Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-05-14
A Modern Borgia.

We published a telegraphic dispatch
on Saturday giving some account of poi
sonings and suicide by Mrs. Phebe West
lake, at Chester, in Orange Co., n. Y
A correspondent of the NY. Daily Nea0s,
writing srom Goshen, gives the follow
ing particulars, from which it would APP
pear that the woman possessed mania
for poisoning PEG 1le. 1t is remarka-
bic narrative:
Mrs. Phebo Westlake, formerly of
Ulster county, whose maiden name was
Irwin, aged about 45 years, died at
Chester, in Orange county, N. Y, on the
9TH inst, no doubt from the effect of poi
on taken for the purpose of self des-
truction.
Phebe had lived in Chester ten or
twelve years. She was industrious, and
knew how TO do all manner of women's
work, and was able and willing to do it
well. Withal she was professedly pious.
She gained friends in the best families
in Chester, and when any of them need
ed help. they thought it a loss if they
could not get Phebe.
About twenty years ago, we hear, her
husband died suddenly. A paper of ar
senic was found in his pocket, and upon
a post mortem 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 hotelin Chester, died of cry
sipelas. He was a widower, and had
but one daughter at home, a noble young
woman, who before that time had been
affianced to Mr.. Hiram Colwell, veal
thy and respectable drover, we'll 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 after Phebe came there, Miss
Pelser was taken sick with some strange
disease that her physician could not un-
derstand. Her only sister, and her hus-
band, Mr.. Clark, were sent for, and came
from the South, and took the manage
ment of Mr.. Pelscr's business and pro-
perry at Chester. From that time Phebe
was left mainly to nurse and care for the
sick and dying Miss Pelser. She ling
cred and died under circumstances to in
duce strange suspicious, but no one sus-
pected her faithful nurse, Phebe.
Last fall Phebe was employed as a
domestic in the house of John B. Tut
hill, respectable merchant 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, called her. She
was confned-ber babe never knew life
Some unusual symptoms attended hel
case. DR.. Smith her physician, said they
indicated poison, but yet they might be
commissions which sometimes attended
parturition. Phebe was her nurse, anc
she could not be suspected. Marths
died, and
blossom and bough lie withered in one blight
Mr.. John B. Tuihilrs family being
thus broken up, he went TO board witt
his brother and partner in business, Mr.
Charles S. TuthiA, and Phebe was duly
I transferred TO that establishment as cool
and maid of all work.
/ On the 1st of April last, Mr.. Fuller,
clerk in the Tuthill's store, took possess
ion of Mr.. John B. Tuthills house, IN
der an arrangement that Mr. John B
Tuthill was 10 board with him. Mi
Fuller had no family but his wife. Phebr
f was thus thrown out of employment, bu
! still she was retained temporarily be
tween Mr.. Tuthil's and Mr.. Fuller's-
, Phebe did many acts of kindness 70
both Mrs. Tuthill and Mrs. Fuller, an,
carried delicacies TO and from them.
; On the 9Th day of April last Mr.. Full
: Ter had provided for dinner can Of pre-
served corn and beans. They were no
D all eaten at dinner. Phebe was at Afr
: tnlier's. After tea, and after Mr.. Ful
: Ter had gone TO his business. she suggest
] ed to Mrs. Fuller that the corn ard bean
might spoil, and they might as well ca
5 the little there was left. Mrs. Fulle