when an autopsy was performed , at the behest of cornell 's mother as well as the new orleans coroner , cornell was found to have a small amount of a strong narcotic , mixed with alcohol , in his veins it was ruled an accidental overdose and never investigated further amanda grady mayfair never forgave herself for sending young dr cornell mayfair to new orleans louisa ann 'never recovered ' and is to this day unmarried a distraught cortland accompanied the coffin back to new york was cornell a casualty of the mayfair witches7 once more we are forced to say that we do not know one detail , however , gives us some indication that cornell did not die from the small amount of narcotic and alcohol in his blood the coroner who examined cornell 's body before it was removed from the hotel room noted that cornell 's eyes were full of hemorrhaged blood vessels we now know that this is a symptom of asphyxiation it is possible that someone severely disabled cornell by slipping a drug into his drink ( bourbon was found in the glass on the table ) , and then smothered him with a pillow when he could not defend himself .