The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1848-12-08
TRIAL FOR MURDER.
COMMONWEALTH Us. JOHN Cook.


PENDANT Present, Chief Justice Shaw and Justices
Dewey and Metcalf,
The Indictment charged the defendant with the mur>
der Of his wife Roxana Cook, at Ashburnham the
24h day OF February 1884, by poison. jury was ems
panneed for the trial consisting of the following per-
sons viz
Edwardl Aldrich Isaac Davenport, Gilman Day, Asa
E. Edmands, Joseph NJ. Green Asa Kibun, Asa Ma,
rcan, Samuel Patrick, Henry B. Pratt, Jesse Spauding
Alvah A. Stone, and Isaac N. Stone
Isaac Davenport, Esq, appointed foreman of the
Jury Thirteen of the panel were premporiy chaleng
ed One was excused account of conscientious
scruples, and one for other cause.
The first witness called for the prosecution Mrs.
Melinda s. Ward the sister Of the deceased. She test
ifed in substance, generally, that at the time of the all
legged offence Cook and her father resided in separate
families in the same house-tha Sunday afternoon,
Feb. 49, 1884, about O'Clock in the afternoon, she
hea I'd Cook go into the cellar and draw cider from
barrel under the where she with heI fathers family
were taking Shortly after her sister taken vio>
eny sick while at her sick that she obliged
to leave the table without finishing her meal She vas
in great Distress with nausea, but unable 10 vomit
During the night she times would be easy, with ten
dency Sleep and again. her turns of distress
would intervene About II o'clock the baby was troub-
lesome and Cook wished her to take ii into the other
room. She declined going out because the was
cold but Cook insisted, and she took the child into the
other and got it to sleep. While out she heard
Cook mixing something, and after her return he said he
had given her hot sling. She soon grew worse, and
of the neighhong females having been called in
they desired Cook TO go for the Doctor. He declined
but after much urging he went. The Doctor came about
O'Clock, and administered medicine without any fac
voIabe result and her sister died between and 10
o'clock in the morning. In the course of conversation
which took place between Cook and his wife and her,
SELF she learned that Cook brought the cider from the
cellar asked his wife drink it and see how sweet
ii was. She complied with his request,
casen 10 go down into Cooks Kitchen get something
for the child and found Cook and Miss Mecalf one oil
the females brought there on the occasion by Cook s
ting up together. They married to each other
about thanksgiving time the fall after my sister died nv
father lived with Cook for six months About April.
COOK showed me something in paper which he said
was olson. asked him what he was going TO do with
IT. He said, "Oh perhaps it will come in use some
time was very anxious after my sisters death 10
have medical examination Of the body, but Cook
would not permit it. This witness appeared 10 be a
very intelligent woman, aud sustained her cross exams
nation WELL
Mrs. Abigail Lane, wife of brother to The deceased
testified that she with Mrs. Cook part of the nobt
when she sick. Mrs. Cook was yery healthy
woman, and said that she well as ever when she
sat down to tea, and had excellent appetite.
Dr. VIM. II. Cutler was called to Mrs Cook between
and O'Clock in the morning Found her on the bed
IN the east room-puse small with cold extremies and
cold sweat Administered edicne without effect
symptoms were such as wou Id attend case polson~
ing and might also proceed from other causes. Saw
the remains again in Dec l847 and again in Feb. ISaa.
when the stomach, liver, and ntesnes were taken and
sealed up in glass jars and left charge of Dr. Free.
man.
Joha Hastings the Sexton, saw the body at several
times from TO years after was placed in the tomb
and noticed that it remained in remarkable stale of
preservation.
Drs. Lincoln and Hitchcock assisted Dr. Cutler in re-
moving the stomach &C., and Dr. Hitchcock delivered
The same TO DR.. Webster.
DR.. J. W. Webster, Prof. of Chemistry in Harvard
University, made chemical examination of the stomach
&C., and obtained grains of arsenic, which he exhbi.
ted.
The tests applied are certain. The quantity Of arse
mic required destroy life varies greatly according to
circumstances. Books vary from one to ten grains
The PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF this city could not attend
The Exhibition Of the celebrated Painting Of Plus TX on
wednesday last, in consequence Of the ncemency of
the Weather The Proprietor of the Painting is anx>
ious that all Teachers and Scholars will attend on Sat.
urday next (tomorrow) in the afternoon, in Fenwick
Hall, formerly the old Catholic Church on Temple
Street.