Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-04-20
DAILY VIRGINIAN.


Poisoning a Husband "A wifes Confession
From the Dayton (uh,) Journal.
Mrs Elizabeth Rngan, who stands charged with
the murder of her husband by the administration
Of poison, is the daughter of Martin Cunning
ham, old and esteemed citizen of Colesvilc,
Miami county. She is apparently about twenty
two yours of age, medium height has blue eyes
and brown hair, and may be pronounced good
looking woman. She is member of the Meiho-
dist Episcopal Church, and was always oonsid-
cred, by those who knew her, To be good Chris
tian, kind and aitectionate wife, and an 'exem-
pary member of society. But, in the tace OF all
this she committed one of the most codb blooded
murders ever recorded in tho annals of crime
Her husband is said to have been nn honest. tenn
perate and industrious mechanic, always proyi-
ding well for his family, aud never SO happy ns
when administering to the comforts OF her ho so
dearly loved, but from whom he received the ba-
sest ingra,itude in return.
James ID. Mowry, also citizen of Colesyille,
was arrested soon after tho commission of the
murder, upon the charge above stated. lie is n
man of property, has wife and three children,
and has always borne good name. lie is about
thirty five years of age, five feet ten inches III
height, and as i'll favored n man rs one would see
in days journey. Mowry has been member
of the Methodist Church, in good standing. for
many years. Upon the conclusion of the tcsti-
mony ON Monday evening, Mowry seemed in good
spTih, anu ulpht o1 tlpse WIN nthlu IL WtiVtoh-
vinoed of his innocence, and deeply sympathaed
with him. But on Tuesday morning, after hear-
ing the testimony of Mrs. Regain the public mind
underwent Il great change; tho sympnthies OF II
groat majority were enlisted in behalf OF Mrs.
Regan, and nearly every one seemed fully CON
yinced of the guilt of Mowry.
Mrs. Regan mnde full confession other guilt,
the chief cause Of which was her passion for
Mowry. The latter had. for long time, been
m ri ~ her IN murder har husband. SOlnp
four months ago she wrote him the following lot
ter on the subject
PIQuA, December 8, 1851.
"Doar Jimmy: Once again ] nm seated to
write n few lines 10 you. | snid would not any
more, but you know can't refrain from it, as !
have been living in perfect hell, lf you will
allow me the expression; it is II hard one, but
nevertheless, true,) and have been tormented
day aud night since camo homo. llo saw mo
kiss you, aud that wns enough. oh how have
had 10 suffer for it. | did not think ho saw mo,
but he was watching me. am nearly beside
myself that hardly know what am doing. llo
says that shall not 20 homo nny more, and ho
snys he will not give mo any moro clothes, and
that emit go as much ns have.
"Now | can't stand this any longer, and op-
peal to you FOR help have thought of one moro
plan; am going to make one proposition to you,
and il you will do it will grant you tho request
you have SO long asked of me, MS soon IA you
do what want YOU to do, or before, if You will
only do as want you. Now, it is this You
make proposition TO him to go and look at some
new country-to Oregon, or Wisconsin, or somo
new country-aud name the period right oil, and
if he says ho has not tho means, you tell him you
will furnish him tho means if he will go for com
pany; then will persuade him TO go, and then
you can go on horseback or on the cars, and you
can take your two horses and 20 tho rest of tho
way-ihat is,ti you get n good ways from here
and you can procure your poison and administer
it IN oysters, and he will never know the diff
ference; you can eat your oysters ON the road,or
you can givo them at some farm house; thoy will
never know the difference, and you pretend
to take il hnrd that you have to turn back
"Whon you can accomplish what have told
you, then you can telegraph TO me that he Is dead
| will tell the Templnrs and havo them make up
$50 and send to you TO bear his expenses. If
you will como up soon IA you get this, will
tell you all about it, and then grant you the re.
quest. Come right away can tell you better.
Now, dear, do come; you know ovo you; you
are we'll aware of it. will write no more till
see you. Come up right away. My ink is pale
"Yours, in life or death.
"From Yours, or one that loves YOU"
This plan not being adopted by Mowry. she
administered the poison herself In the course
of her confession she snys:
''I procured arsenic at the drug store in Tippa-
administered it to my husband ON Thursday, it
was dark told DIR. Brownwe he took it him
self: repcnted of the act, and wanted the doc
tor to save his life. | have known nothing at all
since his death, until the day before yesterday. !
told Dr. Brownwell not to say anything of it to
Regan gave him only part of what had
| gave him no more till Monday morning when
found he was out of danger | thought the mat
ter all over, and concluded would give him an
other dose knew Mowry was urging mo TO do
it if it were not for this same James Mowry, /
should not now be in the fix | am his words set
heavily on my mind | was wrought up to the
highest pitch; that was the last gave him."
ar. G.. Davis was in the room on Monday when
| gave him the last dose of poison. gave it
in chicken broth. | sent for his last poison by
Mrs. Kelley's son had previously sent little
girl for it, with note signed with fictitious
name, but she could not get it. Told Mrs. Kelly
that | wanted it for rats. Gave my husband no
powder in glass, but with spoon. when James
had left.
EUROPE AND AFRICA UNITED BY TELEGRAPH.
"A recent Bulletin of the Geographical Society
of Paris contains FIRE sh information in respect to
the telegraph line which is intended to unite
Europe to Africa, and probably to India. The
cable is already laid down between Spezzia, in
Northern Italy, and Cape Carso, on the Island of
Straits of Bonifacio, and the Island of Sardinia
will proceed to the Isle of Galita, thence to the
Island of Taborca, which is adjacent to the Af-
II l.