the 
verdict that Mrs. Woods died from an overdose of yellow jassamine.  The 
funeral of the victim took place at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon.  
Services were conducted by Rev. Father Sheedy, at St. John's Church.

Morning Tribune, Tuesday, December 23, 1879

St. Johns Cemetery, Altoona:
Woods, Bridget, w/o Thomas, shares stone with Thomas.

Note: According to the Wikipedia online encyclopedia, yellow jessamine 
is not the same as the jasmine from which tea is made, and contains 
strychnine.

A CARD.

  It having been freely circulated through a statement made by my son, 
that the medicine that caused the death of my wife was procured at the 
drug store of Dr. S. M. Sellers, I hereby certify that such was not the 
case, and I exonerate him from all blame.
        THOMAS WOODS.

Morning Tribune, Tuesday, December 23, 1879