The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-08-22

HORRIBLE ATTEMPT TO Poison WHOLE FAMr-
LIZ BY CHILp.-On Tuesday afternoon, most
the whole family Of Mr.. David Sands, aJeweller,
who resides on I 18th street. Ii seems that he has,
tor some time, had little girl named Wier, about
eleven years of age, in his employment. She is
incapable of conceiving so dreadful crime as that
for which she is now in custody. On the alter
noon alluded to, Mrs. 5. had prepared a quantity
OF corrosive snbmate, dissolved in alchol, for the
purpose of killing bed bugs which she placed in
bucket ready for use. When the supper time ar
nved, and Mrs s. and an apprentice, Uhe other
members OF the family being absent.) sat down to
the table, they both remarked that the tea had a
very bad flavor, and without drinking it, proceeded
TO examine the tea pot, when il was found that
large quantity of the poisoning mixture had been
poured into 1t. The little girl, who was really the
guilty parry, was not at first suspected, her youth
and the kind disposition she had always exhibited.
preventing such superstition. She was Interro-
gate about II, and al once accused servant, with
whom Mrs. S. had had disagreement day or
two before, Of having committed the crime. Sever
al circumstances, however, which afterwards
cured, conspired to fixed the guilt upon her, and
she IT last made full confession. Owing to her
against her, but her family live Ohio, and as
IL was dangerous TO allow who had shown
herself capable OF committing SO horrid crime to
run at large, che was kept locked up until Il was
deemed expedlent to take her before Alderman
Morrow. The Alderman proceeded to interrog4te
her IN very kind manner, Ms to what possible
motive she could have tor committing so heinous
an offence, when che, with many tears, declared
that che bad no complaints To make respecting
the manner in which Mr.. Sands and his family
had treated her; they were always very kind.
She suid that she had learned tell lies from the
servants employed in the houses where she had
been, and that she had stolen some articles Of
trllng value from several persons, various times.
About year ago she saw some arsenic, which
had been bought to kill rats, and hired girl had
told her MS eflrcts, and that if it put in the
food IL the family it would kill them all This in
formation was retained, and sown fruitful soil,
for soon she saw Mrs. s. engaged ia cleans
ing her beds, the idea Of poisoning the entrc
family flashed across her mind Shs watched her
opportunity; and conveyed portion oi the liquid
into the teapot, when no eve was washing her.
Thanks to the peculiar taste Of the alcohol, in
which the pslson had been dissolved its presence
was detected, and the purpose of the youthful
murderss defeated Her only object seems to have
been TO get back 10 her parents, and thought that
VI the whole family died che would be take home,
She WINS sent TO Jail by the Alderman, who had no
other resource, but was not put with the other
prisoners, remaining in the private apartments OF
the Sheriff. Taken altogether, considering that
the attempt was 70 deliberate, and that ii arose
from 90 ulDg cause, the above is one Of the
most singular casss Of attempted poisoning on
recoid.-Prttsbprgh Go-ette, Hug. l3