Fumigant Gas May Be Cause of Woman's Death

MILAN - a 68-year-old York township housewife was found dead in her home last night, apparently the victim of poisonous gas from a rodent fumigant.
State police identified the woman as Mrs. Catherine M. Hebb of 10855 Stoney Creek Rd. She was found lying in the living room of the farm home about 7 p.m. by her husband, Ralph, 57, troopers said.
Dr. Edwin C. Ganzhorn, county coroner called to the scene, ordered an autopsy which was being performed at noon today in St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. He withheld a formal cause of death ruling pending findings of the autopsy.
Detectives said Mrs. Hebb apparently was mixing rodent-killing fumigant and was overcome by hydrocyanic acid fumes. The powder releases acid fumes when exposed to air, troopers said.
The woman had been dead about two hours when found, Dr. Ganzhorn said. She may have been using the fumigant for moles and rats, officers learned. Hebb had been combining wheat in a field nearby, and found the body when he returned home.