The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-10-11
From the Knorrille Plebeian.
TO THE PUBLIC,

In order that the public mind may be dis
abused with regard to the efforts which
have been made to ferret out the satanlcal
attempt TO poison, which occurred near this
place. we will here give short history OF
the facts as they transpired.
On Sabbath, the 22d ult., 35 persons dIned
at the camp Of Samuel Sahell, Esq, at the
Middle Settlement Camp Ground, (there be
place,) among whom were Esq Satfel and
about ten or twelve of his family. including
his son. Il. F. Satl"l. and family. Next
morning 1t was discovered that several per-
sons were sick, and upon inquiry it was
uscer,ained that they had all dlned at the
above place. The first Impression was
that their sickness was caused by eating
apple butter. Then it was suppLs 10 have
been produced by mlk.sck butter. These
Impressions were, however, soon dissipated,
as the sickness further developed itself, so
os TO leave but little doubt that it was the
result of arsenic, or some other violent pol
son, which must have been communicated
to the victuals. Zone cnse is said to have
token place from eating breakfast. and one
certainly did from taking suppern which
Z,
81 ca ses in all. On the 27tb. large meet.
ing was called and the subscribers appoln.
ted committee to ferret out, if possible.
this most dabolical affair, since which time
(nor prior to it, 1--WE have spared neither time
nor pains; and we pledge ourselves not to
relax our excrtions until we Exhaust every
rcu sonuble means to find where the guilt
may attach, and bring the firnd to suitable
punishment; and in order that This may be
effected more surely, we now call upon all
good citizens for any and every species OF
information which nigh, by possibility lead
to a disclosure.
We deem it imprndcnt to make public The
particulars of the Investigations already had,
or the plans of future operation. further
than that negro bog, Palmer, belonging
to the estate of the late John Cox, and a
girl. Ann, belonging to Nancy Cox, were
arrested upon suspicion. and alter an lnves.
tiru,ion, which lasted three days before
WIN. Henderson, VIM. NJ. Brickell and
Vim. Coeburn, Esqs.. they were released.
An inquest was also held by the Coroner,
which consumed two days in the examina.
ton of witnesses, without enabling the jury
to report definitely upon the subject. as 10
guilt, as we understand.
So tar two deaths have occurred from the
poison. SAMUEL SArFsLL, ESQ.,, one Of the
Oldest and most respectable citizens Of our
village, and who had fed perhaps thousands
upon the cncampment where some fend in
human .hape doubtless deposited the seeds
of death in the friendly dish, which he had
SO freely provided for his friends and the
public, and of which he unconsciously par-
took himself. The other was q niece of his.
Mrs. ELIZABETH LoNGDorToM, q widowed
lady, who has left several children to mourn
their irrepairable loss. The other cases are
oil improving, SO far as we cnn learn, (,hey
are scattered in Blouht, Knox and Monroe
counties.) ard hope is entertained that no
more deaths may cnsue.
H. BURUM. Chairman.
IT, M. ROCKER,
WM. HENDERSON,.
B. l.. WARDEN.
G. S. GILBERT,
JNO. c. GOURLEY.
ABRAM HEARTSILL.
ii. TALBOT cox,
S. THOMPSON COX,
MADISON cox,
ALEX. GILLESPIE,
HORACE FOSTER,
II. HEARTSILL. Seer.
LOUISVILLE. Bluunt countv. Oct, 3, 1850,