American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-05-20

GOSHEN. Ulster County. New York. Nay
g. 1851 send you detailed statement
Of strange tragedy which has taken place
near us, srd Which perceive you have
noticed briefly in your paper to-day.
knew and. know well all the parties l
have mentioned. The facts in the case.
not stated upon hearsay, l have learned
from the District Attorney. The cOnfes
sion was made 10 Mr.. Wood, the pastor Of
the church to which Mrs. W belonged, and
by the District Attorney told TO me. with
a request that should write them out for
the press.
Mrs. Phebe Westlake. formerly Of III.
ster county, whose maiden name was Ir-
win. aged about as years. died at Chester,
in Orange county. New York. on the 7th
inst, no doubt from the effect OF poison
taken for the purpose Of salf-destruciion.
Phebe had lived in Chester 10 or l2
years. She was industrious, and knew
how 10 do all manner OF women's work,
and was able and willing TO do i, we'll
Withal she was professedly pious, She
gained friends in the best families in Ches.
ter.and when any OF them needed help. they
thought il loss IL they could not get
Pbebe.
About twenty years ago. We hear, her
husband died suddenly. A paper Of arse.
nic was found in his pocket, and upon
post mortem examination arsenic was
found in his stomach. 1t was supposed he
had committed suicide. and no further sc-
ton ofinquiry was bad.
-Four OF i've years ago. Mr.. Pelser. who
kept a hotelin Chester. died Of eIysipelas.
He was widower. & had but one daugh-
ter at home. noble young woman, who
before that time bad been sffianced 10 Mr..
Hiram Colwell. wealthy and respectable
drover, well known in Orange county
She and her fathers assistant. Mr.. Heard,
thought II best 10 secure Phebe. as cook
in the hotel, and they did so. Shortly af-
Ter Pbebe came there, Miss Pelser was
taken sick with some strange disease. that
her physician could not understand. Her
only sister and her husband. Mr.. Clark,
we're sent for, and came from the South,
and took the management Of Mr.. Pelser's
business and property at Chester. From
that time, Phebe was left mainly 10 nurse
and care for the sick and dying Miss Pei
ser. She fingered and died under circum.
stances TO induce strange suspicious. but
90 one suspected her faithful nurse, Phebe
About the time Of her death Mr.. Colwell
received an affectionate letter. while be
was at the West bringing cattle, purport.
ing TO come from Miss Pelser, but st time
when it is known she could not write, re-.
qdesiing him. among ether things, TO re-
memb,r PLebe for her kindness 10 Miss
Prlser. tAH
! Last fall Phebe was employed as a do
nestle in the house Of John B. Tuthill, a
respectable mercbsnt Of Chester. in view
OF the prospective confinement Of his wife.
who was the only daughter of the late
Francis Tuthill, Esq-little Martha, as all
who knew her, and many knew and loved
her--caIled her. She was confined; her
babc rever knew life. Some unusual symp.
toms attended her case. Dr.. Smith, her
physician. said they indicated poison; but
yei they might be The coDyulsioDs which
sometimes attended parturilion. Phsbe
was er nurse, and she could not be sus.
pected Martha died. and
"Blossom and boush is wihered In ono night"
Mr.. John B. Tuthill's family beng thu,
broken up--for little Martha was all he had
he went TO board with his brother and
partner in business. Mr.. Charles 8 Tut
hill. and Pbebs was duly transferred te
that establishment as cook and maid of oil
work. ,eo itlsf,
; On The let OF April last. Mr.. Fuller. Z
clerk 10 the Tuthill's store. took possession
of Mr. John b. Tu,hill's house. under al
( arrangement that Mr.. John B. Tuthill wal
to board with him. Mr.. Fuller had n,
family but his wife. Phebe was thu,
thrown out Of employment, but still sh,
was retained temporarily between Mr.Tut
{ hills and Mr.. Fuller's. Phebe did mans
acts ofkindness for both Mrs. Tu:hill and
Mrs. Fuller, and carried delcacies 10 and
from them. Y5 fa n. tsa
On the 9th Of April last Mr.. Fuller had
provided for dinner cen AZ preserved
corn and beans. They we're no. all eater
at dinner. Phsbe was at Mr.. FulleI's.-
After tea, and after Mr.. Fuller had gone
to his business, she suggested TO Mrs. Full
$ Ter that the corn and beans might spoil. ant
they might as we'll eat the little that wa
left. Mrs. Fuller consented, and Pheb,
/, brought up two small plates OF corn ant
beans, ono OF which she eat herself. and III,
: other Mrs. Fuller eat. That eveGing Mrs
Fuller was taken sick, with symptoms in
\ dicaiing poison. She died shortly after
4 No one could be suspected. Her husbah
e loved her. He had no one else to love-
y Phebe was kind. obiiging. assiduous an,
e affectionate, and remained BY Mrs. Fulle
I to the end. Who could suspect herY
! After the death Of Mis-. Fuller. Pheb
i remained temporarily at MI, Charles s. Tut
:; hills where both the brothers were perforc
n brought into the family Some 10 or I
/ days ago both the Tulhills and the wife I
Q Mr.. Charles s, Tutbill. alsoa Mrs. Derric
= Ian Irish woman--with whose husban
N Phebe had bad some difficulty about po,
/, terage. were taken sick. with symptom
y nearly aiin 70 those OF Miss Pelser, li:t
,, Martha and Mrs. Fuller. They have be
n n all treated on the hypothesis Of poison. II
le brothers Tutbill are out about their bus
!. ness. Mrs. Charles 8, Tuthill is doiu
,e :, well. aud Mrs. Derrick is still dangerousl
n Ill.,
Of Suspicious began TO thiekea about Phi
o. he Lost Monday aha Wae taken violent