M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-04-20
The POISONING Case In Piqun.

parties, Being professors OF religion an
attentive church goers. the surprise q
the comhHniy may we'll be imagined
From the Dayton Empire.
:, The PIQUA PolsoSING CAsE.-W
published. abort time since. shor
account vf the sickness and suddel
death OF a Mr.. Ragan, at Piqua, Ohio
Before his death be informed his alten
ding physician that he was poisoned
but did not. if we are correctly informed
direc: suspicion upon any one. A pos
mortem examination of the decease,
rendered il certain thai he had been III,
victim of poison. Circumstances exis,
ted which had the effect of fasteninG
suspicion upon the wife of the deceased
Some time since lin December lastl II
was ascerlained beyond mach doubt
that Mrs. K. wrote a letter to man by
the name Of Mowrey, residing in Coles
VILE, o., (and "ho was formily a lover
Of the tady,1in which proposi ton was
made to despatch her husband by ad.
ministering poisen to him. The letter,
by mistake, was taken from the post Of
flee by gentleman named Marrau, the
address being similar to his own. The
extraordinary character of the letter
caused much speculation in select cir.
Gle, at the time, aud the assistant post.
master at Troy made correct copy OF
it. The next link in the chain was the
fact that Mrs. K. purchased poison at
drug store in Piqua, short time before
the death of her husband. These sus.
picious circumstances were considered
sufficient to warrant an investigation
of the affair, which resulted in her be.
ing bound over TO answer to the charge
Of murder.
The man Mowrey is now upon his
trial before Justice Sage of Piqua, chaIg
ed with being accessory to the murder
of Arthur Ragan. The evidence thus
far is strongly against him. and the prob.
ability is tina; he will be held to answer
the charge. The following, is copy oil
the letter, which Mrs. Rsgon has &C.
knowledged she wrote to Mowrey:
PIQUA, December, 9th 1854.
DEAR JIMMY:-Once again am seat.
ed to write few lines to you. Isaid /
would not write any more but you know
| can't refrain from it, and as have
been living in perfect He'll, if you will
allow me the expression, it is hard one
but nevertheless, true, and | have been
tormented day and night since come
home. He saw me kiss you and that
was enough. Oh have had to suffer
for 1t. | did not think he saw me, but
he was watching me. am so near be
side myself | hardly know what am
doing. He says | shall not 90 home
any more, and he says he will not get
me any more clothes and then can't 90
as much as | have. Now | can't stand
this any longer and | appeal to you for
help. have thought of one more plan;
| am going TO make one more PROPOSE.
tion to you, and il you will do it will
grant you the request you have so long
asked Of me, as soon as you do what
want you TO do, or before. if you will
only do as want you. Now 1t is this,
you make proposition to him to 90
with you to look at some new country
to Oregon or Wisconsin, or some 9th.
tr place-and name the period right of
and if he says he has not the means you
tell him you will furnish him the means
it he will go for company; then I will
pursuade him to go, and then you can 60
on horseback or on the cars, and YOU
can take yOur two horses and 90 part OF
the way on the cars, and you can take
your two horses and go part Of the way
on the cars, and then you can take the
horses and go the rest OF the way-that
is till you geta good ways from here. s
you can procure your poison and admin
lister il in his oysters and he will neve
know the difference you can eat you
oysters on the road or you can give then
to some farm house, they will neve
know the difference, and you can pre-
tend to take it hard to think you hav,
to turn back. When you can accomplish
what ! have told you, then you can tele
graph te me that he is dead, | will tel
the Tempars and have :hem to make VI
thirty dollars and send 10 you TO bea
his expenses. Ifyou will come up a
soon as you get this will tell you al
about il; and then will grant you tb
request. Come up right away, ca
tell you better. Now dear do come
you know love you-youare we'll awar
oft. | will write no more till | Sc
you. Come up right away.-My ink i
pale. Yours in life or death.
From yours, or one that loves you.
Mrs. Ragan is thus described by tn
Reporter Of the trial for the Da ton Da
Ily Gazette.
This morning Mrs. Rogan, the wido,
Of Arthur Rsgan, who was present a.
though under arrest as the principal i
his murder, consented to be sworn. Sh
came into court at eight o'clock leaning
on the arm Of her.father. She is a lad
Of about % possessing graceful figure
an intelligent countenance indicatip
much firmness and energy. She is quit
attractive in her appearance and mai
ner, with bright blue eyes, brown hair
and fair complexion. She was scarce
at all disposed but seemed determine
to make full and clear statement of tt
whole affair. The following is her les
timony:
Mrs. Ragan Sworn.>-I wrote lett,
to James Mowrey in December last (cor
Of the letter given her to read) Th