Annual Report of the President

Poor Prexy's final annual report. Curiously, there is no mention of Edward A. Byron of Cincinnati. Was there a different diagnosis of his illness by then?

Obviously, this is not the entire annual report. I only included the section that I found to be relevant.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

     

HONORABLE LAWRENCE E. LAYBOURNE, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, The Ohio State University:

    DEAR SIR -- I have the honor to present through you to the Board of Trustees of the Ohio State University for transmission to the Governor of Ohio, as required by law, the fifty-fifth annual report of the Ohio State University, for the year ending June 30, 1925.

. . . 

THE COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

    The feature in connection with the report on this college for the current year demanding a statement is the experiences occurring during the winter.

W. O. Thompson

    On Saturday, January 31st, the University was shocked at the announcement of the sudden death of Mr. Charles H. Huls of Logan, a Senior in the College of Commerce and Journalism. On Sunday, the first day of February, the startling announcement was made that David I. Puskin, a Junior in the College of Commerce and Journalism, had suddenly died. Immediate attention was brought to these two cases and the preliminary assumption was that the death of Mr. Huls was due to Tetanus and that of Mr. Puskin to Meningitis. These two assumptions aroused a state of great anxiety as to an impending epidemic among the students.

    On Monday, February 2nd, G. Delbert Thompson of Canton, a Senior in the College of Commerce and Journalism, while in one of the stores downtown was seized with convulsions similar to those which preceded the death of both Mr. Huls and Mr. Puskin. He was promptly sent to the University Hospital and an investigation begun by the officials there, Through heroic efforts the life of Mr. Thompson was saved. Mr. Timothy J. McCarthy of Columbus, a Sophomore in the College of Commerce and Journalism; Mr. Harold E. Gillig of Toledo, a Sophomore in the College of Arts, and Mr. Robert H. Ross of Bellevue, a Freshman in the College of Arts, also fell ill. The fact that these students had capsules in their possession led to a searching investigation in the dispensary of the College of Pharmacy and every effort was made to discover the causes leading to this most serious and most deplorable experience. It was soon discovered that the cases were due to strychnine poisoning. A few capsules were found also in the possession of the students. Analysis of these capsules revealed the fact that they had been filled with strychnine. A further investigation developed that only a few of these capsules had been available and that not a single one remained in the receptacles in the dispensary. Having determined the questions of fact as to the presence of these capsules filled with strychnine and as to the limited supply of them, the investigation then turned upon the sources of supply. That question is not satisfactorily determined to this date. The issue still remains whether a limited number of these capsules had been distributed through the ordinary channels in the dispensary. The Columbus Police authorities were called into action and through an extended investigation conducted by the Police Prosecutor, Mr. John J. Chester, Jr., every effort was made to discover any possible information as to the facts involved, the motives that might be present and any other facts that would assist in reaching a conclusion as to how these capsules of strychnine could have been filled and dispensed.

    Somewhat later the Governor of Ohio instituted an investigation through the State Board of Pharmacy in charge of Mr. M. N. Ford. This investigation discovered no new facts save that the capsules used were of a slightly different size from those used in the University dispensary. This difference was so slight as not to be observed casually. It required an examination to recognize the difference. This at once raised the question whether these capsules could have been procured elsewhere than the source from which the University secures its supply and whether by some device a limited number of these capsules had been deposited in the receptacle in the dispensary. The absence of any motive for such criminal attempt upon the lives of innocent persons made this problem extremely delicate and difficult of determination. The University has not been able to trace any evidence of a purchase of capsules that would explain in any way the limited number of a different size from those in ordinary use, nor has the University been able to satisfy the minds of the investigators as to how such a limited number of capsules should find place and be distributed. None of the physicians associated in any way with this experience could provide any rational explanation of the situation. The University officials were pained and mystified by the whole procedure. The investigation by the police authorities was as complete as they could make it. The further investigation at the Governor's request has still left all the im-portant issues just where they were. No evidence was produced to show that anyone had any knowledge of the fatal capsules as to their existence or their source. One student whose service was in the dispensary in the ordinary routine remembers having given capsules to Mr. Puskin. There is no evidence, however, that he knew that these differed in any way from the ordinary capsule. In all the investigations made there was not the slightest approach to identification of any person criminally related to this experience. No blame could be attached to the administrative or dispensing officers in the College of Pharmacy. No motive could be discovered for any student to make such an irrational and criminal attack upon innocent lives. It seems impossible to tolerate the theory of an accident or of a careless method of procedure. The whole situation would seem to indicate deliberateness in the filling of those particular capsules. The history of criminal acts of this sort leads one to believe that by some inadvertence the future may provide a clew leading to a solution. The University will continue its effort so far as possible to discover a clew to this mysterious and perplexing situation. Such a disaster in the University experience lingers in the minds of University officials impossible of eradication. No responsibility could be located on individuals or groups of individuals for the occurrence. Speculative minds indulged in imaginary situations as always under such trying and distressing·circumstances but no approach was made toward apprehending a guilty person, or to a reasonable explanation of any motives that might lead to such a terror striking experi- ence. On the assumption that it was a deliberate act, some one or more persons unknown at present, carry the grave and terrible responsibility. If by any means the future shall disclose this person or persons the University will recognize its obligation to bring them to account. At present nothing more can be done than to record officially the profound sympathy which all University officials and students felt toward the unfortunate and bereaved families, and also the feeling of resentment that such a deed was possible among students.

    The official reports submitted to the President of the University from all University officials having to do with the investigation are filed as a part of the permanent records in this case and will be available at any time for properly authorized persons to inspect.

. . .  

    The usual statistical reports as required by law, the reports from the Deans, Departments, and other divisions of the University activities are herewith submitted as part of this report. The Summary of the Financial Report of the Secretary of the Board of Trustees is included as usual as part of this report. Reference to the appendixes will provide information supplementing that found in the several reports. Respectfully submitted,

                                            W. O. THOMPSON, President.

July 31, 1925.

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On the air

I have been trying to find out what happened to the other poisoning victims with varying degrees of success. One man I was struggling to find was Edward A. Byron, until I realized the man I kept finding in searches was one and the same.

Apparently, Edward left OSU after the poisonings. That April he, his mother, and two sisters went to Atlanta to spend time with family. Sadly, his 16-year-old sister died there in 1926, and his grandmother died later that same year. He tried studying law in Cincinnati, but that didn't work for him either.

I found this story in the Sunday, April 16, 1950 edition of The (Louisville, KY) Courier-Journal to be both entertaining and informative.

Kentuckian Makes Crime Pay -- On Air

Byron

    CRIME doesn't pay, it says here, except in the case of Edward A. Byron.

    It's been paying off for Ed for some years.

    He plots, directs, produces and is coauthor of "Mr. District Attorney," N.B.C. radio show over WAVE.

    Ed was born in Newport, Ky., 44 years ago, although he doesn't look it (age, not birthplace).

    You would riever know that Mr. and Mrs. Armour C. Byron, who live in Louisville's Cumberland Apartments, had a son that age, either. The elder Byron is a tax consultant, and spends most of his time consulting about these matters in Kentucky towns. His home originally was in Atlanta. Mrs. Byron is from Newport.

Originated Show

    Ed is celebrating 25 years in radio, 11 of them with "Mr. District Attorney," which show he originated. It is one of the very first of the crime shows which have become a trend in the industry.

    Ed went to Ohio State and the University of Cincinnati, in the College of Law at the latter school. He was a quarterback in football, and at the same time wrote school plays--book and lyrics for one. While his father says he thought Ed should have taken up law, the theatrical business won, and he went into radio.

    His law preparation was going to stand him in good stead when "D.A." went on the air, for each program shows Ed's understanding of that subject.

    Ed's first radio experience was in Cincinnati, back in the days when the ukulele player wrote the scripts. After a little of that, he went to work reporting on Cincinnati papers. One day, he answered an ad for a script writer at WLW. At 22, he found himself writing 28 shows a week for $40. In what he calls his spare time, he sold programs and no doubt swept up, as well.

Originated Others

    He eventually became program director at WLW. While he was in that position, WLW inaugurated many of its best-known programs, some of whose stars have really scaled the radio heights: Jane Frohman, Ramona, Phil Brito, Mills Brothers and Singin' Sam. He also originated the "Theater of The Air" broadcast from that station, and dreamed up "Moon River," one of the real old-time radio shows, nearly 20 years old.

    Ed went to New York in 1932, did free-lance work and became radio director for a big tobacco company. He originated "What's My Name?" and "Pot O' Gold." He became radio counsel for United Press. Later, he went to Mexico to write a novel, but only got a job on an onion farm, and came back to radio. Now he heads his own company, Byron Productions.

    "Mr. D. A." started sustaining on April 3, 1939, and was heard five times a week for 15 minutes. He has been with the same sponsor since 1940, and has never repeated a show or a situation.

It Helped Dewey

    "Mr. D. A." became confused with Thomas E. Dewey when the latter was the crusading D.A. in New York. Dewey has said that he heard of at least several people who voted for him for President because "they liked the way he sounded on the radio."

    Len Doyle, "Harrington," is the only original member of the troupe still in the cast. Byron hired him because he liked the way he played John Dillinger.

   "D. A." continually seeks to expose new rackets. Coincidence and a shrewd sense of timing have helped Byron keep up with the parade, and occasionally ahead of it.

    As an outstanding example, in 1944 Byron's show did a story of Nazi saboteurs landing on the American coast. When, 10 days later; such parties did land on the American coast, the F.B.I, came around fast to ask questions.

Edward died in 1964 leaving behind his wife, former radio actress Catherine McCune, and two sons, Christopher and Kevin.

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Hysteria

Robert Ross

Ohio State University and Ohio health officials took a harder look at other illnesses now that three known students had either become mysteriously ill or died.

Robert Ross, a freshman from Bellevue, Ohio became ill on Tuesday, January 27, 1925. He was diagnosed with food poisoning at the time.

"I took the capsules as directed and later in the evening went to the university gymnasium to play basketball," Ross said according to a Feb. 7, 1925 article in the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. "I began to feel sick and then shortly thereafter I became dizzy. I started vomiting. My body became stiff and other students assisted me to my home."

Timothy J. McCarthy

Timothy J. McCarthy of Fremont, Ohio, a sophomore in the college of Commerce and Journalism, became suddenly ill the previous Thursday, Jan. 29, 1925. He too had a cold and a prescription for R&Ws, but he was diagnosed with "hysteria." His remaining capsules were later examined and all but one were as prescribed. The other contained strychnine. According to family stories, I believe it was Timothy who later entertained friends by sticking pin and needles into his now nerveless fingers.

Harold E. Gillig, a sophomore from Tiffin or Toledo, was diagnosed with indigestion or hysteria.

Edward A. Byron, a freshman from Cincinnati, also became ill.

But why no women? Male students were seen by Dr. Harry Shindel Wingert, Director of Student Health Services. Wingert prescribed R&Ws seventy-eight times in January. Female students were seen by a woman doctor who did not prescribe R&Ws.

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