Litchfield enquirer., 1832-05-10
TRIAL OF NINA.
UOuleefOlU1f, PQ. ADTiT 95

DOylestOlUa, Pa. April 25, lS5S.
 Mir. Reed opened the case, and stated the points he expected 10 prove on the tr'al- sInuch the same as in Mrs. Chapnnan's case detailing Mina's proceedings. that early ln1 May, while Mr. Chapman's family was at tea. the prisoner came to the door and solicited charity. He told story to that family of his misEortunes and immense wealth, which was now known to have been false-btcame domesticated completely. and an intimacy a. rose between him and Mrs. Chapman. of which all were now aware--that they made anexpeditiOn to the city together; purchased clothing together-while Mir. Chapman be- came alarmed and at length jealOus-that about tie 9th ofJune, the prisoner pr0cureo a forged letter end purchased polsOn-On tne goth June, that the prisoner and Mrs. C. neIG secret council over bowl of soup, which was shortly after sent to Mir. C.'s room; on the 23d he died. On the 4th of July, they went to N. York together, and on the 9th were married--12 days after C.'s death.- When bis wife returned to her new husbands home, she found him in the act of plnndering her house, which he shortly after left for the South, and sold the goods at Phiadelphia.- That the prisoner at the bar had confessed the act of blood-that Chapman was killed by poison, which he procured. and that he stood by while Mrs. C. sprinklpd it in the soup. That the prisoner was indicted on two counts, one as principal, ard the other in the 2d degree; being present at the time aiding andabettng.
 The Court opened at g o'clock. precisely, i1 pursuance to their adjournment. The counsel for the prosecution immediately com nenced the examination oftheir witnesses The first examined was Mary Palethrop. an interesting little girl about l5 or l6 years old who was at Mrs. Chapman's school. She testified that on the 9th May, 1881, the pris- oner called at tho residence of Mir. Chapman, in Andalusia, a5Ont 6 O'clock in the afternoon. He knocked at the docr, which was opened by Mr. Forman: Nina asked nights lodg- ins, and Mir. Chapman, who had come out Of the piazza, said there was tavern short distance father on, to which he had better go Witness did not hear the reply, hut Nina went in, cad when lea was ready he sat down with the family. Witness recollects that when Mr.. Chapman said Nina could go to the tavern, Mrs. c. said she thought he might stay that night. At tea he gave them his tory of his nisfortunes. Very soon after Mi mas arrival he and Mrs. Chapman appeared 10 be on very good terms; they would be frequently shut up together in a room. Mrs. c. generally rnde with Nina; Nina used to have fits,, while he labored under them he wouldsseem as fine were choking; on these occasions Mrs. c. used to take care of him. and sometimes when he was recovering, she would send the servants out of the room.-I On one occasion that Nina returned from Philadvphia he said that the Mexican Con- sul, with his mother and sister, were coming down to dine at Andaiusia.
 Ellen Shaw, an:elderly female who lived in 1 the house as adomestic, corroborated all that 1uNh 4Roct Eal ,nA cnsA so udd n that she had seen much misconduct between { Mrs. c. and Nina; on one occasion she saw them hugging and kissing each other in the hall. One afternoon that the witness drove with them !O a tavern about miles distant. they walked away in tho woods, and were absent two or three hours. They intended to stay at the tavern that night, hut witness would not allow them. Both goiug to and returning from the tavern, Nina lay in Mrs. Chapman's lap, and both sang love songs she teaching him. At one time Nina and Mrs. Chapman went to Philadelphia, and were absent three days, during which time MT. Chapman was almost crazy, at the ab- sence of Mrs. c. telling all the servants that he would. send Mina'out of the house as soon us he returned. On the evening of the third day they returned, and MT. c. asked Mrs. c. how she could account for such condnct.-( k0uc btpiCuS N1Uld BeuTUCu Iu uHd. delphia that his sister had died, and they were delayed in consequence. Mr. c. and Mrs. c. then retired into room alone. The fits which Nina pretended to have did not seem to injure him much. Has seen Mrs. c. tap Nina on the cheek. and call him her dear little man. After Mina's arrival the affec- tions 6fMrs. c. appeared to be weaned from MT. c. and from her children.
 Alfred Guillou testified that he was m as- sistant to Mr. Durand. a druggist in Phiadel- phia. On certain day in June last, Nina entered the store in Philadelphia, and in brok- en English, asked to be directed to some par licnlar part of the city. He then stated that he was the son of the Governsr of California. In about three days more, bringing the date sup to the. 18th of June, Nina again called. and asked if there was any arsenic soap in the store; he said he wanted to preserve birds; witness replied in the negative, bu, added. that he could soon prepare it. Nina replied that the powder would do as well.- He then asked iIOwit was sold by the pound :? Witness told the price, and Nina purchased one shilling's worth of ii, weighing about two ounces.
 Ellas Duran1, the druggist, with whom Mr. Alfred Guillou resided as an assistant, corrnb- orated the evidence of that gentleman, rela- tive to the purchase of the arsenic by Nina:
 The testimony of Israel Deacon, the keep. CT Ofthe Phiadelphia prison wns cad Fran,