The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-05-26
A Modern Borgia.


GosHEN, Ulster Co., N. Y. May q, SO.
Mrs. Phebc Westlake, formerly of Ulster
county, whose maiden name was Irwin, aged
about 4! years, died at Chester, in Orange
county N. Y, on the 7th inst, no doubt from
the effect Of poison taken for the purpose of
self-destruction-
Phebe had lived in Chester ten or twelve
years. She was Industrious, and knew how to
do all manner of wemen's work, and was able
and willing to do it well. Withal she was
professcdly Tious. She had friends in the
best families in Chester, and when any OF them
needed heir, they thought it loss if they
could not get Phebe.
About twenty. years ago, we hear, her hus.
found in his pocket, and upon post norton
examination arsenic was found in his stomach
1t was supposed he had committed suicide, and
no further action or inquiry was had.
Four or five years ago. Mr. Pelser, who kept
hotel in Chester, died Of erysipelas. He was
widower, and had but one daughter at home,
noble young woman, who before that time
had been aflianced to Mr.. Hiram Colwell, a
wealthy and respectable drover, well known in
Orange county. She and her fathers assistant,
Mr.. Heard, thought it best to secure Phebe, as
cook in the hotel, and they did so. Shortly az
ter Phcbe came there, Miss Pclser was taken
clan could not understand. Her only sister, and
her husband. Mr.. Clark, were sent for, and
came from the South, and took the management
of Mr.. Pelser's business and property at Chcs-
ter. From that time, Phebe was left mainly to
nurse and care for the sick and dying Miss Pei
ser. She fingered and died under crcumstan-
ces to induce strange suspicious, but NO one sus-
pected her faithful nurse, Phebe. About the
time of her death, Mr.. Colwell received an af
fectionate letter, while he was at the West
bringing cattle, purporting to come from Miss
not write, requesting him, among other things
to remember Phebe for her kindness to Miss
Pelser. .... ........... ..
Last fall Phebe was employed as domestic
in the house of John b. Tuthill, respectable
merchant of Chester, in view of the prospec-
tive confinement of his wife, who was the only
daughter of the late Francis Tuthill, Esq.-lit-
tie Martha, as all who knew her-and many
knew aud loved her-caled her. She was
confined her babe never knew life. Some
unusual symptoms attended her case. DIR.
Smith, her physician, said they indicated pois-
on but yet they might be the commissions
which sometimes attendparturition. Phebe was
her nurse, and she could not he susrected-
Martha died, and ........'-
"Blossom and bough lie withcred in one blight"
Mr.. John 8. Tuthill's family being thus bro
ken up-!or little Martha was all he had-he
went to board with his brother and partner in
business, Mr.. Charles S. Tuthill, and Phebe was
duly transferred to that establishment as cook
and maid of all work. ....a u..e.. us.
On the LIST Of April last, Mr.. Fuller, clerk
in the Tuthill,s store, took possession Of Mr..
John 3. Tuthill's house under an arrangement
that MIR. John b. Tuthill was to board with
him. Mr.. Fuller had no family but his wife,
Ph,be was thus thrown out Of employment,
but still she was retained temporarily between
Mr.. TGthills and MIR. Fuller's. Phebe did
many acts Of kindness for both Mrs. Tuthill and
Mrs. Fuller, and carried delicacies to and from
them. ... .e.....a-
On the 9Th day of April last, Mr.. Fuller had
provided for dinner a can of preserved corn
and beans. They were not all eaten at din
ner. Phebe was at Mr.. Fuller's. After tea,
and after Mr.. Fuller had gone to his business,
she suggested to Mrs. Fuller that the corn and
beans might spoil, and they might as well eat
the little there was left. Mrs. Fuller cODst mt
cd, and Phebe brought up two small plates Of
corn and beans, one of which she ate herself,
and the other Mrs. Fuller ate. That evening
Mrs. Fuller was taken sick, with symptoms in
dicating poison. She died shortly after. No
one could be suspected. Her husband loved
her. He had no one else to love. Phebe was
hinu, oplISIng, aSslOGOuS allu aHectlOnate, anu
remained by Mrs. Fuller to the end. Who
could suspect her? ...
After the death of Mrs. Fuller, Phcbe re-
NAMED temporarily at Mr.. Charles S. Tuth,ll's
where both the brothers were perforce brought
into the family. Some ten or twelve days ago
both the Tuthills and the wife of Mr.. Charles
S., also Mrs. Derrick-an Irish woman-with
whose husband Phcbe had had some difficulty
about porterage, were taken sick with symp-
toms nearly akin 10 those of Miss Pelser, little
Martha and Mrs. Fuller They have all been
treated on the hypothesis Of POISON. The
brothers Tuthill are out about their business.
Mrs Charles S. Tuthill is doing well, and Mrs.
Derrick is still dangerously i'll.
Suspicious began to thcken about Phebe-
Last Monday She was taken dangerously i'll
with the same symptoms. On Friday morning
she died. In her last agonies she said "Shc
had sprinkled a little arsenic on John B. Tut
hills toast; that she knew there was poison on
the window sill near where his soup sat, and it
might have blown in /; and that she sprinklcd a
little arsenic on Mrs. Fuller's corn and beans,'
and further said not. The grave has closed
ovel Phebe and her victims. No more of the
iacis will probably ever be known. Her mo.
tivcs must be left to conjecture, and imagination
must fill up this tale OF horrors @