New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-02
4 REMARKABLE CASE-.TRIAL or DR..
THOMPSON

"a case of more than ordinary interest Is nov a
progress in Virginia. DIR. William u. Thompsoa is
under trial at the Special Term Of the Circuit Court
OF Allegheny, charged with the murder of Miss Agnes
Pharr. The Indictment sets forth that Miss Pharr
was poisoned by stryehnne, administered in pill
purportDg to be iron, and partly 80. The accused
and the deceased were under an engagement Of mar
rage at the time. Mrs. Ptzer, one o.. the principal
Witnesses testified 10 the sudden illness OF Miss Pha
and 10 the fact that DR. r. and DIR. Mcdonald vere
called TO her aid. The closing part Of the eyideaco
Of Nrs. Z. was a follows:
"When the third spasm passed of Dr. I. touched
DIR. Med. the shoulder, and they lett immediately
she missed him and inquired II Dr. 4. had gone;
uotced that she was becoming very much excited
and fastened 10 her bedside; begged her TO be
posed and said To her the Dr. will be back directy:
commenced rubbing her hands and shaping her
cheeks 10 prevent II possible return OF those awful
bysterical commissions, Tor l thought II ezcite-
me ut that bringing them could not prevent o
retgrn the symptoms heralding return prsseat:
hut the powers OF life So far exhausted 10 be
unable to support g COMMISSIONS she siokeaed 1t tho
stomach; with difficulty her mother and uyseH
threw her shoulders far enough forward to keep
her from strsDgling; we laid her down; called
IT. T., for he was still within hearing; he re-
turned; go did d.. Med, in short time; they
used their utmost skill but to avail her face turned
black she died Dr. T. said her death or those spells
was caused by the long continued use Of iron; that
f affected the brain and caused Der death; this
versation was addressed to DIR. MeD.; Miss y. had
three spasms; the fourth came on she died. in
i
snother came on say in two hours from the frst the
third came on and in two and a half hours
from the first the fonFth when she died; dur
ing spasms, head and shoulders were thrown
back don't know position of arms during spasms;
when Off she threw up hand, and wiped forehead,
and smOOihed her hair-exbausted when convulsions
passed of perspration very great; entirely con-
scious between spass; frst Indications Of return OF
spasms was nervousness eyes opened wide very
much oilaed and staring around the room Noticed
hothiDg at the mouth tTice-if noise had any effect
on her did not notice i. All that seemed TO affect
her was Dr. T. - ABSENCE when she spoke, seemed In
teiQ ibe aud spscious-durRg spasms her face would
turn very dark bat return to natural color whenever
spasms passed Off looked like ~ If she was in perfect
health body swollen after DEATH don tknOw whether
rightly or i0Aioly supeTyened; she was very heshy,
as last spasrn came on she noticed that Dr. T. alb
sent ned for him; seemed TO be the same ner
vOlsness ana tgtehng Of the whole body, present
IN other opens. Here witness described body, anf
the manner in which Il was dressed tDr infernen for
the purpose Of Identification During spasm con
llsed IRON head to foot; Limbs straight and ngid.
The mother Of Miss Pherr was also examined. Shs
sssifed 10 the marriage engagement, and closed her
evidence thus:
"Sbe told hin she did no, believe be Intended to
marry her that she was ruined and that he was tho
cause Of H. One sentence was, | trust you will
never treat another lady ss you have treated me-
Had &c Versl conversations with DIR. t. one about Elk
weeks after her death. Told him I Was sorry he h4f
rot given iron IT Christmas when wished il done.
lie said her stomach was IN such condition il would
lot do TO give her iron replied that she had ia
ken until the first week ia September. tie said
there come iron in the asa eetids. Told him her
stomach was IN better condition when she did take
IRON than when she refused il. The pills sent tho
18th wers sent unsolicited. 1 asked DIR. T. after
Agnes death if he bad sent for strycbna. lie said
b. bad sent 20 Dr. Coleman for three grains. Asked
Am when He said two months previous 10 her deate
Asked An what ne got il for; he said Mrs. Campbel
h. ad that she had gotten fall DIR. T. cOmmencedth ina
treatment Of Agnes case about he middle Of January
ls53. She beard The Tun0cs about srycbna aoouttwo
weeks after Agnes death. Never seen eAy attack
similar 20 the she died. her genera heSln oetofo
her death good usuali DOueed hef Fom'tine
fret ~bk in AppODaitOx, in HovehoT5, ~ .Ao
o cd srJiis Of A9D.s were caused by pr. t. telling
6er thst he Wa ooinc 20 BOtetourt 10 make the ar
rsaeeuent for their MARRIAGE on the HofnlnZ Oh her
desfh - ksd me 20 cut her out Some sewing; Az
n a., in nv room except when she ysl,ed abroad;
| sFsva,. a. Ms. Aliens and Mrs. Psynes early in
Deeeuber. had no suspicion Of anything wrong, un-
/ III ,ba nos,.mortem examination; Dr. 1. and Agnes
80 ,Ysts interviews sometimes in a room 10 them
- he yisitsd often; there other persoD
J5sspg my daughter; had no other male Dcistes.
| 49, va q person Of warm attachment; she ves Ina
- trenteth year; she had studied all the EDgliss
branches Latin French, and Greek; was person Of
GOOD education she the large Pill the night before
The death supposed sbe took it in the morning.; Dr.
/ T. was with Agnes while at PeyDes; Dr. L. brought
] her home asked Mrs. and Mr. Pharrs assent TO tho
marriage in January, 1852 Agnes had ordered hec
marriage apparel from LynchbaTg they cana 70 aand
| day or two after dOath.
Tie father of Miss PbarT hss died the deaiA Of
/ hi daughter, Of anxiety and greet.
/