Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-02
, POISONING As A SCIENCE.

EoiSONtNG AS n StIENCE.
Among the numerous and various kinds Of
suicide, that continually shocking the pub
lie sensibility, if indeed there remains any to
be shocked, that which results from taking
poison is the most frequent. Poison is also
frequent instrument for committing homicide
Ii is now about year since the country was
filled with rumors touching the % National Ho-
tel sickness" as il We ;alled. Much was said
OF the inmates being poisoned. Investigation
committees came to a decided conclusion that
there was no poisoning at all, but that all the
evil effects were traceable to miasmatic inhu-
ence. So far we have conversed with the
victims who escaped death, they express the
firm belief that they took poison in their drink
An intelligent member Of Congress is of this
opinion and says he still feels the effects of it,
In any event, the reputation of the hotel was
efectually damaged. 1t stood for a long time
in gloomy solitude, deserted Of all. 1t could
be had for the asking though it once rented for
ten thousand dollars. No Southerner wsuld
touch it. 1t seemed destined to remain ruin,
to be looked and escaped from. But is there
anything in this world without hope? Hereaf-
ter let none despair even Of hopeless cases.
Yankee gentleman is said to have offered to
take the house ut n nominal rent. perhaps with
easy condition, and to restore it to its prestine
reputation. lie opened the house this winter
furnished it but little, and only as the rooms
should be called for. lie announced low prices
for board and lodging, which seasonably met
the pinching times, and now the hotel is said
To be full.
That thoroughfars, SO wcll known to visitors
from all parts of the Union, is said to have re-
sumed its wonted life, and none but the over
timid now dread the " National The man
who made this bold experiment deserves to sue
eeed. He is a public benefsctor. Even the
desire for money in this to have
been made a blessing. And why should there
be any more attemps at poisoning? The secret
mi st ort frotu
what they effected in that daring attempt, and
they will not probably repeat it. Yet we feal
the science of poisoning he's been but too sue
cessfully studied IN this age, both in Europe and
America. Our readers may have heard of the
noted d-woman Gottfried, who lived in Bremen
quarter of a century ago. She was widow of
fascinating appearance, in her youth beautiful
in more advanced life still attractive by those
preparative and decorative arts of which wo-
man knows too we'll how I, avail herself.
But fatality seemed to attend her. All
connected with her sickened and died in strange
ways. Two husbands, her father, her mother
her brother, and several children disappeared
in short period of time. 1t was her lot to
order no less than thirteen collins from the
dertsker, who lived opposite to her, and all for
near and dear friends. GOttfried faithfully
nursed them during their painful illness.
She object of pity and sympathy,
while she seemed wonderfully resigned to the
inscrutinable decrees of Providence. A perfect
Niobe in her - childless woe " she appeared to
be, and a Niobe she was, for her heart was as
hard as that celebrated statue Received into
good society, her company was cOurted by per
sons Of rank and consideration. Twice widow,
she still had suitors. She had we'll ~ rnished
house, an easy fortune. But still she contin,
ued to drink of the cup of affection, was still
pitied and prayed for. A model of the tender
affections, she loved intensely, but her love
seemed to kill every object on which it alighted.
The venerable parent, the manly husband, the
beautiful children withered and died. A Mr..
Rumpf and his wife, though dissuaded by
friends. took lodgings in the same house With
Madam GOttfried. She was all kindness to
them and theirs. But Madame r. was seized
with vomiting, and died under the assiduous
nursing Of this disguised Alecto. The children
and servants met the same fate and received
the same attentions. She gave them all their
eath-portiOn and smOOthed their dying pillow
Mr.. Rumpf himself was seized he ransack-
ed the house from garret to cellar to find the
cause he believed there was some decaying
substance, some fetii ethalation, like that OF
the National, which did all the mischief; he
had the boards lifted and the walls examined
all in vain, but at length white powder was
observed on a bit of meat, which had been left
and il proved to be arsenic. Madam Il was ar
rested. imprisoned, and though at first affecting
great horror at the idea OF being accused rs a
inurderess, finally confessed to all and to much
more that she said she could not remember
She was sentenced To be beheaded and that
head preserved in spirits, and her skeleton in
case may now he seen in the museum at Brem-
en- Have We such murderer stealthily mo-
wing about in the public public places Of the
land, perhaps aiming at its highest dignitarios