The Poison-Peddling Pharmacist
The head of the state board of pharmacy is caught stealing and adulterating strychnine intended for local farmers.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A sensation was created in Spokane by the announcement that J. W. McArthur, president of the state board of pharmacy, had been detected in systematic robbery. The county commissioners had contracted with McArthur to supply 4,000 ounces of strychnine for farmers to kill squirrels. Complaints arose that the bottles were underweight. Investigation revealed McArthur had unsealed the bottles, removed a portion of the poison, and clumsily resealed them. He was also accused of removing labels to sell adulterated goods. Confronted with proof, he admitted his guilt and made restitution to avoid prosecution.
“He made an indignant denial, but when confronted with unmistakable proof of his guilt, he broke down, admitted all and begged for clemency.”
The corruption of public contracts for private gain is a classic civic scandal, though it's rare to see the state's lead regulator of medicine caught tampering with literal poison.
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