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Tom Bartlett was a heavy sleeper, but when he didn’t wake up one New Year, suspicions were cast. In happier times, Adelaide was a young school girl, who wed the much older green grocer. The marriage was an honorable one, and Adelaide continued on in her studies. With the doting from Tom, what could be the beginnings of dissatisfaction in the marriage?
Adelaide excelled in her classes, but a tutor was called on to help in algebra. George was a whiz in geometry, trigonometry, and all manner of higher mathematics. How might old Tom react to find his young bride kissing her young tutor? How might Adelaide react to learn her tutor is also good at chemistry?
The youngsters make plans, and imagine how life would be different if Tom wasn’t such a bearish husband. Adelaide becomes curious as to how much chloroform is safe, and its harmful affects in higher doses. When Tom complains of stomach ailments, George is quick to lend a hand with common remedies of the day.
Friends notice certain side affects, teeth falling out, loss of hair, and bluish complexion. With all the medication, Tom barely notices the strange taste in his champaigne. The coroners inquest finds high doses of chloroform, and the young couple defending themselves on trial. How will the jury decide? What has become of the young lovers?
