Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-03-16
The Poisoning Case at Syracuse

tragedy IN that town. which was reported
by telegraph:
Our city was throsn into a grea.
excitement, yesterday and to-day in coz.
sequence Of valuable horse belonging
to DIR. Searies being killed by poison
two little girls, children Of Peter Tinker
dead, and Tinker himself corpse.
The facts Of the case, as we have been
able to learn them, arc briefly the..
Yesterday "wednesday Peter Tinker
was seen coming ous of the stable a
short time before the horse died, and !, IA
supposed that be gave him strychnine
because he was jealous Of DIR. searles
the owner of the animal. Ii seems that
some time last fall, Mr.. Tinker, who IA
reported as man of good habits, en-
ployed DIR. Searles to prescribe for bis
wife, who was then ailing. The Doctor
attended Mrs. Tinker, and the result IA
that she abandoned her two children. and
IS now living under the same roof with
DIR. Searies and bis wife.
Their children, it seems, since the
separation Of Mr.. Tinker and his wife
have been living at different places.
among friends. The last place at which
one of the children was stopping wac
Mr.. Lilly's. On Tuesday afternoon the
father called at Mr.. Lilly's and took
the child away, saying that he was going
to take the Children among friends. The
little girls names are Lucinda (who went
by the name Of "Eva,") and Flora.
"Eva" was eight and Flora six wears
old. On taking leave Of Mrs. Lilly, she
was asked TO sing little song beginning
Z" have home," &c, or, Il have a
mother" The little girl, in reply said
II can't sing these songs, because
have no home. | bad mother. but I
have got none now"
Yesterday afternoon Tinker was found
IN the street, apparently intoxicated. He
was taken to the Park Hotel. and DIR.
Fuller called, who discovered that Tinker
had taken heavy dose of laudanum.
and was suffering from the effects. A
pistol, heavy loaded, was found in his
pocket, and various surmises are cir
culated in relation to his intentions.
Tinker said he procured the pistol be-
cause be contemplated going West; but
be denounced DIR. Searles in severe
terms, and it is suspected that he intended
10 shoot DIR. S. on account of jealousy.
Tinker passed terrible night, and this
morning, about 8 O'Clock, he died in
spasms. After his death some paners
were found in his stockings, one of which
revealed the fact that be had poisoned
bis two little children, and that they were
in the room formerly occupied by him, in
the old Medical College building. On
going to the room, the two little girls
were found dead-laid out-their little
hands folded across their breasts. II
seems that Tinker, on Tuesday, admins
tered laudanum to his children in some
oysters, in the room where thew tbis
morning were found; that be staid by
them until they died-and after straiebt-
ening them out left them, and took poison
himself. 1t was terrible sight to look
at the children as they lay on an old
straw bed-with froth at their mouths.
from the effects Of the poison. The
mother of the children came to see her
ofspring-looked at them carelessly--
and went away With little or no emotion.
There is history connected with this
whole affair which we cannot now ston
to Publish-we may do so some other
time.
The indignation of the popuIace was
aroused this morning against DR.. Searles
to such an extent that it was deemed best
by the officers, for the personal safety
of the Doctor, to put him into the pen
itentiary. We know not to what extent
the Doctor can be or is implicated in the
matter, but from what we can learn, he
thinks his position is anything but COM
Portable one.
The Coroner and bis jury are holding
inquests over the bodies of Tinker and
his children.
MRS. Ilnker's statement is that last
year the family became very much en-
oarrassed, in consequence of sickness.
and they frequently suffered for the
necessaries Of life. Under these cireum-
stances, it was determined to break up
the family until better times should
come. BY invitation Of Mrs. searles,
Mrs. Tinker went to live in DR.. Searles
family, and Mr.. Tinker and The Two
children went TO board at the Westcott
House, both parties endeavoring in the