Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-06-19
THE POISONING CASE IN SHELBY COUNTY,
TEXAS

vi this case, endish conception so dabocal in
execution and mourniuy fatal in its results says the
New Orleans Delta have the following further particulars
from Mr. Sne who the first to inform the public Of the
tragic occurrence, through the Delta. Many the time
doubted its truth, for hard conceive how any mind
could be totally depayed, lost all the feelings
ture and humanity, to pepee innocent and unsus-
pectng victims such wholesale murder Yet true il is too
true bearing about though it does all the malignant and
fnghtul features of the first account
BAroU SARA, MAY g. ls47.
returned from flying visit to Hamilton Yesterday and
learned particulars in relation the poisoning
fifteen dead, and eight expected die
daily some got better but took relapse and died The
poison arsenic. will relate the circumstances
1t appears that old Wilkinson a Of bad character
notorious hog thief and Norris the groom had been twice
whipped IN Mississippi for negro stealing. Wilkinson
accused OF stealing the hogs OF Spot Sanders and will
ceiye, from what follows how he revenged himself He sent
TO the house of Sanders who lives three miles
from him, aud who at the time friendly, half of
shoat turkey, three chickens chicken pie butter
pound cake &c. enough to last the family week, all POISON
ed even TO the BUTTER which elegantly moulded The
family ate OF Mrs Sanders three children aud negro
boy dead the other and only child left dying when
at friend Ker's Mr. Sanders and negroes
yet sick-some, il is thought will die. Poor Mrs San
ders did not know that her children dead dying
told her husband them in the nurture and admonon
the Lord She requested when dying that her negroes
should and bid her farewell they could not all being
poisoned Mr. Sanders mother old lady seventy was
victim also Allen Haley lost negro the mans wife
othe servants at the wedding andt took him piece OF
the pound cake he ate two mouthls and, liking the
taste OF IL ate moreyet that killed him. An old lady by
the name Of Edens made the cakes and she poisoned
gether with her and negro girl the girl dead and her
not expected to The butter that left San
dcrss thrown out and fowls of and died
few minutes Allen Haley and his mother the only
sons at the wedding poisoned. They late after the
guests were served aud with the family, paakng Of the
same food they did, the cake. Old Wilkinson insisted
on cutting fresh cake for them but they refused to patake OF
T. and escaped death by their refusal The lady that made
the cakes Mrs Edens, the morning OF the wedding
day look at the cakes in the smoke house. where she had
put them, and found that the covering she had put the
top Of them removed from all the cakes except that
covered with cusard pie they looked dark and disco
orcd and she took loaf which she grated and
over hcm thinking Il strange that they dsarranged
Old Wilkinson and his wife and Morrs wife arrested
and examined before Squire Sanders who committed them
to prison Charles Alexander baled and Wikn-
taken out by writ of habeas CORPUS before the Pro-
bate Judge Lester and set at liberty lie afraid to leave
the house during the day. there persons determined
killing him. During the ght he escaped Morrss horse
which Morris brought to him. Eight persons in pursuit
OF him. who have to kill him sight Morris is Will
knson agent he ordered to leave, he would first be
whipped aud then hung lie refused 10 CO. and may
therefore expect that he will be short work Of
wrote you in my last that the negroes suspected OF
having been hired poison the food Such not the
the negroes all poisoned they belonging Wilkinson
At the last the pursuers but few miles be-
hind Wilkinson headed by Mr. Castlebery who of
the poisoned aud lost his sister he swore he would follow
him to the end of the world being bent taking his life
have Of the survivors, they are black under the
and their finger nails and the ends OF their fingers
black they look like walking ghosts They all think that
health and gone being unable to do any
laborious work. Poor souls ,.
In relation TO the above the Houston Telegraph says
that Wilkinson confessed that he had given the arsenic the
purposey to mixed in the cake and he cautioned the
bride and other members Of the family not to eat the cake
He belonged to the Moderator party of Sabine and he stated
that he took this opportunity destroy many Regulators as
possible avonge himself for the injuries they had inflicted
upon him and his friends