Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-06-15
THE POISONING CASE-IN SHELBY
COUNTY TEXAS.

SOOI4 Ah<hs1.
OF this case, so iendish in lis conception, SO
diabolical in lis execution, and so mournfully ia
tai in its results, we have The following further
particulars from Mr.. Stille, who was the first 10
inform the public Of the tragic occurrence, through
The Della Many at the time doubted lis truth
tor it was hard TO conceive how any mind could
be so totally depraved, SO lost 10 all The feelings
OF pature and humanity, as TO perpetrate on in
nocent and unsuspecling victims such wholesale
murder Yet true it is, too true, bearing about H.
though il does, all the malignant and frgh,ful iea-
lures Of the first account. Old Wilkinson, II
would new seem from Mr.. Stiles letter, is the
demon incarnae who did the deed-this is cir
substantially evident from the tact OF his send
ing 80 goodly share of the poisoned wedding
meats 10 Spot Saunders, whom ne deemed his
enemy, or at least whose enemy he was. But
they are now in hot pursuit Of him, and should
they come up with him, they will wish that
"-he slave had forty thousand lives
One is 100 poor, TOO weak for their revenge"
But we will not deiain the reader from Mr.
Stiles letter.
Bayou SARA, May %, l847.
Dear -: l returned from flying visit 10
Hamilton yesterday, and learned some more par
liculars in relation TO The posoning-hiteen are
dead, and some eight or ten are expected to die
daily-some got better, but took relapse and
QleU. lie poison was dtSCIlC. VIII iCidAC te
circumstance as heard it,
1t appears that old Wilkinson was man Of
bad charac,er-a notorious hog thief-and Nor
ris the groom, had been twice whipped in Missis-
sippi for stealing Wilkinson was accused OF
stealing the hogs of Spot Sanders, and you will
perceive from whal follows, how ne reveDged
himself He sent to the house OF Sanders, who
lives some two or three miles from him, and who
was not at the time friendly, half oil shoat, one
~, nkon nix
pound cake, &C., enough TO last The family a
week. all poisoned, even 10 the butter, which was
elegantly moulded. The family ate Of it. Mrs.
Sanders, three children, and negro boy are dead
the Other and only child LETT, was dying when ]
was at our friend Kerrs. Mr.. Sanders and seven
negroes are yet sick-some it is thought, will die
Poor Mrs. Sanders did not know that her children
were dead or dying, and told her husband to rear
them in the nurture and admoni,ion Of the Lord
She requested, when dying, that her negroes should
come and bid her farewell-they could not, all be-
ing poisoned. Mr. Sanders mother, an old lady
of seventy, was victim also. Allen Haley lost
a negro man-the mans wife was one OF the SER
wants al the wedding, and took him piece OF the
pound cake-he ate two mouth s-ful and not lik-
ing the taste OF il, ate no more-but that killed
him. An old lady by the name OF Edens made
the cakes and she poisoned together with her
son and negro girl-the girl is dead, and her
son mol expSCleu W IcCoVcT, lie Dutter mat was
lief, at Sanders was thrown out, and some fowls
eat of il and died in few minutes. Allen Ha.
lev and his mother were the only persons at the
wedding not poisoned. They came late, after the
guests we're served, and ale with the family, par.
taking OF The same food as they did-even 10 the
cake. Old Wilkinson insisted on cutting fresh
cake for them bat they refused 10 parake OF il
and escaped death by their refusal.
The lady that made the cakes, Mrs. Edens wen
on the morning Of the wedding day TO look al The
cakes, in the smoke house, where she had pu
them and found hatthe covering she had pul on the
TOD of them was removed from all the cakes bn
one that was covered with custard-they looked
hard aud discolored, and she took loaf sugar
which she grated and put over them, thinking il
strange that they we're so disarrsnged. Old Viii.
kinson and his wife, and Morris wife, were ar
rested and examined before Squire Sanders
who committed them TO prison. Charles Alex.
ander bailed the women, and Wilkinson was Ia
ken out by writ OF habeas corpus before the
probate Judge, Lester, and set at liberty. He
was afraid TO leave the house during the day, as
there were persons determined on killing him.
During The night he escaped on Morris horse
which Morris brought 10 him. Eight persons a
in pursuit OF him, who have sworn to kill him
on sight. Morris is Wilkinson's agent; he wa.
ordered to leave, or he would frs, be whipped and
then hung. He refused 10 60, and we may there
fore expect tina, he will be made short work OF.
| wrote you in my last that The negroes were
suspected Of having been hired 10 poison the
food. Such is no, the case, as the negroes were
oil poisoned, they not belonging 10 Wilkinson.