United States Senate
Committee on Interstate Commerce
February 2, 1925.
Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Huls,
Logan, Ohio.
My dear Friends,
No language can express the sympathy I have for you over the grief you must suffer.
Being the father of three fine boys, I know something about the attachments that a parent has and especially when his course in life had already been laid out and his promise was so flattering. The parent invariably reaches the stage where he ceases to live for himself but rather the prospect of his children.
No language can assuage the grief that must follow such a loss. I have just recently read a beautiful letter from John Muir to a personal friend in Indiana in condolence over the loss of a loved one. Should you have the recent publication of the two-volume edition of John Muir's life, this letter would be a great comfort to you.
I fully recognize that I can not appreciate the suffering in this loss, and all that I can do is to extend to you my deepest sympathy in this hour of grief.
Yours very truly,
(signed) Simeon D. Fess*
United States SenateCommittee onTerritories and Insular PossessionsFebruary 9, 1925Dear Friends,
It is with the very deepest regret that I learned of the death of your good boy. I remember him well. When I read in the papers the calamity at Columbus, I wondered whether this good boy was your son, as the papers did not give his father's name.All I can do is to tender you the sincere and heartfelt sympathy of a good friend. How I wish I could do more.Sincerely,
(signed) Frank B. Willis*
Mr. and Mrs. E.A. [sic] Huls.
Logan, Ohio.
*typed on letterhead
Dr. J.L. Gordon
Columbus, Ohio
March 24, 1925.
Mr. A.E. Huls
Logan, Ohio.
My dear sir:- Your letter received, 'Am glad that you felt free to express yourself as you did about the treatment rendered to your son. Of course I am sorry that you should feel as you do. But I can assure you that every thing was done for him that could have been done.
A stomach pump has always been a part of my equipment, and I have had occasion to use it quite a number of times in cases of known or suspected poisoning.
Charley's death certificate
For the purpose ofusingremoving undigested food from the stomach (which I suspected in your so [sic] son's case) the pump is of little avail as the tube which is put into the stomach easily becomes cloged [sic], and is much slower and not as effective as an emetic.
Had I known the case to be one of strychnine poisoning, which it probably was as there were several othersimilarcases following which presentedillegiblesimilar symptoms, with no history of traumatism [sic] which might lead one to suspect tetanus, the stomach pump would have been of no use after there had been sufficient absorption to cause the violent muscular contractions, which were present when I first saw him.
My efforts were directed as far as possible to relieve these symptoms, and maintain the normal function of the heart.
From the literature on this subject I would like to quote two brief statements from H.C. Wood's recent work om therapeutics, page 213 "Strychnine is absorbed rapidly whether taken by the mouth or by hypodermic injection." Page 223 "The only disease with which a typical case of strychnine poisoning seems to be readily confounded is tetanus."
If you will take the trouble to read further in this work or any other standard work on therapeutics or treatment, I am quite sure you will be convinced that nothing better could have been done for your son. I was disappointed that you did not consent to an autopsy, but can easily understand why you would not consent to any mutilation of the body. I can assure that wish to extend to you and your family profound sympathy in your bereavement.
Thanking you for your remittance,
Most sincerely yours,
(signed) J.L. Gordon*
*typed on letterhead
State of OhioState Board of PharmacyOffice of SecretaryJune 11, 1925Mr. A.E. Huls,Logan, Ohio.Dear Mr. Huls:-I have your letter of the 9th inst. and in reply will say that we are in the midst of so much work preparing for our examinations to be held next week that I have not had the time to devote to the investigation since you and the Mrs. was here.I am glad for the information you have given and next week I shall bring the question before our Board for consideration and suggestions by them; as soon as our board meeting is over I shall call upon the Governor with what information I have and see if we can outline some more effective work in the near future. I am sorry that I do not have more to report to you, but I sincerely trust and hope the future will bring us information so that we can absolutely place the responsibility.With kindest regards I am,Very truly yours,
(signed) M.N. Ford*
*typed on letterhead
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Oct, 7, 1925Mr. A.E. Huls,Logan, Ohio.Dear Mr. Huls:I have your letter of the 3rd instant in which you write concerning our work in connection with the poison cases at Ohio State University.I am pleased to know that Professor Dye and Dr. Thompson have both frankly expressed to you their dissatisfaction with the results of crowded conditions in the department of pharmacy last winter. It is well known that the same might be said of most, if not all, other departments within the University and public schools of the State during the past few years due to crowded conditions. The University, as you possibly know, must accept all students who apply for entrance and present the proper entrance credentials. Therefore, any department of the University must do the best they can with the facilities with which they have been provided by the taxpayers.I did not authorize the statement as given out in the papers, to which you refer, and I will say to you that our report is not ready and when it is it will state the facts as we find them. Our only hope is that when our report is submitted the police investigation will have enough facts that we will be able to place the responsibility where it belongs.I have the utmost confidence in Mr. Chester, police prosecutor, and his able assistants who are working on this case and I do feel that Mr. Chester would not miss an opportunity like this to show his ability in solving the affair if at all possible.It is quite natural that friends and acquaintances in their sympathy should call your attention to every idea which comes to them. They really do not intend to annoy you but naturally many of these ideas are misleading. Mrs. Huls was rightly annoyed when she stated to me recently in my office that a prominent business man on High Street said to her a Dr. Means was present during the examination of witnesses at the University by Mr. Chester and quoted the doctor as saying the investigation was a disgraceful affair. Now I cannot doubt that such statements were made to you but I do want to say that I doubt if any doctor who was present would make such a statement, for my own observation was that Mr. Chester was conducting a thorough probe. In fact this is the first intimation I have heard that any one thought Mr. Chester's investigation was not thorough. I mention this for one reason only and that is to show how easily one may be misinformed by well intended people.
Very truly yours,
(signed) M.N. Ford. Secretary.*
*typed on letterhead
December 14, 1925.Board of Trustees,Ohio State University,Columbus, Ohio.Gentlemen:-The enclosed letter and editorial is from Mr. A.E. Huls, Logan, Ohio, whose son died from poisoning at the Ohio State University more [sic] than a year ago. Mr. Huls naturally feels very keenly the loss of his son.I am sending you this editorial and letter for your information and hope your investigation will be thorough in connection with matters at the Ohio State University.Very truly yours.Governor.* [Alvin Victor Donahey]
*typed on plain paper
State of OhioState Board of PharmacyOffice of SecretaryJan. 6, 1926Mr. A.E. Huls,Logan, Ohio.Dear Mr. Huls,In reply to your request of yesterday, which was made while in my office, will say that it will be impossible for me to spare the copy of testimony which I have in the case now being investigated. The fact that Prosecutor King is not using the copy he has it might be possible for you to secure same from him. I should have no objection to your having my copy if I was not using it at every opportunity that presents itself.We trust we will be able to render a report before many more weeks.Very truly yours,
(signed) M.N. Ford. Secretary.*
*typed on letterhead
###
State of OhioState Board of PharmacyOffice of SecretaryJan. 20, 1926Mr. A.E. Huls,Logan, Ohio.Dear Mr. Huls,I have your letter of the 17th instant and note what you have to say with interest. The statements you have made have been considered and are being considered and we shall continue to have them before us as we continue our work in this case.The last paragraph in your letter is indeed pleasing and encouraging and I trust our efforts will bring forth results that will not cause you to think differently.Very truly yours,
(signed) M.N. Ford. Secretary.*
*typed on letterhead
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TheOhio State PharmaceuticalAssociationTHE PHARMACY SIGN INSURES SAFETY
Office of the Secretary
Theo. D. Wetterstroem
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus Ohio June 15 1926
Mr. A. Huls
Editor the Logan Republican
Logan Ohio
Dear Sir;-
Your favor of recent date with reference to our drug show is received.
I have attempted to answer your letter a number of times, but have failed each time in setting forth any explanation with reference to matter you referred to.
The McLean Show Case Manufacturing Company of Pittsburgh has for the past few years been sponsoring a three act comedy showing the old time methods and the new of the average drug store. This appealedto [sic] me to be a better method of picturing the shortcomings and causes of loss of business in the average drug store better than any other method yet employed.
For nearly two years I have been trying to get the McLean Company interested enough to put this show on in Cedar Point, so that we had this in mind long before the tragedy which occurred at the Ohio University. It so happened that Mr. McLean personally knew the ability of Dr. Clarence Brown of directing amateur plays from his experience in former years when connected with the Zanesville High School. In this manner Dr. Brown and his class at the O.S.U. was selected and not for any purpose of vindication or reference to what had occurred at the university. As to the selection of the cast this was left to Dr. Brown.
This may have been unfortunate that the selection of the O.S.U. and its professors and students was made in this way, but I assure you that there was no thought in our minds in allowing this show to be a vehicle to refer to that tragedy in any manner.
I trust, my dear sir, that you will not consider us unmindful of the awful loss which you and your family and friends have had. I can only express to you my deep sorrow and the hope that some day the one who planted the strychnine there will be brought to justice.
I remain respectfully yours,
(signed) Theo. D. Wetterstroem*
*typed on letterhead
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$10,000.00 October 1, 1927
For value received I promise to pay Anna R. Huls, on order, Ten Thousand Dollars, to be a legal claim in my estate at the time of my death. If she be not living at that time, then this sum is to be held by my son Frederick E. Huls, as a claim against my estate.
This sum is the money received from the state of Ohio for the death of our son Charles H. Huls, which sum rightfully belongs to the parents and brother of the said Charles H. Huls.
I have used this money in the building and business and desire that this note be a legal claim against my estate as provided in my will.
A.E. Huls*
*handwritten on letterhead
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