The Yazoo Democrat., 1853-08-24
Mother and two children Poisoned.

as near as we have been able to ascertain, are al
follows: Mrs Madison, wife of r.. Madison, I
timer, has, for the benefit of her health, been II
the habit Of taking Seidlitz Powders for some
time past. Mr.. Madison purchased box o
said powders from the drug store of Thompson
& Co., where ne was in the habit of getting
them. on Tuesday about 4 o'clock A. M, tool
the box to the shop where he was at work, anc
there opened it--breaking the manufacturer
seal around it, for the purpose, as he states, @
showingIt to boy who wished to see the pow
ders.. When Mr. NJ. went to dinner he took tho
box TO his wife, who, shortly after dinner was
over but not until her husband had left the house
took one of the powders, and to satisfy their
curiosity, divided one between her two sons
one about eleven, the other nine years old; the
oldest drank all Of his, the other took about half
his dose. They both complained that it was "bit-
er." Mrs. Madison--supposing the children
only imagined that it was bitter-then told
them that she would drink it, and took most of
what was left; but, to her surprise, she found il
uerY bitter. By this time the child which drank
of the dose first, was vomiting, and the other was
in great distress. Almost as soon as done drink
ing. Mrs. Madison commenced vomiting also
A physician (Dr. Kldd) was sent for, but before
he arrived the boy that took the small portion,
other child were found by the Doctor to be very
sick-even very dangerously so. Discovering
that the family were poisoned, the physician
treated those yet living accordingly, and soon
found the child on The mend, but the mothers
situation was yet precarious and doubtful
When Mr.. Madison, who had been called to the
country, some three or four miles, TO do some
work, and had been sent for, arrived, which was
bout dark he found his family in this situa lion.
md expressed much concern and distress. 1t
nay be we'll to remark here, that the children
we're not his own, but his wife's she being the
widow Of - Matthews. and only having
oeen married to Mr.. Madison about two years.
Mrs. Madison and the eldest child have recover
d.
The tumbler from which the family drank the
eidlitz powder, was found not entirely dreamed
nd from the remaining substance, it was ascer
aimed beyond doubt, that strychnine had been
he poison taken--although the physician was
ully satisfied of this fact before, for it is said
10 other poisonous matter produces the effect
lpon the human system that strychnine does
black woman was first suspicioned as being
he perpetIator of this british crime, but upon
Investigation it was shown that she could not
ave beer the murderer, as she had not been in
he house after the powders were brought there
y Mr.. Madison. A jury of inquest was held
yer the body OF the deceased boy, by Coroner
russell, whose investigations ELECTED the above
lcts, as nearly as we have been able TO ascertain
here is one thing however, which we like to
ave forgotten, it was found that only one OF the
owders in the box of seidlitz contained poison |
5 the rest were thoroughly tested-and some of
1em drank by persons; who, we must acknowl-
cen. This, in connection with the fact that the |
OK had never been opened after ii was put up
y he manufacturer (as we have above stately
ntil taken from the drug store, proves conclu-
yely that the strychnine must have been put in |
fter the box taken from the druggists. At
II thorough examination of the case, the jury +
inquest returned a verdict that the deceased
lme to his death BY taking strychnine, admins
red by some unknown hand.
Coroner ]. T. Russell. Jr, ever watchful for
he protection of innocence and the punishment
criminals. thinking he had found new clew
the matter, called the jury together the second
me, but upon examination, it proved to be
The stomach of the decea sed child was taken
1t, and is in the possession of Chas. T
ann, the druggist and which has been found
contain strychnine.
In connection with this matter we NAV state
at about year ago an elder son of this same
dy died of poison, which the attending physi-
an stated 10 have every symptom of strythnine
1t, as the child had been out hunting wild
lws the same day of his death, and said he had
len some wild berries. it was supposed he
slst hive been poisoned by some wild vegeta-
e matter.
Still later than this, only few months since.
e mother of Mrs. Madison, who was living
ar Mr.. Madison's, died-as the physician
the same cause. From all these
reumstances and facts. it is evident that foul
ay. of the most aggravated nature, has been
acticed upon this family, which, it is hoped. |
ay yet be traced out, and the guilty murderer !
ought to justice. =
IL we have made any erroneous statements in i
e above account of this affair, it has been for !,
ant of correct information, and which we will .
adily correct at any time. f.
MOmthlieS. s
De Bows REVIEW for August has been receiv- u
!, and valuable number ii is too Among its J
merous interesting articles, are the following o
lich WilL(fenav readinu and anna,i,aor fa. /