Miss Lydia Fonda, aged 76 years, died at her home, 70 North School Street, on the morning of Nov 15, 1895.
A MYSTERIOUS CASE
The three Fonda sisters who reside on School Street, Gloversville, were found in their house at about six o'clock, Sunday evening, Oct 7, 1877, in an insensible condition. The house had remained closed during the day, and they had not been seen since they retired late Saturday night. The physician who first reached the scene of this strange affair, describe the odor that pervaded the room as similar to that which is noticeable in a dissecting room. It was first thought that they had attempted suicide.
In the course of two hours one of the ladies (Lydia Fonda) showed signs of returning consciousness, but did not answer questions coherently that evening. Lydia was found on the floor near the bed. She is now apparently almost restored to her usual state of health. She remembers that she got up from the bed that she was occupying with another sister (Caroline Fonda), towards the latter part of the night, but can recall nothing else. Caroline Fonda died about midday, Tuesday.
The third sister (Harriet Fonda), who occupied a couch in the sitting room, is still alive, (at this writing, Wednesday morning), but is not expected to recover. One of the physicians in attendance, and the one from whom we have obtained the facts given above, tells us that the symptoms indicate the use of poison.
The post mortem examination of Caroline revealed nothing and a careful analysis of the stomach was no more successful. The inquest of Caroline developed nothing upon which a reasonable theory can be based, and the matter continues to bewilder the public and the physicians.
It was believed up to Saturday night that Harriet was gradually improving, with fair prospects of recovery; but her condition changed during the night and Sunday morning the physician found her in a comatose state, from which it was impossible to arouse her. She sank steadily until Monday afternoon, when she died. A post mortem examination of Harriet's body threw no light upon the cause of her death, although it developed the fact that her lungs were perfectly sound, notwithstanding she was supposed to be afflicted with consumption, and has been doctoring for that disease for several years. An analysis will be made of the stomach; but few believe that a solution of the mystery will be reached.
The surviving sister, Lydia Fonda and Mr. Daniel Vincent, who has been a frequent visitor at the house of these ladies, have been examined, but no material facts have been elicited. Nothing has been developed that can satisfactorily clear up the mystery.
The coroner's jury rendered a verdict that the death of the two Fonda sisters was caused by coal gas. Many people in Gloversville did not accept the verdict as a satisfactory explanation of the case.
A MYSTERIOUS CASE
The three Fonda sisters who reside on School Street, Gloversville, were found in their house at about six o'clock, Sunday evening, Oct 7, 1877, in an insensible condition. The house had remained closed during the day, and they had not been seen since they retired late Saturday night. The physician who first reached the scene of this strange affair, describe the odor that pervaded the room as similar to that which is noticeable in a dissecting room. It was first thought that they had attempted suicide.
In the course of two hours one of the ladies (Lydia Fonda) showed signs of returning consciousness, but did not answer questions coherently that evening. Lydia was found on the floor near the bed. She is now apparently almost restored to her usual state of health. She remembers that she got up from the bed that she was occupying with another sister (Caroline Fonda), towards the latter part of the night, but can recall nothing else. Caroline Fonda died about midday, Tuesday.
The third sister (Harriet Fonda), who occupied a couch in the sitting room, is still alive, (at this writing, Wednesday morning), but is not expected to recover. One of the physicians in attendance, and the one from whom we have obtained the facts given above, tells us that the symptoms indicate the use of poison.
The post mortem examination of Caroline revealed nothing and a careful analysis of the stomach was no more successful. The inquest of Caroline developed nothing upon which a reasonable theory can be based, and the matter continues to bewilder the public and the physicians.
It was believed up to Saturday night that Harriet was gradually improving, with fair prospects of recovery; but her condition changed during the night and Sunday morning the physician found her in a comatose state, from which it was impossible to arouse her. She sank steadily until Monday afternoon, when she died. A post mortem examination of Harriet's body threw no light upon the cause of her death, although it developed the fact that her lungs were perfectly sound, notwithstanding she was supposed to be afflicted with consumption, and has been doctoring for that disease for several years. An analysis will be made of the stomach; but few believe that a solution of the mystery will be reached.
The surviving sister, Lydia Fonda and Mr. Daniel Vincent, who has been a frequent visitor at the house of these ladies, have been examined, but no material facts have been elicited. Nothing has been developed that can satisfactorily clear up the mystery.
The coroner's jury rendered a verdict that the death of the two Fonda sisters was caused by coal gas. Many people in Gloversville did not accept the verdict as a satisfactory explanation of the case.
Miss Lydia Fonda, aged 76 years, died at her home, 70 North School Street, on the morning of Nov 15, 1895.
A MYSTERIOUS CASE
The three Fonda sisters who reside on School Street, Gloversville, were found in their house at about six o'clock, Sunday evening, Oct 7, 1877, in an insensible condition. The house had remained closed during the day, and they had not been seen since they retired late Saturday night. The physician who first reached the scene of this strange affair, describe the odor that pervaded the room as similar to that which is noticeable in a dissecting room. It was first thought that they had attempted suicide.
In the course of two hours one of the ladies (Lydia Fonda) showed signs of returning consciousness, but did not answer questions coherently that evening. Lydia was found on the floor near the bed. She is now apparently almost restored to her usual state of health. She remembers that she got up from the bed that she was occupying with another sister (Caroline Fonda), towards the latter part of the night, but can recall nothing else. Caroline Fonda died about midday, Tuesday.
The third sister (Harriet Fonda), who occupied a couch in the sitting room, is still alive, (at this writing, Wednesday morning), but is not expected to recover. One of the physicians in attendance, and the one from whom we have obtained the facts given above, tells us that the symptoms indicate the use of poison.
The post mortem examination of Caroline revealed nothing and a careful analysis of the stomach was no more successful. The inquest of Caroline developed nothing upon which a reasonable theory can be based, and the matter continues to bewilder the public and the physicians.
It was believed up to Saturday night that Harriet was gradually improving, with fair prospects of recovery; but her condition changed during the night and Sunday morning the physician found her in a comatose state, from which it was impossible to arouse her. She sank steadily until Monday afternoon, when she died. A post mortem examination of Harriet's body threw no light upon the cause of her death, although it developed the fact that her lungs were perfectly sound, notwithstanding she was supposed to be afflicted with consumption, and has been doctoring for that disease for several years. An analysis will be made of the stomach; but few believe that a solution of the mystery will be reached.
The surviving sister, Lydia Fonda and Mr. Daniel Vincent, who has been a frequent visitor at the house of these ladies, have been examined, but no material facts have been elicited. Nothing has been developed that can satisfactorily clear up the mystery.
The coroner's jury rendered a verdict that the death of the two Fonda sisters was caused by coal gas. Many people in Gloversville did not accept the verdict as a satisfactory explanation of the case.
A MYSTERIOUS CASE
The three Fonda sisters who reside on School Street, Gloversville, were found in their house at about six o'clock, Sunday evening, Oct 7, 1877, in an insensible condition. The house had remained closed during the day, and they had not been seen since they retired late Saturday night. The physician who first reached the scene of this strange affair, describe the odor that pervaded the room as similar to that which is noticeable in a dissecting room. It was first thought that they had attempted suicide.
In the course of two hours one of the ladies (Lydia Fonda) showed signs of returning consciousness, but did not answer questions coherently that evening. Lydia was found on the floor near the bed. She is now apparently almost restored to her usual state of health. She remembers that she got up from the bed that she was occupying with another sister (Caroline Fonda), towards the latter part of the night, but can recall nothing else. Caroline Fonda died about midday, Tuesday.
The third sister (Harriet Fonda), who occupied a couch in the sitting room, is still alive, (at this writing, Wednesday morning), but is not expected to recover. One of the physicians in attendance, and the one from whom we have obtained the facts given above, tells us that the symptoms indicate the use of poison.
The post mortem examination of Caroline revealed nothing and a careful analysis of the stomach was no more successful. The inquest of Caroline developed nothing upon which a reasonable theory can be based, and the matter continues to bewilder the public and the physicians.
It was believed up to Saturday night that Harriet was gradually improving, with fair prospects of recovery; but her condition changed during the night and Sunday morning the physician found her in a comatose state, from which it was impossible to arouse her. She sank steadily until Monday afternoon, when she died. A post mortem examination of Harriet's body threw no light upon the cause of her death, although it developed the fact that her lungs were perfectly sound, notwithstanding she was supposed to be afflicted with consumption, and has been doctoring for that disease for several years. An analysis will be made of the stomach; but few believe that a solution of the mystery will be reached.
The surviving sister, Lydia Fonda and Mr. Daniel Vincent, who has been a frequent visitor at the house of these ladies, have been examined, but no material facts have been elicited. Nothing has been developed that can satisfactorily clear up the mystery.
The coroner's jury rendered a verdict that the death of the two Fonda sisters was caused by coal gas. Many people in Gloversville did not accept the verdict as a satisfactory explanation of the case.
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