Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-10-29

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The stephens fe-foisoning-Rsport of
the ChauA4oAl Analysis.
We are able 10 give oar readers to-day full re-
porf offaA) lhanicA analysis Of the body OF Sophia
oned 70 death over . year ago BY her husband,
James Stephens previously to this respected
citizen Of New York. and class leader in tho
Methodist Episcopal Church. Tho analysis has
been the mott complete and thorough ever per-
formed in this country this being, in fact the rst
time thatths entire human body had been chemi.
cally taken to pieces. The result will appear
Stephens case, the analysis having discovered the
existence of arsenic in large quantities, and diu-
sed through all portions Of the body, more than
enough to have caused death.
The history Of the case, thus far. has been vc-
ry remarkable one, and the prominent points will
bear repetition.
One day, about the middle of September last,
young man named Robert Bell, was arrested, on
warrant issued by Justice Welsh, for nm attempt
to shoot Stephens with pistol. The pistol was
loaded with two balls.one Of which is said to have
rolled ont before the pistol was discharged. and
the other owing, it is believed to the nsuiciency
of the charge Of powder. only went through his
coat, and lodged in the collar doing bodily in
jury. Mr. Chaunccy Shafer was sent for to de-
fend the prisoner, and conversng with him,
learned that the cause Of the attempt was q strong
conviction in his mind that Stephens had murder
ed his wife, Sophia stephens, 1.-THE prisoners
aunt by administering poison MIR. Schafcr had
IN interview with the Misses Bell. sisters of the
prisoner who wore living at Stephens house when
their aunt died, and the results was that upon
their Afidavits, corroborating the suspicious of
Robt. Bell, Justice Welsh issued his warrant for
the apprehension Of Stephens the charge of
murder. Coroner Connery was notified and on
the 23d of September, nst one year after her
death. the body of Mrs. Stephens was disnerrcd
Mt Greenwood Cemetery, and removed to Bellevue
Hospital A post-mortem examination took place.
after which the body was consigned to Prof. Dore
mus for chemical analysis. The inquest, in the
meantime. proceeded (the examination before
Justice Welsh having been suspcndcd,) and it
was proved that before his wife's death Stephens
had proGcrcd improper attentions to Miss Sophia
Bell: that he had threatened TO leave his wife.
and called her "old'and peevish,' (she was some
Is years hs senior;) that during her last illness
he gave suspicious looking powders, and large
doses Of laudanum; that he would suffer no one
but himself to give her medicines. and that he had
twice made purchases of arsenic about this time,
under pretence Of poisoning rats.
The Bells are said to be Of the first families
in Ireland several of tho brothers of Mrs Step
hens, being Protestant clergymen. The Misses
Bell had lived with Stephens, in Goth street. two
three years previous to the death Of their aunt
They entertained suspicious ut tho time of her
death, bnt dared not make them known in consc-
quence ofthe threats Of Stephens to have them ex
PEELED from the church and ruin their characters
if they dared say anything against him. A letter
from Fanny, vaguely limiting a suspiciona at length
reached their friends in Ireland, and their broth
er Robert, an impetuous young man, at once came
over and attempted to take the law into his own
hands,
The Coroner's jury, re-asscmbled at Bellevue
Hospital this morning the prisoner, Stephens be-
ing present and after the reading Of the testimo-
nv heretofore taken. Prot. Doremous submitted
his reports
The report is very long, but the following con-
clusion contains the substance of it:
In consequence Of the responses TO the tests re-
lated, and to various Others which, though impor-
tant in court Of justice, are perhaps unnecessary
and would prove tedious and uninteresting at II
preliminary inquistion the depOnent is forced to
state his convictions that the body Of the late Mrs.
Sophia Stephens contained arsenic to an extent
bumcient 10 nave pfOuucou ucatn.
Deponent desires to state that the analysis and
dissections were conducted in places where arsenic
is not employed. The various parts OF the body
under examination, well the different chemi-
calls and apparatus made Of, were never left
exposed, but the precautions Of locking and sealing
were rigidly observed and further, to insure
against the accidental introduction of impurities,
not only were all the chemicals. whether metals,
acids or salts, carefully examined, but every arti-
Gle Of chemical apparatus used such as cruciblcs,
were new, and purchased especially for this inyes-
tigation.
And, in conclusion. the doponent wishes to tes-
tify to the invaluable assistance rendered by DR..
Adam Zenker and Dr. b. l.. Budd during this dis
agreeable and heightened series of chemical ana
lyses. To their indefatigable labors by night as
well as by day, even Sundays not excepted, are
the Coroner and jury indebted for the report at
the present date.
The chemists report was accompanied by case
of tubes and glasses covered with arsenic in the
various forms in which it was found during the
investigation. These specimens are marked and
numbered. and often referred to in the report.
The jury will probably agree upon a verdict this
afternoon.-Ne,o Fork Eccaing Post. 25M.
The New York Tribune Of Tuesday evening
says: ~.
The case ofJames Stephens arrested some time
ago, charged with poisoning his wife Sophia was
brought to close yesterday evening, after
lengthy and tedious investigation, The Jury found
verdict That Mrs. Stephens came to hsr death by
arsenic administered by her husband James Ste
phens.
IMMENSE SAVING, ne FI1EI-,