The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-02-13
Another Fearful Mystery.

Another Fearful Mystery.
Death ofihe late Postmaster al bingham
A Post Norton Eianinaiioa--ProJoble
Murder, ..,Ai...l. tE gua..r#.
Rumors of painful and most mysterious
nature having been circulated relative to tho
death OF the late Hosea j. Gardner, Post
master ut bingham. We have taken pains to
ascertain the facts in the case and lay before
our readers the particulars as iarGs we have
been able to obtain them. ,..
The family Of Mr.. Gardner consisted Of
himself, his wife, u woman about his own
ago, one son and a daughter, and the moth
or of Mr.. g., who during his last illness act.
cd in the capacity of nurse. Mr.. Gardner
had been afli cted for several years with u
diseased leg, which required dressing several
times day. On tho 9th Of December he
accidentally fell upon stone step, striking
upon the hip of the diseased side. The ac-
cident occasioned much pain, and his family
physician was called, who examined the in
jured limb, but found no fracture, disloca-
ton or evidence of internal injury.
On the Wednesday preceding the death
of Mr.. Gardner, his physician ordered him to
take dose OF salts. This was attended
with some nausea on Thursday morning,
but rs it was not great it was thought 10
proceed from the action of the medicine.
On Thursday night the mother was watch
ing ut his bedside rs usual, when the wife
of Mr.. G. told hcrSto 60 to bed US there was
no necessity for watch. But although shc
insisted strongly upon it, the mother did not
90. The wife then put ont all the fires, and
the room growing cold, the old lady was
compelled TO retire. Between one and two
o'clock in the morning sho was called up by
Mr.. Gardner, who was taken with vomiting
and other alarming symptoms. which Undue
cd her to send for the physician. On arriv.
ing. he found his patient sitting up in bed,
retching violently, and complaining of So
we're pain in the stomach and bowels. This
was not like common nausea, but an mex.
pressible feeling, rs Mr.. G.. remarked.
1t was now for the first time ascertaincd
that the salts he had taken had not Operat-
cd, or but very slightly, although the wife
had affirmed TO the contrary. The burning
sensation in the stomach and bowels was
extremely painful, Mr., Gardner said to his
mother, II believe my wife has poisoned
me, and she will poison you ~
Previous to the arrival of the physician,
the deceased had vomitcd quantity of dark
fluid, attended with very great distress. lie
then told his mother to preserve it Tor the
Doctors inspection 4, wife objected, and
notwithstanding the expCstulations OF her
daughter, son and husband, and tho earn
est solicitations of the mother Of Mr. g.,
who told her that an examination Of the
contents Of the bowl might throw some light
upon the case-shc empticd the contents Of
! il into the slop-pail, cxclaiming "that If the
doctor wants It he'll have to die it out Of
that ...r..
Mr.. G.. continued to suffer very much
through the afternoon Of Friday with the
same symptoms as above alluded to. and
gradually declined until Sunday morning
about half.past |, when he died in great dis.
tress.
The deceased had been heard to express
the fear that his wife would destroy him.
and on one occasion communicated to q con-
fdential friend certain statements that give
increased force to the supposltion that he
has been foully dealt with.
Mr.. Gardner was in his religious scn.i-
mcnts Il Uniyersalist, while his wife was n
jealous member Of tho baptist Church. On
the occasion OF the funeral, she was unwill-
ing that the friends Of her husband should
call upon Universalist Clergyman to con-
duct the services, but at length yielded SO
far us to admit ministers of both persua-
sions.
The friends of the deceased not being sat.
isfcd with the appearance Of things, and
having their suspicious aroused by daily in.
crcasing evidence Of foul play, have caused
the body to be disinterrcd, and the organs
of the yiscen submitted to the examination
of two medical gentlemen Of Boston.
The result of the autopsy has not as yet
been made public, but from what we have
learned of the investigation, we feel war
ranted in saying that there existed in the
stomach and intestines unmistakablc evil
denco Of the presence Of arsenic. Wc have
not as yet learned whether any parties have
been arrested on suspicion of causing Mr..
Gardner's death, but shall probably obtain
further particulars during the forenoon,
which we shall publish in our next edition.
Mr.. Gardner was man universally re-
spectcd and beloved by oil who knew him.
Ilc received the appointment OF Postmaster
from President Pierce, the duties Of which
Office hc has discharged with fidelity and
courtesy.
The whole community is already painful
ly excited with regard to the terrible TRACE.
dy recently enacted in New York, the inycs.
tigation Of which, is now proceeding, and
the death of Mr.. Gardner under such cir
cumstances, following 80 hard upon it, rs It
does, cannot but cause thrill Of horror at
the frightful increase Of crinc.--Bo'fon
Trdreller.