This is Part 4 of the story of Jane Stanford’s demise. Click here to go to Part 1.

By the time the coroner jury’s findings were reached, President Jordan was sailing to Honolulu, accompanied by an entourage of his own.  His objective was disguised as a trip to determine the real cause of Jane Stanford’s death. Upon arrival, Jordan retained a local physician, Dr. Ernest Coniston Waterhouse, to dispute the coroner’s cause of death. It is unknown why Jordan specifically chose Dr. Waterhouse, except that Waterhouse produced a short report that opined the cause of death of Jane Stanford was not due to poisoning but “heart failure.”  That cause of death was strongly communicated by President Jordan to the press.  He also wired the new president of Stanford’s board of trustees several possible causes of death. It appears that the University chose a cause of death that was the least embarrassing to the institution.

Stanford University President, David Starr Jordan

It wasn’t until 2003 that the near century old cover-up saw the light of day. Stanford physician, Robert W. P. Cutler, a neurologist, while researching for his book, The Mysterious Death of Jane Stanford, unequivocally declares: Mrs. Stanford was murdered. Unfortunately, Cutler stops short of identifying the murderer, which is expected since investigators most familiar with the case were reluctant to speculate who was responsible for the murder.

Because of the contentious relationship between Jane Stanford and President Jordan and her known pending action to terminate Jordan for what she perceived as poor performance, many surmise that Jordan was the behind the poisoning of Jane Stanford.  Of course, Jordan had to have the help of someone on Jane Stanford’s  personal staff, but nothing was ever proven.

In humans, strychnine poising symptoms are displayed minutes after exposure. Muscles spasm begin in the head and neck in the form of “truisms rises sardonicus” … that is, restriction of the mouth opening and facial muscles spasms. The spasms spread to the other muscles of the body. Death results from asphyxiation. Strychnine poisoning is a cruel way to cause death.

Go to Part 5 (the conclusion)