Stuff You Should Know

The Murder of Jane Stanford

February 24, 2026

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  • The founding of Stanford University by Jane and Leland Stanford was financed by Leland's wealth, which was accumulated through ethically questionable means related to the Central Pacific Railroad. 
  • Jane Stanford's life was marked by the tragic death of her only son, Leland Stanford Jr., which spurred the university's founding and deepened her interest in spiritualism, leading to her later attempts to contact him. 
  • Jane Stanford was the victim of two poisoning attempts in 1905, the second of which, occurring in Hawaii, was fatal due to strychnine, but the death was immediately covered up by university leadership, particularly President David Starr Jordan, to protect the institution's reputation and the $10 million grant. 

Segments

Introduction and Context Setting
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode of Stuff You Should Know concerns the murder of Jane Stanford, a co-founder of Stanford University, which remains an unsolved mystery.
  • Summary: The episode is framed as a true crime mystery where the perpetrator of Jane Stanford’s death may never be definitively known. The Stanfords’ wealth was derived from questionable dealings financing the Central Pacific Railroad. Jane Stanford is established as the central figure in the story, described as a demanding lead trustee of the university.
Stanford Family Background
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(00:04:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Leland Stanford amassed his fortune by selling supplies to gold prospectors and later through political maneuvering to secure government underwriting for the railroad, which the hosts suggest was a swindle.
  • Summary: Jane Lathrop Stanford was born wealthy in 1828 and married Leland Stanford, who initially outfitted prospectors before becoming one of the ‘big four’ financing the Central Pacific Railroad. Leland used his political roles as governor and senator to benefit his railroad interests, leading the hosts to suggest the Stanford fortune was laundered through the university for a prestigious legacy. The Palo Alto stock farm, where Stanford University would later be built, was the site where Eadweard Muybridge conducted early motion picture experiments with horses.
Leland Jr.’s Death and University Founding
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(00:10:47)
  • Key Takeaway: The death of Leland Stanford Jr. at age 15 was the direct catalyst for the founding of Leland Stanford Jr. University, allegedly inspired by a dream or a séance.
  • Summary: Leland Jr. died tragically in Europe at age 15, leading Jane to become deeply involved in spiritualism, though she distrusted most mediums. The university’s founding inspiration came either from Leland Sr.’s dream or a séance mediated by Maude Lord Drake, who claimed the deceased son requested the university be founded. The university’s original mission included being co-ed, tuition-free, and non-denominational Christian, focusing on practical usefulness rather than elite status.
Early University Friction and Scandal
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(00:18:36)
  • Key Takeaway: The first university president, David Starr Jordan, held deeply problematic views, including eugenics, and clashed with Jane Stanford over academic control, particularly regarding her desire to hire spiritualism-related faculty.
  • Summary: David Starr Jordan, an ichthyologist, was eventually hired as president despite holding views supporting scientific racism and eugenics. Jane Stanford, acting as a micromanager, insisted on capping female enrollment at 500 students, a decision opposed by figures like Susan B. Anthony. A major scandal erupted when Jane forced Jordan to fire Professor Edward A. Ross for supporting Democrat William Jennings Bryan, raising national questions about academic freedom at Stanford.
First Poisoning Attempt
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(00:28:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Jane Stanford survived a poisoning attempt in January 1905 when she detected rat poison in her water and induced vomiting, prompting her immediate departure for Hawaii.
  • Summary: Jane Stanford narrowly avoided death when she recognized a bad taste in her nightstand water and forced herself to vomit; her secretary confirmed the water contained rat poison. Following this attempt, Jane left for Hawaii, taking Bertha Berner, her secretary, and a new maid, Mae Hunter, with her. University President Jordan immediately attempted to suppress the story, claiming there was no poisoning to avoid scandal.
Jane Stanford’s Death in Hawaii
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(00:31:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Jane Stanford died in Hawaii on February 28, 1905, exhibiting clear symptoms of strychnine poisoning, but university officials quickly orchestrated a cover-up declaring the cause as heart failure.
  • Summary: Jane Stanford died shortly after complaining of illness, showing signs consistent with strychnine poisoning, which is the active ingredient in rat poison. A local coroner’s jury concluded she was murdered by poison, but President Jordan immediately countered this with a private physician’s report claiming death by indigestion and heart failure. Jordan’s swift narrative control, leveraging his status over local Hawaiian authorities, successfully suppressed the murder finding in the mainland U.S. media.
Aftermath and Modern Reassessment
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(00:40:28)
  • Key Takeaway: The official narrative of natural causes persisted for a century until modern research by professors Robert W.P. Cutler and Richard White revived evidence pointing toward murder, with White focusing suspicion on secretary Bertha Berner.
  • Summary: The case went cold until 2003 when Professor Cutler, a neurologist, published evidence supporting the meticulous handling of the poisoning case by Hawaiian authorities, contradicting Jordan’s claims. Historian Richard White later argued Jordan likely covered up the murder to prevent legal challenges to the $10 million grant that suicide would have enabled. White suggests Bertha Berner, who stood to inherit a significant sum and resented her devotion to Jane, had both motive and opportunity.