May his memory be a blessing

Here is buried the dear young (unmarried) man,

Isaac Div son of Eliezer Reuben who died at 22 years.

10 Shevat 5685 (4 February 1925)

May his soul be bound up in eternal life.

David Puskin

1903-1925

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Extra! Extra!

Two stories appeared in the Monday, Feb. 2, 1925 edition of the Lancaster (Ohio) Eagle-Gazette as the breaking news story developed.

First to be laid out was this tiny brief, way back on page 10:

Son of Eugene Huls Dies At Ohio State

Charles Huls, 22, son of Eugene Huls, for many years State Factory Inspector and editor of the Logan Republican, died Saturday night, following the extraction of an ulcerated tooth Friday. Young Huls was a senior in the college of commerce and journalism at O. S. U. and edited the Makio in 1924.

His death occurred at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity home where he was a member. The Huls family is very well known in Lancaster.

Then the front page (above) was laid out. The front page is always laid out last to make sure the latest news and updates get attention. This front page is a nightmare. It didn't stack the separate headlines like most newspapers did in 1925, but it split them down the middle. I don't care if the left is sans serif and the right is serif -- it's a mess:

Sudden Death Of Two O.S.U. Students Causes Alarm
Order Friends Of Dead Men Be Isolated

(By The Associated Press)
COLUMBUS. Feb. 2--Further precautionary measures to prevent a possible outbreak of cerebro meningitis at Ohio State University, and where to [sic] students have died suddenly and under mysterious circumstances were taken today when Dr. H. Shindle Wingert, university physician examined six personal friend [sic] of one of the deceased students and ordered them isolated.

Charles E. [sic] Huls of Logan died Saturday in a fraternity house, of what was thought to be tetanus. Davis [sic] Puskin of Canton, a junior in the college of journalism died suddenly yesterday after circumstances similar to those surrounding the death of Huls.

To determine whether both students died from the same cause, local health authorities asked Logan officials to perform a post mortem over Huls. Information received here today, however is to the effect that the student's family objects to the procedure.

In the midst of his examination of other students, Dr. Wingert issued a statement urging students "not to be scared about the present flurry.

"There is little to cause general eoncern," he said. "Individuals, however are urged to keep their general health at a high level, observe regular hours, keep in good physical condition and keep the face and hands scrupulously clean. Fear lowers the vitality and besides, there is not much occasion for it."

Puskin, the second student to die arose yesterday morning, apparently in good health. He went to the bathroom to shave was seized with convlsions [sic] and died within 20 minutes.

-30-

The tragedy more sharply

So far I have been unable to find an obituary for David other than what was published in the O.S.U. Lantern on Monday, Feb. 2, 1925:

DAVID PUSKEN

The news that a second Ohio State student has died from causes apparently similar to those which caused the death of Charley Huls brings the tragedy to us more sharply.

We did not know David Pusken (Puskin appears on his grave, but Pushkin and Pusken were also used at OSU) as we knew Charley Huls, but that is our fault, and our loss, we are sure.

Death does not stride the University often, and when it does it affects us all the stronger. We grieve at the death of a fellow student, although we did not know him, for he had a great deal in common with all of us. He went to school here, and that gives us a community of interest.

The Lantern extends its sympathy to the relatives and friends of David Pusken with all sincerity.

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Gone but not forgotten

David slept in, popped an R&W and went to shave.

Within 30 minutes he was dead on the bathroom floor.

1903 - February 1, 1925

Buried at the Canton Hebrew Cemetery.

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May his soul be bound up in eternal life

David Isaac Puskin

David slept in, popped an R&W and went to shave.

Within 30 minutes he was dead on the bathroom floor.

1903 - February 1, 1925

Buried at the Canton Hebrew Cemetery.

-30-

May his soul be bound up in eternal life

David Isaac Puskin

1903 - February 1, 1925

Buried at the Canton Hebrew Cemetery.

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The result of 'deliberate' acts

Marysville Journal-Tribune
Marysville, Ohio
Friday, July 2, 1926 • Page 1

MAKE REPORT ON O.S.U. MYSTERY

 

SUBSTITUTION OF CAPSULES CONTAINING STRYCHNINE FOR QUININE CAPSULES TERMED "DELIBERATE"

COLUMBUS, July 2 --Governor Donahey today reiterated that he will not drop the investigation into the "poison capsule" deaths of two Ohio State University students as long as he is governor in the hope that the criminal or criminals responsible can be apprehended.

The declaration followed the report of the state board of pharmacy that the strychnine poisoning, which was in January and February of 1925, was not due to accident or carelessness,  but the result of "deliberate" acts of unidentified person or persons. The students who died were Charles H. Huls, Logan, and David I. Puskin, Canton. Four other students were ill from poisoning, but recovered.

Capsules containing strychnine were handed the students when they applied to the university dispensary for capsules containing quinine, according to all evidence. It has never been discovered how the poison capsules got into the jar with the quinine capsules.

The board report states that Ohio State University violated the law by not having a registered pharmacist in the dispensary at all times, but held that this violation had nothing to do with the poisoning. All officials and employes [sic] of the university were cleared.

In the report, physicians were scored for faulty diagnosis or failure to report promptly to the university. "Prompt action might have saved lives," the report states.

One of the most important statements in the report is: "Carelessness or accident in compounding as the source of the poisoning is proven absolutely absent. Thorough investigation shows no trace of poisonous admixtures as would have been the case with carelessness or accident in compounding. All strychnine was in separate capsules as though added to the stock in a limited number."

There is one difference in the opinion of the board and that of Police Prosecutor John J. Chester, who conducted a probe following the poisoning and is still watching the case. Chester states that he does not believe the strychnine necessarily came from outside the college of pharmacy as: "my investigation disclosed that at least two ounces of strychnine, enough to kill 200 persons, was not accounted for by the officials of the college of pharmacy."

In the board report, it is stated that chemical analysis and examination of strychnine found in capsules convinces the board the strychnine was not obtained from the university supply and that there is evidence the poison capsules were of a different make from those used by the university.

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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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Fear lowers the vitality

It's fascinating to go back and watch a news story develop. Two stories appeared in the Monday, Feb. 2, 1925 edition of the Lancaster (Ohio) Eagle-Gazette as the story developed.

First to be laid out was this tiny brief, way back on page 10:

Son of Eugene Huls Dies At Ohio State

    Charles Huls, 22, son of Eugene Huls, for many years State Factory Inspector and editor of the Logan Republican, died Saturday night, following the extraction of an ulcerated tooth Friday. Young Huls was a senior in the college of commerce and journalism at O. S. U. and edited the Makio in 1924.

    His death occurred at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity home where he was a member. The Huls family is very well known in Lancaster. 

Then the front page was laid out. The front page is always laid out last to make sure the latest news and updates get attention. This front page is a nightmare. It didn't stack the separate headlines like most newspapers did in 1925, but it split them down the middle. I don't care if the left is sans serif and the right is serif -- it's a mess:

Sudden Death Of Two O.S.U. Students Causes Alarm

Order Friends Of Dead Men Be Isolated

(By The Associated Press)

    COLUMBUS. Feb. 2--Further precautionary measures to prevent a possible outbreak of cerebro meningitis at Ohio State University, and where to [sic] students have died suddenly and under mysterious circumstances were taken today when Dr. H. Shindle Wingert, university physician examined six personal friend [sic] of one of the deceased students and ordered them isolated.

    Charles E. [sic] Huls of Logan died Saturday in a fraternity house, of what was thought to be tetanus. Davis [sic] Puskin of Canton, a junior in the college of journalism died suddenly yesterday after circumstances similar to those surrounding the death of Huls.

    To determine whether both students died from the same cause, local health authorities asked Logan officials to perform a post mortem over Huls. Information received here today, however is to the effect that the student's family objects to the procedure.

    In the midst of his examination of other students, Dr. Wingert issued a statement urging students "not to be scared about the present flurry. 

    "There is little to cause general eoncern," he said. "Individuals, however are urged to keep their general health at a high level, observe regular hours, keep in good physical condition and keep the face and hands scrupulously clean. Fear lowers the vitality and besides, there is not much occasion for it."

    Puskin, the second student to die arose yesterday morning, apparently in good health. He went to the bathroom to shave was seized with convlsions [sic] and died within 20 minutes.

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The top 10 signs you've been poisoned with strychnine

Sir Charles Bell, 1809, Public domain

While poking around the internet for strychnine I came across this excellent (?) list of the 10 main symptoms of strychnine poisoning from the University of Bristol's School of Chemistry:

1. Initial symptoms are tightness and twitching of the muscles, agitation, and hyperreflexia. 
2. Stiffness of the body. 
3. Lockjaw. 
4. Frothing of the mouth. 
5. Cessation of respiration. 
6. Tetanus-like attacks appear every 10-15 minutes. During these attacks the eyeballs protrude and the pupils enlarge. 
7. Severe cyanosis, which disappears after the attack subsides. 
8. The attacks (each lasting about 3-4 minutes) appear to be spontaneous while other times they are the result of external stimuli, i.e. noises, slight movements, or flashes of light. The patient never loses consciousness. 
9. When the poisoning is left untreated each attack lasts longer than the previous and the interval between them grows shorter. 
10. Up to 10 attacks occur before death or recovery. This could happen from 10 minutes to 3 hours and is a result of asphyxiation or inner tissue paralysis.

Sounds pleasant. Not.

My reading has informed me that someone with a full stomach, such as Uncle Charley after eating dinner at his fraternity, takes longer to die. Charley took more than two or three hours to die, while David Puskin only took 20-30 minutes since he had just woken up.

Since noise or flashes of light can also trigger the spasms, I can only imagine what a panicked fraternity house on a Saturday night sounded like and what that did to Charley's state.

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Stimulating questions

Nelson Rosenberg was a name I kept seeing in conjunction with the poisonings so I decided I needed to research him more. Rosenberg was a 23-year-old pharmacy student who was with David Puskin on the night before his death -- and had purchased a bottle of strychnine from the Hi-King Drug Co. When questioned, Rosenberg explained that he had broken his glasses and used the drug to help focus on his studies. 

I found this in the Friday, Feb. 6, 1926 edition of the Athens Messenger:

FIND STUDENT WHO BOUGHT POISON TO USE AS STIMULANT

Cleveland Youth Freed 

After Telling Officers 

His Story 

    COLUMBUS, Feb. 6. -- First admission that one of the Pharmacy college students of Ohio State university had purchased strychnine in a Coumbus [sic] pharmacy, came today during the question of Nelson Rosenberg, who said he was a son of Dr. Emmanuel Rosenberg, 16907 Wade Park, east Cleveland.

    A rumor spread over the campus early today that a Pharmacy student had purchased fifty grains of strychnine in a downtown drug store. Hurriedly checking up on this report, Deputy Carson learned that Rosenberg had purchased 12 one fiftieth grain strychnine tablets at a store Wednesday night. Questioned by probers at the college, Rosenberg said he had bought the drug as a stimulant. Probers said he told the druggist from whom he obtained the strychnine, after first having been refused in two other stores, that he wished it for use in treating a cold.

    Police Prosecutor Chester said that Rosenberg had declared that he never before had purchased strychnine in a drugstore. Chester also said that Rosenberg had declared he had seen a supply of strychnine in a bottle on a stock shelf in the Freshman laboratory in the basement of the building, and that other students had told him they had also seen it. Rosenberg was hurried downstairs to the laboratory where he pointed out the shelf. Phil Mackoff, instructor in charge of the laboratory, however denied vigorously that strychnine, or any other like toxic poison, was ever used in the laboratory, or kept there. Chester said Rosenberg was confronted with the student who said he had admitted seeing the drug on the shelf and that this student denied the story.

    Rosenberg was released after having been detailed in the lecture room where the investigation is going on for about forty minutes.

According to Bucky Cutright, Rosenberg received his degree in July [June?] of 1925 and followed in his father’s footsteps, practicing medicine in the Cleveland area until his death in 1991. 

-31-

Together forever

It has taken me forever, but I finally found George Delbert Thompson! Amazingly, he died here in Arizona in 1981 where I have lived since 1975. (I now have a faint memory of grandpa Fred either talking to him or visiting him, but I'm not sure.)

In my hunt to find out what happened to Del after his poisoning, I found this photo illustration in the Wednesday, Feb. 11, 1925 edition of The (Hanover, PA) Evening Sun:

POISON MANIAC SOUGHT IN OHIO UNIVERSITY DEATH. A sensation was caused in the entire Middle West, over the death of two Ohio State University students and the poisoning of three others with strychnine. The poison is said to have been contained in capsules, issued by the university dispensary as "quinine." Lewis Fish, of Canton, who admitted he filled a prescription for one of the dead youths, is in the custody of the police. The large photograph is that of Delbert Thompson, who is recovering from poisoning, and the insert is that of Charles Huls, the first boy to die.

As far as I can tell Del married once at the age of 37 to a Frieda Lillian (or Louise) Clay Bruce. (I believe she was either widowed or divorced.) They married on Oct. 21, 1937 in Asheville, N.C., by The Rev. Loy. D. Thompson. I have no idea if he was a relation.

Strangely, Del is shown in the 1940 census as single, living at home with his mother, Henrietta, and unmarried sister, Thelma. Was it a mistake? Was he home alone helping out? Were he and Frieda separated?

Or was the marriage a secret?

His obituary ran in the Tucson Citizen on Saturday, May 30, 1981:

THOMPSON George D (Del), 80, died Thursday, May 28, 1981. Survived by wife, Frieda; brother, Clifford E. Thompson and sister, Thelma Thompson, both of Canton, OH. He had been affiliated with Holmes Tuttle Ford. Memorial Service 11 a.m., Monday, June 1, 1981, at ARIZONA MORTUARY UNIVERSITY CHAPEL (University at North Stone), with Dr. Dale E. Hewitt officiating. Private interment at TMP East Lawn. Remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Frieda apparently returned to Canton, Ohio where she died in 1991, but she was buried with Del. 

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Probing questions

I admit I can get into a bad habit of not reading an entire wire (AP: Associated Press or UP: United Press) story, especially when it jumps to an inside page. Thus I missed this little gem on page 13 of the Canton Daily News on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 1925:

 

(Continued From First Page) 

State To Probe Puskin Death At University

. . .

    When informed that his son David Puskin, Ohio State University student, had probably died from poison instead instead of cerebral meningitis, L. Puskin of 1130 Rex av NE, declared he had suspected poison after having talked with local physicians.

    "David had never been ill a day of his life," Mr. Puskin said. "I have talked with doctors since David was buried and believe that he did not die of the disease as was told me.

    "The doctor told me that he would have been ill three to four days at least before death, if he was suffering from cerebral meningitis.

    "I am not able to say now whether I will permit an autopsy [sic, David was apparently autopsied the afternoon of his death. Was it done without the family's knowledge or consent?] or not. I must talk it over with members of my family first."

    George D. Thompson, whose stomach yielded the substance which physicians declared the poison, is the son of Mrs. Henrietta Thompson of 1225 Ridge rd NW, a McKinley High graduate and a student at Mt. Union college.

    His mother and brother (Clifford?) left Canton Tuesday night for Columbus, and were with him Wednesday relatives said.

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Sundry claims

It is fairly easy to find online sources about Uncle Charley and David Puskin, but after the initial poisonings it is much more difficult to find information about the other victims and what happened to them. These two clippings made me sad.

First, this was in the Oct 23, 1924 issue of The Athens Messenger, three months before his near fatal poisoning:

NEW GOLF PRO IS OHIO STATE MAN

Delbert Thompson Has  

Two Brothers in Game

    The board of directors of the Athens Country club has appointed Delbert Thompson as professional for the club's golf course.

    Thompson is a student at Ohio State university and will come to Athens in April after finishing his studies at Ohio State in March. He has had seven years' experience as a golf professional paid for his education with his clubs. His last connection was with the Ambridge club of Pittsburgh.

    He is a brother of T.D. Thompson professional at the Parkersburg country club. He claims the unique distinction of being one of three brothers who are all golf professionals.

I then found this in the Thursday, Dec. 16, 1926 edition of the Dayton Daily News:

Poison Victim Files Claim

Attorney Seeks Compensation for Canton Golf Instructor

    Attorney Don Thomas, of the law firm Baggott and Thomas, conferred with officials of the state sundry claims committee at Columbus relative to compensation for Delbert Thompson, Canton, golf expert and instructor and one of the victims of poison at the Ohio State University in January, 1925, he announced Thursday.

    No definite sum was asked for the bad condition in which Thompson alleges he was left by the poison, which was dispensed to a number of students accidentally as quinine.

    Thompson has no adequate relief in the matter in the courts of the state and must depend upon the decision of the committee, Thomas stated.

    Thompson lost a position at Athens, where he was hired as a golf instructor, due to his ill health, it was reported. He values his service at from $4000 to $5000 a year.

    Charles Huls, Logan, and David I. Puskin, Canton, died as a result of the poison. A.E. Huls, father of the dead boy, is seeking $15,000 damages for the loss of his son.

 

I'm still trying to discover more about Delbert, but I think his job loss must have been especially painful coming from a family with two additional golf professionals: Thomas and Clifford. I wonder if it was permanent? To date, I can find nothing specific about Delbert or his golfing career after this.

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Doing a mitzvah

In its primary meaning, the Hebrew word mitzvah refers to a commandment commanded by God to be performed as a religious duty.

The term mitzvah has also come to express an individual act of human kindness in keeping with the law, as in Leviticus 19:18; "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Basically, it's the difference between doing something you have to, and doing something because you want to.

The lovely members of JewishGen.org* were interested in David's story and my desire to keep it alive, so they came up with several promising angles. So far two great-nephews have replied -- including one who did not know about the circumstances of his great-uncle's death!

(As my brother said, in another generation this story might have been forgotten.)

Additionally, they have both promised to talk to David's only surviving nephew.

Marking a grave with stones was customary in ancient times before the adoption of gravestones. Small stones are placed with the left hand by people who visit Jewish graves as an act of remembrance or respect. The practice is also a way of participating in the mitzvah of burial.

Please consider this blog to be my small stone in David's memory.

-30-

*I am hugely indebted to the members of Jewishgen.org who helped me figure out David's family's descendants and helped me find two of David's great-nephews.

Sitting shiva

I wondered as I typed The Mourner's Kaddish if religious reasons had prevented Louis Puskin from traveling to Columbus immediately after David's death. I finally spotted this paragraph in the Thursday, Feb. 5, 1925 edition of their local paper, Canton Daily News which seemed to confirm my curiosity:

    Louis Puskin, father of David Puskin, 1130 Rex av NE, who died last Thursday under mysterious circumstances at Ohio State University where he was a student, announced Thursday he would probably send a man to Columbus to aid in the investigation 

    Mr. Puskin, because of Jewish custom, will be unable to take personal action in the investigation. Members of the Puskin family said they did not think a representative would be sent to Columbus today and that as yet no one had been chosen for the mission.

        It is probable that a man will be picked Friday to represent Mr. Puskin at Columbus. 

I am no scholar on Jewish customs or rituals, so any mistakes are all mine. As far as can tell, the four basic stages of Jewish mourning are:

1. Aninut. During this time, individuals experience the initial shock of their loss: anger, denial, and disbelief. This is when keriah, or the rending of the garments, is performed.
2. Shiva: seven days dedicated towards remembrance of the deceased individual. "Sitting" shiva (or shiv'ah) refers to the act of sitting on low stools or the floor during times of mourning.
3. Sheloshim: During this period, mourning proceeds for 30 days following the burial. After the intense seven days of shiva, sheloshim encourages individuals to begin to partake in social relations in order to slowly ease back into normal daily activities.
4. Yahrzeit or yizkor, the final stage of the 12-month period of mourning ceases, and yearly remembrance ceremonies are held for the individual who had died.

Reading this, I believe the Puskin family was sitting shiva. David was buried in Canton Hebrew Cemetery on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 1925. Shiva (Hebrew: שִׁבְעָה‎, literally "seven") is the week-long mourning period in Judaism for first-degree relatives: parents, spouses, children, and siblings of the person who has died. The shiva period lasts for seven days following the burial. Following the initial period of despair and lamentation immediately after the death, shiva embraces a time when individuals discuss their loss and accept the comfort of others. 

During, shiva, mourners remain at home, and friends and family visit those in mourning in order to give their condolences and provide comfort. Dating back to biblical times, shiva formalizes the natural way an individual confronts and overcomes grief. Shiva allows for the individual to express their sorrow, discuss the loss of a loved one, and slowly re-enter society.

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Death severs friendship

As previously mentioned, I have always felt sorry for Louis Fish. Reading this Tuesday, Feb 10, 1925 local story from the Canton Daily News only enforces the opinion for me.

Death Severed Friendship Of Fifteen Years

Say No Enmity Existed Between Pushkin and Fish.

    A friendship of 15 years duration and severed by the death of David Puskin, had existed between Puskin and Louis Fish.

    This was the comment Tuesday of both the members of the Puskin family and Frank Fish, brother of Louis Fish.

    Louis is being held by Columbus officials, now conducting a probe of the source of the "poison capsules" given a number of students at the university medical center. Fish is said to have admitted being in the pharmacy room between class hours and giving the supposed aspirin and quinine capsules to David Puskin. He said Puskin had given him a prescription for the medicine and asked that he fill it.

    "Louis and David have been friends for 15 years," Frank Fish declared, Tuesday. "We lived neighbors to the Puskin family for many years, and the boys both sold papers on the Canton streets.

    "They never fought. I never knew of them even having an argument. Louis worked every summer selling papers and at any other work he could get during vacations.

    "He graduated from McKinley high school last spring. David Puskin had graduated the year before."

    "It is a terrible mistake, we are sure," members of the Puskin family said in discussing the Fish arrest. "David and Louis were the closest friends. Louis can explain everything."

    The boys, always together when home, were intimate at the college, it was said.

    Fish had come to Puskin's room several months ago and told David he was leaving school. He said his grades were low, and that he feared he would be unable to pass his examinations.

    Puskin discouraged his attitude and asked him to bring his books to his room. Together they worked on Louis' studies. David, who was an upper classman, helping Louis.

    Fish's grades advanced, and a short time ago, he passed his examinations with a fair margin above failing marks.

    "And we think that the officials will find that Louis had nothing to do with the poison, except that which he has told them," members of the Puskin family concluded.

    "Louis did not know anything of the poison," Frank Fish said. He told me when he was home, and he has told the officials at Columbus that he was not alone in the room when he filled the prescription.

    "There were several students in the room. One of them was a Canton boy, but I don't recall his name. I know my brother had nothing to do with the poisoning."

    Fish's record at McKinley High school was that of the average boy student. His grades were not of the highest, but were above the average required for college entrance.

    J.L.G. Pottorf, principal of the school, said he had had very little personal contact with Louis Fish. He said the boy had always been an orderly student.

    Fish had not taken part in the activities of the student body.

    "I knew David Puskin even better than I did Louis Fish." Mr. Pottorf said. "He was a hard worker in school, and of a quiet nature. As near as I know, Louis was similar in his habits.

    "Neither of the boys had ever given us cause for discipline and I would say that they were both average boys."

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Family feud

I apologize for the lack of a post yesterday, but I went down several productive rabbit holes.

Firstly, I finally made contact with someone from David Puskin's family! I certainly hope to bring their perspective and experiences to this blog.

Secondly, I found another "clew" about a long-rumored family curse. (I adore that archaic spelling!) Well, it turns out to be more of a family feud that thankfully didn't go the way of the Hatfields and McCoys.

Grandpa Fred once told me that there was a family curse. Supposedly, someone cursed the men in the Huls and Troxel families to die horrible deaths. (Strychnine, anyone?)

Do you remember Joseph W. and Emma Frasure Huls? Emma was the sister of great-grandpa Gene's first wife, Mary Jennie Frasure Huls.

Joseph, who was great-grandpa Gene's first cousin, married Emma on April 13, 1884. Their one and only child died within two days in 1892. 

(Joseph is also the man who built a nearly identical version of great-grandpa Gene's house. This feud must have been awkward for these close cousins.)

A.E. (Gene) and Mary Jennie married in 1889, and Walter was born in 1890. Cousin Joseph and sister Emma raised Gene's son Walter after Jenny died, either in childbirth or shortly thereafter in 1895. Gene and Anna married in 1899.

My great-grandparents' first child, Anna Troxel Huls, was a stillbirth in Jan. 5, 1900. That's when things possibly fell apart.

My first clew was a weird, tiny newspaper article I almost skipped on page 7 of The Stark County Democrat from Canton, Ohio on Friday, Dec. 28, 1900,

Sent Improper Letters.

       A strange family feud has been disclosed through a warrant issued by United States Commissioner J.L. Adler and an arrest made by order of United States Marshal V. J. Fagin. Mrs. Anna E. Huls, wife of Joseph W. Huls a resident of Logan, O., and one of the most prominent citizens of Ohio, is charged with sending through the mails improper letters, postals and drawings to her sister-in-law, the wife of Capt. W. Huls, of Rockbridge, who is a man of wealth and prominence in social and church circles. 

    There is to be a hearing on Dec. 29, in which District Attorney Bundy and Assistant District Attorney Mouliniar will represent the government, and it is said the evidence will be of a very sensational nature.

Okay, that's weird. Especially when I could find nothing else.

Until today, when I found this in the Sunday, Dec. 30, 1900 edition of the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune:

MRS. HULS IS ARRAIGNED.

Family quarrel at Logan, O., Gets Into United States Court.

Special Despatch [sic] to Commercial Tribune 

    COLUMBUS, O., Dec. 29. -- Mrs. Anna E. Huls, of a prominent family of Logan, was arraigned before United States Commissioner Johnson today on the charge of sending obscene drawings and letters through the mails. Mrs. Huls is said to be worth $100,000. The objectionable matter reflected upon Mrs. Joseph Huls, a cousin by marriage. The defendant was a Miss Toxen [sic], and is said to have jilted by Joseph Huls.

    A.E. Huls married a sister of Mrs. Joseph Huls. This sister died, her last request being that her child was to be taken by Mrs. Joseph Huls, if A.E. Huls married Miss Toxen. He did so and a struggle for possession of the child followed.

Sadly, that didn't clarify much for me. Dates, names, and relationships are a jumbled mess. Personally, I strongly suspect that great-grandpa Gene's editor friends played with the names as a favor to him, but Miss Toxen instead of Troxel? Seriously?

The other weird thing is the first article mentions "the wife of Capt. W. Huls," my great-great-grandparents. Were they also somehow involved?

How does this relate to Charley? Well, he was the first child to live of my great-grandparents' marriage and he died a truly horrible death. I somehow doubt that 25 years later Emma Cordelia went to the O.S.U. pharmacy and spiked the quinine capsules, so that lets her off the hook as a suspect.

But I still want to know more.

 

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I found this newspaper clipping among the photocopies I had previously made and it somehow survived. I do not know which Logan newspaper* it appeared in at this time, but I transcribe it here now since it gives an early look at the unfolding tragedy.

Funeral Services for Plague Victim

Logan Youth Stricken by Meningitis

    LOGAN, O., Feb. 3. -- On advice of Dr. W.G. Rhoten, city health commissioner, funeral services for Charles H. Huls who died in Columbus Saturday night were held privately at the home of his parents,  Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Huls on East Hunter Street Tuesday afternoon at one o'clock.

    This action was taken by the health commissioner after it was learned that the death certificate which was issued in Columbus by Dr. J.L. Gordon bore the statement that the cause of death was meningitis. A change was made in the certificate which at first stated that the death was due to tetanus, after a second death occurred and an investigation disclosed that the cause of it was "epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis." This fact caused a change to be made in the certificate.

    Dr. Rhoten was called by Dr. Beer in Columbus who suggested that an effort be made to hold a post mortem over the body of Huls. This was deemed inadvisable by the parents and the inquest was dropped. 

    Precautionary measures were taken by health officials to prevent any possibility of a contagion of the disease from spreading.

Charley's death certificate was later changed one more time to read, "Accidental Strychnine Poisoning."

*Please always identify photographs and newspaper clippings with the name and date.

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Votes of confidence

It did not take long for two Votes of Confidence to appear at the University. The Board of Trustees met at the University on Saturday, Feb. 7, 1925. Present were L.E. Laybourne, vice chairman, 0.E. Bradfute, John Kaiser, Egbert Mack, Mrs. Alma Paterson, and Mr. Winters representing Vernon M. Riegel, Director of Education.

Action In Poison Mystery 

The following recommendation was unanimously adopted: 

RESOLVED, That the Trustees of the University express their profound regret at the unfortunate circumstances resulting in the death of two students, Charles Henry Huls and David Isaac Puskin, and the serious and almost fatal illness of others. The Trustees also place on record their approval of the promptness and care exercised by the University officials in their efforts to disclose all the facts. They also approve the placing at the disposal of the public authorities all available means and facilities of the University, by which may be ascertained all the facts pertaining to the case and the location of any responsibility for the deplorable situation.

The Trustees further express their approval and hearty appreciation of the diligence with which the city and county officials and their assistants are conducting the investigation.

Dean Claire Albert Dye

Meanwhile, on Monday, Feb. 9, 1925 more than 200 students of the college of pharmacy signed an informal, but heartfelt, petition expressing confidence in the administration of Dean Claire A. Dye:

"We, the students of the Ohio State University college of pharmacy, wish to express our confidence in yourself and your leadership.

"We know that you have not loaned, but given freely and unselfishly your time and assistance to aid in the movement to clear up the mystery of our recent tragedy.

"We feel, through personal contact with you, we are qualified to judge in this connection.

"We have been greatly benefitted by this association, not to mention your thorough instruction and good advice often given, and as often accepted,  always considerate, yet decisive."

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