Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-06-26
The Poisoning Case i'm Shell
by County. Texas.

Wy SOlEesy. AeA1S.
OF this case, so fiendish in its con-
Icepiion, so diabolical in its execution,
and so mournfaly fatal in ITS results
we have the following further partic.
ulars from Mr.. Stille. who was the
drst TO inform the pablo through the
Delta. Many at the time doubted lis
truth, for it was hard to conceive how
any mind could be so totally depravcd.
so lost to all the feelings Of nature and
humanity, as to perpetrate. on inno-
cent and unsuspeting victims, such
wholesale murder. Yet it is too true,
bearing about it though it does, all the
malignant and ftightlul features Of the
first account. Old Wilkinson, it would
now seem from Mr.. Stiles letter is
the demon incarnate who did the deed
this is Enthusiastically evident from
the fact of his sending so goodly a
share of the poisoned wedding meats
to Spot Sanders whom he deemed his
enemy. or, at least, whose enemy lie
was. But they are now in hot pursuit
of him, and should they come up with
him, they will wish that
the slave had forty thousand lives.
One is too poor, too weak for their revenge!"
But we will not detain the reader
from Mr. Stiles letter:
BAYOU SARA, May %, 1917.
Dear -: returned from fly
ing visit to Hamilton yesterday, and
learned some further particulars in re-
lation to the poisoning. Fifteen are
dead, and some eight or ten are cx-
pecled to die daily--some got better,
but took relapse and died. The poi
son was arsenic. ! will relate the cir
cumstance as heard it:
1t appears that old Wilkinson was a
man Of bad character--a notorious hog
thief--and Morris, the groom, had
been twice whipped in Mississippi for
negro stealing. Wilkinson was accus-
ed of stealing the hogs of Spot San
ders, and you will perceive, from what
follows, how he revenged himself
He sent to the house of Sanders, who
lives two or three miles from him, and
who was not at the time friendly, a
half Of a shoat, one turkey, three chick
ems, some chicken pie, butter, pound
cake, &C., enough TO last the family n
week, all poisoned, even to the butter
which was elegantly moulded. The
family ate Of it--Mrs. Sanders, three
children, and negro boy, are dead
the other, and the only child left, was
dying when | was at my friend kerr's.
Mr.. Sanders and seven negroes are yet
sick, and some il is thought will die
Poor Mrs. Sanders did not know that
her children were dead or dying, and
told her husband TO bring them up in
the nurture and admonitioA of the
Lord. She requested when dying
that her negroes should come 10 bid
farewell-thcy could not, all being
poisoncd. Mr.. Sanders mother, an
old lady Of seventy, was a victim also.
Allen Haley lost a negro mantle
mans wife was one Of the servants at
the wedding, and took him "A piece OF
the pound cake-he ate two mouths
full, and not liking the taste Of it, ate
no more-yet that killed him. An
old lady by the name Of Edens made
Ithe cakes, and she was poisoned, to-
gether with her son and a negro girl
the girl is dead, and her son not ex-
pccted TO recover. The butter that
was left at Sanders was thrown out,
and some fowls afe oft and died in a
few minutes. Allen Haley and bis
mother, were the only persons at the
aedding not poisoned. They came
late, after the guests were served, and
ale with the family even to the cake.
Old Wilkinson insisted on cutting u
fresh cake for them, bat they refused
10 partake Of IL and thus escaped death
by their refusal.
The lady that made the cakes, Mrs.
Edens, went on the morning OF the
" dding day to look at the cakes, in
the smoke house, where size had pul
them. and found that the covering she
had put on The top Of thcEi was reno
we'd from all the cakes but one. thai
was covered with a custsrd pie--they
looked dark and discolorcd, and she
/ took some loaf sugar, which she gra-
Tod and nut over them, thinking d