The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-04-04
The Poisoning Affair in New Orleans

This revolving crime has created much in
terest il this community,i where some Of the
sufferers reside, and where nearly all are
known. Gen. Lemley in whose family it oc-
CURED, was resident of Smith county in this
State and is a brother of our highly es-
teemed citizen, Mr. Samuel Lemley. His
wife, if We mistake not, was raised in this
community, and was a sister of our former
townsman. Mrs. YOUNG. wife Of the late DR..
| aodna. Ihe dinner al which the poisoning
was perpetrated, was given to a young DIR.
| Hunt Of this State, who had Just graduated at
the New Orleans Medical University. 1t ap-
rears that Gen. LIS cook put arsenic in dish of
| Charlotte Russo, which Mrs L. had prepared
| for the occasion, and that the whole dinner
party, including the family were poisoned.
| Gen. LIS family consisted of himself, wife and
two daughters +; together with Mrs. Young,
her daughter and her little son. A young la
dy, Miss Hall, was also stopping at the house.
The guests present were Henry Phelps
youth of eighteen, son of ex- Alderman James
S. Phelps, and Miss Bouligny, a young lady
livingin that family Miss Isabel Mckee, and
hersister, living on Chippewa street ; and Miss
Searles, sister-in-law of the Rev. Mr.. Mark
ham, Presbyterian pastor in the Fourth Dis
trict.* These being at the dinner, were of
course poisoned.
Mrs. James S. Phelps and Mrs. Mckee,
mother of some of the young. people above
named, were not at the dinner, but were still
poisoned with the rest, in this manner: Be-
ing intimate friends of Mrs. Lemley, they were
invited, but could not make it convenient to
attend Mrs. Phelps sent her apology by the
young people, at the same time requesting
that Mrs. Lemley would send to her some
part of any nice knick-nacks which might
have been prepared for the feast.
When young Phelps and Miss Bouligny
went home, they took with them some of the
poisoned jelly of which they themselves had
eaten, and Mrs. Phelps ate some of it. Miss
Phelps, sister of Mr.. Phelps, who also had
been invited, but did not go, had no appetite,
and remarked that she would save her share
Of the jelly for the children in the morning,
they having gone to bed. This notion of hers
was providential. for it saved her and Mrs.
Phelps children.
The Misses Mckee likewise took home some
of the jelly to their mother, and she ate it.
The sickness ofall, next morning, proved how
sadley they were mistaken, in what they had
believed to be one of the.,most delicate of
luxuries.
Little Willie Young was the first victim
Mrs. Lemley was the next-and at last ac-
counts, Miss Young was in "a dying condition,
while the most serious forebodings were felt
as to the fate of Gen. Lemlcy. The others
were considered convaIescent but the insidi-
Gus and fatal nature of attacks from poison
renders uncertain all calculations as to the final
result, and keeps friends ina condition of pain
full suspense. DR.. Hunt left the dinner table
for the cars, and his fate is not certainly known
tho we heard flying report that he died
on the way to his home, doubtless unaware OF
the cause of his illness We did not hear
what part of Mississippi he resided in.