Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-08-25
The Rhode Island Poisoning Case

The jury in this extraordinary and appalling
case found rcriict on Friday last to the effect
that Mr.. Studcy came to his death from poison
administered by his wife" One ofthe witnesses.
who said that she had difficult husband to manage,
testified that the accused recommended her l,hc
witness) to gire Aim somethiny 10 stu h,m dowa,"'
The Providence I"st Of Saturday, has the suhjoined
interesting paragraph. 1t sketches dark history:
Mr.. S.udley died ON the Eth of June. under cir.
cumsances which gave rise to the suspicion that
lie had been poisoned. This suspicion gained
strength after his burial and upon inquiry into
the iacts upon which it rested. Coroner Lewis
deemed it his duty to summon jury aud have
the body exhumed. Tho investigation disclosed
tho certainty that Mr.. Studley died from the Of
iccts Of arsenic; and the testimony of witnesses
pointed to his widow Mrs. Lydia Studlcy, as tho
person who had administered 1t.
During the progress of this investigation, facts
were elected which strongly implicated Mrs.
Studley in the murder of former husband. Mr..
VIM. W. Jones, who died some seven years ago.
Thcrcupon, Mr.. Jones having died in Smthlic
Coroner Pearce of that town summoned II jury
had the body cxhumcd, and conducted nm exam
nation which resulted i'll establishing the fact
that his death, also, was caused by taking ar
senic
From the testimony thus far adduccd, it wonld
seem that the criminal in these cases-if Mrs.
Studley is the criminals one of the coolest aud
most stoical of her class. The murders she has
committeeman suspicion: we may remark points
Ia two others than those referred to aboyc,-wcrc
not only very coolly planned. and very coolly
pcrrctrated, but seem to have been looked upon
by her as matters OF very small mo,nent--ns
nobody's business, to use her own words when
giving advice to neighbor who was afflicted with
n sick husband-and To have been passed over
without renorsc, or any indications VI II troubled,
spirit
During her career of crime she has maintained
her position in Christian church, and in common
conversation has referred to these incidents in her
history. which would suppose calculated +,
make the most hardened shuddcr, without II part
| iclc of excitement or any betrayal OF uncommon
feeling. In the courtroom, during the recent in
designations, her appearance has seemed to indi-
cate the most perfect indifference. One could not
judge from it that she felt either guilty or nno-
cent or indeed that she has any feeling at all.
The motive for these murders is found in the
fat that both of the husbands Of Mrs S. were un.
profitable in the pecuniary sense. The first one
Mr.. Jones became possessed ofa very pretty estate
but it was understood to have been obtained
chiefly through the earnings Of two daughters
who labored untiriugly in the mills At the time
ofhis death, this estate was heavily encountered
and the rumor is that the ncumbrnnce arose from
his own Encouragement and criminal conduct
The incumbrance has since been removed by tn,
daughters, and the estate is now in their posse.
: sion.
! The second husband was married in March last
$ and there is evidence that Mrs Jones supposc
nun V De the owner OF handsome rperty Il
r this she was disappointed: but whether Mr. Stud
ley was guilty of any attempt to dec Give hcr ,oo
b rot fully aprefr, Ncr ST. = is A.. Ia, u, vol, -.
k her boti In s.saTd - his m rsrtv apA h;sspc-
:, lie was upwards Q. ~ years Old, Lal i..c AN
= hearty. Mrs. represents herself to be 65.