Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-08-01
From The Cincinnati Commerce of Thursday
puYsoNErs or CHILDREN Az

Il Fiend in Human Shape Distributing Arse'
MIC in Cdndy-1icoi Deaths and 7menty
Children Poisoned eat.aiis .paI-'ri o..
The community has hardly been allowed
breathing time since the horrible tragedy
enacted by the murderer Loefner, before we
are again called upon to recount deed which
in hellsh iniquity beggars description, and
throws the legendary poisonngs Of the Ber-
gias in the shade. aaA1 .'o -l17
Yesterday afternoon, between the hours OF
two aud -four, couple of boys, apparently
from Ia to 16 years of age, were observed
saunterng up Buckeye street, densely pop
ulated German neighbothood, scattering
small lozenges upon the sidewalk, about the
size of peppermint drops. In another part
of the Street, rather robust looking man,
dressed in black coat, white pants and
white hat, with box under his arm, was also
observed, occasionally distributing similar
description of lozenges, only in larger guam
titles. As is usual in German localities,
quite number of children were playing upon
the street, and they greedily seized the
tempting candies thus gratutiously thrown in
package to persons be met, but in these
instances the parties declined tasting, sus-
pecting something wrong, Not so, however,
with the unsuspecting children, who greedy
devoured their to them dainty waits, and in
short time afterwards they we're taken with a
violent vomiting. The neighborhood became
speedily alarmed, and Drs. Smith, Davis and
Aries, were summoned, who speedily detected
the gcton of poison, and upon chemist in
4he neighborhood, Mr. Eckel, aualyzng
aozenge it was found to be composed of equal
parts of arsenic, sugar and -four In the
track which the man, or rather monster had
taken, as many as 800 of these death deal
ing drops were found in one pile, and in ano
ther spot ne.lourth pound Of arsenic was
found tied in couple of parcels.
The ncighborhood became fearfuly excited
for at least twenty children had more or less
par.aken of the insdious poison. The first
victim was fine little boy uamed John
Shultz, aged nine years, whose parents reside
in buckeye street, near Poplar. He expired
ut six o'clock in the evening We were
present when the coroner held his inquest,
and n more melancholy sight it has seldom
been our lot to witness. The mother of the
dead child had few days previous been con-
fined, and in the same room, her eldest boy
lay stiff and rigid corpse, while The new
born infant sought in vain for nourishment
from the maternal breast, the fount Of which
sudden grief and agony had dried. Her two
other children had also partnkcn of the poi
soned drops, and lay sick in the same room.
but they were pronounced out of danger.
Immediately upon the other side of the
street. another promising child, named Henry
Schwartz. about eleven o'clock last night is
said to have brealhed his last, and at the
time We visited the poisoned district some
four or FIVE other children, male and female,
were supposed 10 he in very critical condi-
tion. We heard also tLat several similar
cases had occurred on Fifteenth, between
Race and Elm streets but we were unable
TO CLEAN particulars. .s,. ....l#
1t is with heartfelt pain that we are COM
PEELED to record crime which makes us
blush for our common nature. Such fend
as the perpetrator Of the above atrocities,
might we'll cause US to rather claim kindred
with the brute and forswear our relationship
with the bumar species. 1t is to be hoped
that no pains will be spared in hunting the
vampire to his lair a ..