Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-02

Public sentiment in Pennsylvania seems to bs
running very strong against Mrs. Chapman, the
accomplce Of Nina, but who escaped punish.
ment in consequence of the absence Of judicial
proof. We subjoin an article from Doylestown
paper, which makes rather singular disclosure,
and may lead to some further deveIopements:-
From the Doyiesfown Republican.
Mrs. CHAPMAN.-The trial of Mrs. Chapman
and Nina have created an extraordinary interest
throughout the whole country; and mach excite
ment prevails at this moment, in regard to the is
sue of the being so fatally different from the
other. The verdict in the case of Mrs. Chap
man may have been cOrrect:-at least Judge Fox,
in his charge to the jury, on the trial of Nina,
said expressly, that it had met his appreciation.
No one, however, now believes her innocent; and
although we have no wish to increase the excite
ment which already prevails against her, we me-
vertheless feel it our duty to lay before the pub.
lie fact, which not merely proves almost con-
cusively that she had the principal agency in the
bloody deed, which Nina, is about to expiate
with his life but which also exhibits the charac-
ter Of hitherto highly respectable physician Of
Philadelphia in no very enviabe light The cir
cumstance to which we allude is this:
Mrs. Chapman called upon physician in the
city short time previous to the illness ct her
husband, and desired his advice as to the effect Of
arsenic. She wished to know the quantity which
was administered in cases Of sickness, and the
smallest quantity which could possibly produce
death. She enquired fully and particularly as to
the general properties Of arsenic; and, as we
understand, gave the Physician fee for the in
formation which she obtained.
This physician knew that the person who had
thus consulted him was Mrs. Chapman; he knew
that her husband had died short time afterwards,
and that she was eventually arrested and brought
to this county, charged with having poisoned that
husband; he further knew that traces Of arsenic
had been discovered by the chemists, in the ana.
Iysis which was made of the stomach and that the
officers of the prosecution were unwearied in
their exertlons to obtain proof Of her guilt, which
was so apparent and manifest to all. Still, with
knowledge of all these facts, he suppressed
and concealed testimony, which he we'll knew
was of the utmost importance to the interests OF
the Commonwealth, and which has only been dis.
covered since the termination of the trial. II
this fact had been known by the gentlemen who
conducted the prosecution, previous to her trial,
the fate Of Mrs. Chapman would have been seal
ed, and she would have expiated her unnatural
crime upon the gallows, instead Of being return
ed to society, to renew, in all probability, her
career Of guilt and of infamy.
The facts which wehave mere stated are strict.
ly true, and have been obtained from such a
source as may be relied upon. We cannot con-
ceive how any man with correct moral feelings
could quietly suffer criminal, thus stepped in
guilt, to escape the punishment of her crime,
- L..
that had been shed therein. Such man cannot
be good citizen He can have no correct idea
Of the duties which he owes his fellow man. Nay,
he who will suffer murderer to escape, IS an alder
and abettor, and may be considered as an acces'
sary after the fact If we take in connection
with the above circumstance the declarations o!
Nina, that Mrs. Chapman paid one hundred
dollars to some one IN the city for information as
to the effect of arsenic, and that these decara- |
tons were made known to him before this con-
sultation with the physician was known ny any
one here, we must be satisfied that there is just
cause for wonder, and sufficient reason Tor ex'
posing conduct 20 unaccountable and extraordina'
~. We will probably advert to this matter again,
and be more explicit in our remarks. unless some
explanation be given by the individual to whom
we ailude. Our information is derived from an
official source. and we have felt it due to public
opinion that the above statement be made.
The Circuit Court of the United States com.
menced its session at Richmond, last week-Pre'
sent Chief Justice Marshall, and Judge baroour'