The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-26

ON Suspis ioh-Stnrtnnne Dcvelopements or
CrIms.-Caroner's Investigation and TessA-
ns0By or the Witness1s-IpterestingP Parxecu"
lass-singular Affair.
Tho Investigation commeused yesterdsy By Coroner
Schirmer In relation TO the death Of ars Eny Bsetha,
propriccss OF .he boarding house Of Fourteenth
street and Fourth avenue developed Of the
teTous and horrible aars ever cnroncei That deceased
died nom the effects Of some mineral poson and tina.
an attempt was made 20 destroy her entire household does
not admit u doubt No less than out Of the Ten
pcrsong who artook OF breakfast Wednesday raofn.D
were seized With purging voisng, and seyerc burning
In the throat, indicating pretty strongly that they had
been poisoned while par.akiDg Of their morning meal.
Among those who attacked with these syroptors
were Mrs. Beetham, the Rev. Mr Lawson A. @. Kaber
y, lh. Canaleo, Mr. Robinson and his wife, and of
tho donestics, named Margaret Burke The were all
affected alike, and suffered apparently from the poi
son. Medical aid promptly procured, and
everything that could be done Was done 70
alleviate the distress OF the sufferers Mr.. Robinson and
Mrs. Pectham severely attacked than any Of
the resthe latter, have already stated sinking
under the effects OF the poison Wednesday
Mfr. Robinson has been lingering between life and death
ever since he partook Of the fatal meal and no
lies at deaths door. With these exceptions the remaining
members Of the family considered out OF danger.
Among those who escaped from being poisoned were two
daughters Of Mrs Beetham and medical student named
Thomas p Haddock. They ate and drank what the others
did, butt singular to say, they not affected in the
least According 70 the testimony OF the Rev. Mr. lawson,
there was fried Goldfish, fried liver, rolls, tea, coffee,
sugar. milk and molasses the breakfast table the
sick while those who did not drink either
affected It was evident that the poison had been pretty
well mixed Gth all the food upon the breakfast table that
morning When Mrs Beetham taken i'll she sent for
ter stated that she believed the cook Margaret Burke had
poisoned them that she was "a devil and would do any
thng deceased further stated that she had had many
difficulties with the suspected party and had often heard
her say she would be revenged when asked why did
not diEcharge the woman, Mrs. Beethan REPLIED
her some money, and she will not leave until
pay her." These statements led the occupants OF the
house and the medical attendants to watch the movements
Of the accused party With care Margaret complained of
sickness and kept her room although TO all outward ap-
pearance there was nothing whatever the matter vita
her. The doctors felt her pulse and examined her tn,
roughly but could not Hnd any symptoms Of poisoning
her case although she declared she had vomted
III any Of the rest Of the family vessel contain
ing matter which the cook said she vomited was
cured and placed under zeal for chemical analysis She
was not little inccnsed at the conduct Of
tance tan , that she would even let them '- examine anime
her pulse This pretended illness the part Of Mar
rart and her previous threats of revenge nst Mrs.
Beetbam and family were sufficient in the mind Of the Co.
roner to warrant him b aesng Accused on suspicion
and accordingly at the close Of the cation yesor
day. she was committed to the Eighteenth ecinct station
Professor Dorenlus was engaged to m Ike chemica'
analysis Of the contents Of deceaseds mach and he s
arrangements Coroner Schirmer, after examining
dozen Witnesses decided TO postpone the further inves
CATION OF the until Monday morning at nine O'Clock.
The evidence elected yesterday OF exceedingly in
terestDe character and its perual Will well repay
readers for their their trouble Annexed will be found
full report Of the proceedlngs:-t
Rev Samuel lawson, residing at the Blanchard House,
broadway, being duly sworn, deposes and says-I
pied this house for the week ending yesterday
arrived on Monday morning, feeling as well as usual
sat down breakfast about O'Clock there on tho
table codBhh fried, fried yer boiled homny bakers
bread, coffee, white eugar and butter do not recoect
anything else, ate fried ish and hominy little butter
and drank two cups Of coDee, with little sugar. about
hall m hour afterwards was attacked with slight
mting some fifteen minutes afterwards the vomiting
cured again. and continued at intervals until evening"
matter vomited at first was Of greenish color; had
little purgiIg more three acuatons during th
day; bad violent pain in my head the small Of my
back; burning in the throat, but had considerable
thirst, which could not be aiayed by drinking; had
pain in the stomach.
A. G. Kimberly, being duly sworn, deposes and says
am teacher, ahd reside at the Blanchard House oc
cupied the same room in this house with Mr. lawson, 70
about the same length Of tne took breakfast here
Wednesday morning; there nothing else the tabl
other than those mentioned by Mr. lawson; / think
there rolls the table though: | at
roll, some butter, lutte fish, some hominy and dram
two cups of coffee, with sugar. did notice anything
particular about the breakfast appeared and tasted
usual about three quarters of an hour afterwards hal
moderate purgiDg, which was followed with vomiting;
had pain burning sensation of the stomach oat
PAIN commenced ABOUT an hour after the St vomiting
my forehead, extending gradually over the whole head
the pain in my back commenced about O'Clock m
creasng until about nine O'Clock, and remained until mid
night, when went to sleep
DR.. Gaen Carter of No 3l6 Fourth street. dcposed MS
foowsOn Wednesday, about 121, O'Clock, was called
to see deceased found her vomiting and complaining of
being in DISTRESS che had cramps in her stomach which
extended to her limbs; she very pale and extremely
prosrate her hands were cold her pulse frequent and
feeble and she complained OF great thirst her hands pre-
sened purple appearance; these symptoms continued
increasing during the day and perhaps six hours after
wards darrh@a set in these symptoms continued until
death, which occurred yesterday at o'clock the vo-
mtng was yellow at first, but afterwards il presented
blue cast; there was no vomiting after 3 o'clock on
Thursday mornings at that time the pulse impercep-
deceased was in q state Of coma.
Elisha Acosta, NJ. d., residing at the st. Denis HOTEL
deIosed as folows:-l was called TO No. 80 East Four
teenih street, on the 22d inst to Mr.. Ramon Ca
leic boarder in the house, who after breakfast was
aSen c ws os SSS , ~ e stomach and slight
house who taken sick in the way: my patient
continued to vomt great deal Of bile and suffered
pain; saw him several times that day, and towards
night be somewhat better; yesterday morning he
voted for tho last time and felt much better TO day his
pulse almost NATURAL and the sickness of the stomach
and pain have entirely dsappeared ondeavored 10 save
Of the matter vomed but the servant threw out
the symptoms were those of poison, probably mineral the
patient is at this date fast recovering
Margaret Walsh, being duly sworn, saysI live at No
lie East sixteenth street; was formerly cook in this
house, and left three weeks ago. some three weeks
before i left ! told Mrs. Beetham that / did not
Like TO remain in the house with Margaret Burke,
an she was of an ugly disposition; some five
weeks ago Dr. Crst had arsenic in the house
for the purpose of killing rats; Mrs. Beetham prepared
Of IT for two successive npns by spreading over
bread and butter for the purpose of killing rats nothing
left of it, and threw the plate away be sure
that rome Of the poison remained in the house; Mrs
Beoham used all OF the arsenic whatever remained
and myself put the paper which contained into the
fire. that which e after the first night put behind
the meter near the wall for safe keeping during the day.
Margaret Burke knew that trying poison tho
rats. but DO not know that she of the locality
of the poison; l came here Wednesday 10 see Mrs.
Bcetham and after making cup OF tea was taken sick
with vomiting which occurred four times took tho tea
from the canister ysef and the water from the tea
kettle: used loaf sugar and milk; ate nothing only
took one spoonful Of the tea TO try its avor when tas
ed 20 bitter and uDpeaant that took OF IL:
had burning sensation in my throat, hcalache, pal,
in my sides, and my stomach
Thomas r. Hadd0ck, being duly sworn, deposcs and
saysl reside Mt No 125 Third avenue am student OF
incidence boarded in this house for about four months
previous TO last Wednesday when had my baggage re
moved but remained here with the sick people all night
ate breakfast here on Wednesday morning. ate fish,
couple Of rolls and drank Cup aud half Of coffee with
sugar went about az usual during the day. felt perfectly
well and had no dsagrceablc feeling whatever perhaps
half or three quarters OF hour after breakfast Mr.