Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-17
NO. Ill.
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
THE ALLEGED POISONING CASE IN
PHILADELPHIA.

THE ALLEGED POISONING CASE IN
PHILADELPHIA.
The troubles Of the kirkpatrick family
we're again brought before Alderman Eneu ~
Philadel phia yesterday. Mr.. Robert k'rS-
patrick is charged with having written let
ters with false signatures to bis brother Mr.
Edwin Kirk kpatrick, which letters purportfd u
come from women whom he had betrayed
and who demanded money. These letters
are supposed to have been sent Tor me luF'
pose of creating difficulty between Mr.. Elwlh
Kirkpatrick and his wife. Mr.. Robert
Kirkpatrick is also charged with haVlngpol'
soned bis brothers wife by sending to their
house a poisoned pie, represented to come
from another relative with whom they are on
good terms Part Of this pie was eaten, and
all who partook Of it were made sick but none
died. Josiah g. Jones, a colored man, is
charged with beving carried the pie TO the
house. On the adjourned examination yes
terday Lucas liirst. esq, appeared tor Jones.
Me.srs. Soby aud Randall, appeared for Mr..
the prosecution.
The principal witness examined was ilt-
tie boy, William Henry kirkpatrick, aged less
than SereH years. whose clear and stralght'tor'
ward answers to the battling questions put to
him by the lawyers were wonderful tor
child Of that age The Bulletin reports his
preliminary examination as follows
Judge Kelly -"Willian, do you know the
difference between the truth and lle!'
Child Yes sir"
Question What would be the conse-
uuence Of telling a lie?"
Answer--'.I would be burnt up when
die"
Question by Mr.. Lucas Iiirst-"Where do
you liye?'
Answer--"At No. 1881 Arch street, near
Broad"
Question-"DO you know what the Bible
is?"
Answer-"Yes sir"
Question.-"Do you ever read it?"
Answer-"I cannot read"
Question-"Do you know whatt contains"
Answer--"Yes, sir, goodness"
Judge Kelly urged that the child was not
competent to give a commentary upon the
Bible, although fully competent to act as T.
witness.
Mr.. Lucas Hirst--"H Have you had nstruc-
tion about this matter"
Ans. "Yes, SIR"
Ques. From whom"
Ans "My father and mother"
Ques What did they say to you.'
Ans. 81 forget"
Judge Kelly. "Haven't they told you not
to tell lie?"
Ans. Yes, sir"
Mr.. Lucas Hirst, (handing the boy Bible
"Do you know this book?"
Ans. "Yes. sir"
Ques. What is III"
Ans. "A Bible"
Q1es. "IIow do you know"
Ans. :" guess So"
Ques. when you swear, what do you
swear upon?"
Ans. 81 never swear at all"
Mr.. Lucas Hirst objected 20 the testimony
OF the child being taken, and cOntended that
his extreme youth precluded the possibility
of his being able to comprehend the solemn
ty and importance Of an oath. Ii was pos.
sible that the witness might be trained as TO
the story he is to tell. He also secuted the
idea Of taking the evidence of q child who
could not be punished even if clearly cohvlc-
ted of perjury.
Judge Kelly argued in reply that the child
was not only competent witness, but legal
one. lie referred to .be Importance of his
testimony, and to the fact that the evidence
of still younger children had frequenty
been taken, and persons bad been cInvcted
upon such testinony. A case in point had
taken place 10 the Court of Quarter Sessions.
only day before last. Judge Ludlow bad
directed that child should be taken oct Of
Court. and instructed by competent person
as to the nature Of an oath, and the evidence
f,oe, ID t,l,n
Alderman Eneu said be proposed to have
the child placed in the hands OF q person for
instruction. A gentleman present was re.
quested to instruct the child as TO the mean
ing Of an oath, its solemnity, and the penal
ty for its infraction.
Tnis was done, and on the return of the
child be answered satisfactorily all the ques-
tioEs put to him by MIR. llirst, touching his
understanding Of an oath
The boy was then sworn, and testified poe
itively that Josiah q. jones was the maD who
delivered the poisoned pie. The Gaze was Tot
concluded when the Bulletins report closed
but Mr.. Iirst was arguing that, even admit
ting this child's evidence. there was no proof
that Jones knew the pie was poisoned, ard
he contended that it was fair to suppose that
Jones was merely employed as carrier -
1t Sc ems strange that the prosecution did not
u.e Jones as a witness against Mr.. Robert
Kirkpatrick.
Gsa9" The Annual Meeting Of the S,ockhol-
der, of the Alexandra Library Company, Will
be held III the Library Room nj said Company,
on Monday the 22d day OF February, 1865
All persons wishing to become Stockholders or
subscribers, are hereby solicited 10 attend
NORVAL F.. FOARD,
feb 2-dd Librarian
C.e nnn OR EIGHT THOUSAND
.DO.UUD DOLLARS.--Wa Wanted, Six OF
eight thousand dollars, for three or five years,