This is Part 2 of the story of Jane Stanford’s demise. Click here to go to Part 1.

Under Jane Stanford’s tutelage the school gained early recognition in the arts.  Two historians writing about “Academic Freedom in the United States” described Jane as having great affection for the “fledging institution,” as a mother may have for her only child. 

It seems that Jane’s love resulted in being a “micromanager.” History shows she corresponded with the school’s President, David Starr Jordan, on every matter concerning the running of the school.  Historians today say Jane Stanford was not well liked by many, particularly by President Jordan who had very progressive ideas concerning the future of the University. One difference in opinion was Jane’s determination to keep the University all male while Starr wanted it to be co-educational.

President Jordan

When Jane disapproved of a faculty member for any reason she would direct Jordan to oust the person.  Jane’s source of information about the management of the university and personnel matters came from a German professor, Julius Goebel, who acted as her confidant, keeping a paper trail on Jordan’s activities. The contentious relationship  fostered Jane to have a strong desire to terminate President Jordan. That objective was not a well kept secret and it is believed Jordan became aware of Stanford’s intentions to terminate him.

On the evening of January 14, 1905, in her San Francisco Nob Hill mansion, Stanford drank a glass of “Poland Spring mineral water from a bottle in her room,” as she did every evening.  The bottle was left by a household servant. 

Being a regular consumer of Poland Spring water, Mrs. Stanford immediately recognized a bitter taste from the water.  Suspecting foul play, she immediately induced herself to vomit and called for her secretary and her maid.  They agreed the water had a “bitter” taste and the water was sent to the pharmacy for analysis.  Weeks later the analysis was reported to Mrs. Stanford: the Poland water was found to have been laced with enough strychnine in an amount to prove fatal after in a matter of minutes.

A private detective agency, The Harry Morse Detective and Patrol Agency, was retained in hopes of conducting a clandestine investigation into the attempted poisoning.  The Agency even put individuals under surveillance and obtained records from an area pharmacy in hopes of identifying the source of the strychnine used in the water. Nothing was found to incriminate or show culpability of any person(s) close to Jane Stanford. 

Suffering from a chest cold, Jane’s doctor recommended she leave San Francisco to spend time in Hawaii.  That recommendation, coupled with the stress from almost dying from strychnine poising, spurred Mrs. Stanford to leave foggy San Francisco for Hawaii to rest and recuperate.  Adding to her physical state was concern over recent reports from her confidant about President Jordan. Jane Stanford decided to leave San Francisco on February 15, 1905, with a firm conviction to terminate President Jordan as soon as practicable.  Her destination was the Moana Hotel in Honolulu.

Go to Part 3.