Of course I don't see how the murder of Russell by poisoning could be either proven or disproven at this point, but I don't think the tidbits any of us offers up for consideration are presented as proofs and I feel like I learn alot by exploring the possibilities, however farfetched or unsubstantiated, and I find this one very intriguing. It is in this spirit that I offer the following information. For me, it helps lend color and backdrop to the story.
It was alleged in Mr. Stanley's letter that 9 brothers hosted Russell at a reception in Dallas or Galveston at the Hotel Galvez and was poisoned by them there. According to Russell's secretary and travelling companion, Menta Sturgeon, this dinner (aka lunch) on Monday 23 October 1916 was indeed Russell's last meal. Thereafter, all he would take was "a little fruit juice, a swallow or two of soft-boiled egg, or something like that." I haven't been able to discover the names of the established brethren in the area at that time, but the Hotel Galvez was easy enough to find. It was constructed in Galveston in 1911, and in 1912 the Hotel Monthly described it as one of the "best arranged and most richly furnished hotels in America." It was also called "Queen of the Gulf." According to M.S., Russell seemed to enjoy the fellowship and the meal. He spoke at a public meeting later that afternoon then took the train to Houston where he spoke to about 1200 people for two and a half hours. After travelling all night, they arrived at the home of Sister Frost in San Antonio the morning of Tuesday the 24th. He was in great physical pain, his chronic cystitis becoming increasingly acute. He doctored himself all morning, turning down the offer of a doctor to come see him. M.S. substituted for him at 2 appearances that day. That evening he gave the lecture "The World on Fire" but had to leave the stage several times, M.S. filling in for him each time. Afterward, Sister Frost escorted them to the train station and paid for a Pullman drawing-room car for them. That night he was up 36 times in 7 hours. He was a very sick man and stayed in bed all day Wednesday the 25th.
Mr. Stanley's letter also mentioned that "the official doctor in Penhadle issued the certificate of death" but this would not be the case as M.S. wrote that on Tuesday 31 October, he "telegraphed for a physician to board the train at Panhandle; and he did. He saw the condition, recognized the correctness of the diagnosis and conclusion, gave me his name, and was off before the train got under headway." At some point M.S. also sent a telegram to HQ saying that Russell would be dead before midnight. Not long after 7 pm he did breathe his last, M.S. having shown him off to some of the train staff so they could see how well a man of God dies, proudly remarking in his account that they were suitably impressed. (WTF?!?)
I also find it interesting that a certain someone who was later very closely connected with Rutherford may well have been in Galveston and/or Houston during Russell's last speaking tour: August H. Balko, Jr. According to his draft card, he was a "Millinial Dawnist" in 1917, so could conceivably have been one in 1916. He was 28 in that year and might still have been living in Houston as he had been during the 1910 census. Later, in 1921, he married Blanch P. (born in Rutherford's home state of Missouri in 1905) in La Grange, and in January of 1930 they and their infant daughter moved to San Diego to live at Beth-Sarim. Their daughter was called Princess Bonnie by Rutherford et al, and their son, born the next year, was called Prince Joseph Barak. (info on the Balko's was provided by Leolaia on Farkel's Berta & Bonnie thread)
Maybe none of it signifies anything and maybe we'll never know much more about it than we do right now, but I would like to, so I'll keep on digging and poking about until I feel I have learned all I can.
--Merry (of the I'll-believe-almost-anything-but-not-right-away class)
Menta Sturgeon's account: www.godstruthfortoday.org/BibleStudents/PastorRussellsLastDays.html
The Hotel Alvarez: picture postcard (1911 or later)-- http://info.lib.uh.edu/sca/digital/texpost/fpc061.htm
as it is today-- www.wyndham.com/hotals/GLSHG/main.wnf
Balko info: www.jehovahs-witness.com/11/77915/10.ashx
