The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-08-29
\ BOrgia in Low Life !
POISONING IN PITTSBURGH
Mysterious Death Of six Persons
Arrest of the suspected
MurdereSS

.
{ Grinder was arrested in Pittsburgh on 8
Tridsy on suspicion of having taken the v
ives of several different persons. The .
GLOWING particulars in regard to the hOr- :
ible crime are taken from the Pittsburgh S
of Monday evening: q
SCENE OF THE POISONING :
The alleged Borgis in this poisoning al :
is Mfs. Martha Grinder, wife OF Geo. d,
Grinder, 9 small dealer in oil, who resides .
in house No. 1, of s court owned by WI
d. Walker, on Grsy's alley, Fourth Maro, =
Allegheny. Gray's alley runs from River
q to the canal, between Anderson and
Morgan streets. There are ak tWo-story
houses in the row, which were complesea
last fall, and we're first occupied 10 NO
yember. George Grinder and family occu'
pied the first house, Mrs.. s. Carotners the
second and Mr.. Smith the third. During
the present summer much sickness was
experienced among the residents OF the
row. all exhibiting the same symptoms,
those of vomiting, purging and sPasms.-
The attacks, however, we're OF q olnereh'
degree of violence, and the impression pre-
vailed in the neighborhOod thst the ny
drspt water contained poison, MT the least
suspicion attaching to any person Inc
numerous deaths occurring in the house OF
Mrs. Grinder and in the vicinity, OCCASION
ed some remark, but with the interment OF
the deceased the remarks ceased, until the
developments Of Thursday ~unloosened the
tongue Of gossip, and stories innumersole
we're circulated, and the victims OF the
poisoner reached an incredible number.
SUDDEN DEATH OF MRS. MAR C. CAR
OTHERS.
Mr.. james S. Oarothers, formerly the
! neighbor of Mr.. Grinder, is 8 young man
employed in the dry goods establishment
| of Mr.. james NJ. Carr, Federal street.
Allegheny, and had been recently mar
/ ried to Miss Caroline Phillips, of New
CASTLE, with whom Mrs. Grinder became
intimate. On Tuesday evening, June
9th last Mrs. CArothers accepted an in
vitation ito tsde tea with Mrs. Grinder,
and shortly after her return home she was
seized with violent purging and vomiting.
The next day, however, she appeared TO
be much better, when her husband sccom-
panied her to the country on a visit to her
relatives. He returned to the city on the
next Friday and took supper at Mrs.
Grinders house, when he WAS also seized
with q similar sickness, which consigned
him to the house for several weeks, his
physicians, on two occasions, entertaining
no hope of his recovery. His wife was
sent for, but before her arrival Mrs.
Grinder visited him frequently, prepared
his food and showed him much atten-
ton. He finally recovered, although shat
tered in health and constitution, and re.
sumed his business IS Usual On the 18th
of July last, Mrs. Carothers again took
tea with Mrs. Grinder, and during the
night she became so i'll that g physician
had to be sent for, whe administered SOM
medicine. She continued to grow worse
until the LIST instant, when she expired
During her sickness Mrs. Grinder was
assiduous in her attentions, and furnished
her with many delicscies. Mrs. CsrOtheTi
was a young and healthy woman, and al
though her death created great surprise
no suspicion of foul play was excited il
the minds of her friends.
MRS. JOHNSTON POISONED.
Upon the death of Mrs Carothers, he
husband ~relinquished housekeeping, auC
rented the premises to Mr.. James NJ. John
ston, who took possession on the 18th inst
A few days before, Mrs Johnston visiteC
the house for the purpose of cleaning il
and at noon accepted an invitation to tax,
dinner with Mrs. Grinder. Shortly after
ward she was seized with spssms, whicI
continued during the night. DR.. Irish, @
this city, was sent for, who called in Dl
, VIM. u. Heron, of Allegheny. in consul
tation, and through their skillful treatmen
+ she is getting better, and hopes are entel
tanned of her recovery.
ARREST AND RE ARREST or MRS. GRIHDEI
: The strange fatality which appeared
follow every one who psrtook of Mr.
Grinders hospitality, created a suspicio
in the mind of Mr.. Csrothers, when b
called on Mayor Lowry on Thursday, an
. asked for information as to what course b
. should pursue. As the evidence sgaiBI
4 her was not of such a nature as to justif
8 the Mayor, in his own mind, in issuing
3 warrant for her apprehension on a charg
/ of poisoning, q ruse was resorted to.
, was ascertained that on the death of Mr.
8 Carothers, a number of articles had bee
!, missed from the house, and IS Mrs. Grinde
4 was suspected of having stolen them, an il
4 formation was made against hsr Tor Isl
! cenY. A warrant for her arrest WAS il
sued and placed in the hands of Officer
a Heron and CUP, who proceeded to th
house, arrested her and brought her to III
city. Her house was also searched, and
= small quantity of oil cloth and musli
i found, which was identified by MI. Oarotl
q ers rs his property. She was subsequent
a bsiled out, and again arrested on Frids
morning, as she was preparing TO leave ii
a city. Upon being brought before II
q Mayor, she asserted her innocence of Il
|, charge, when the Mayor committed her
!, prison for q hearing. She took her dAugl
ter to Jail.
Y ALLEGED VICTIMS.
9 In March last, Samuel Grinder, q brotht
/, in-laW of the suspected woman, visited hi
q house. He Was q soldier in the army, b.
owing to sickness had been an inmate fl
= some tins of the Military Hospital, in Il
d Ninth Ward. When he arrived at Il
/. house he appeared to be in good health, b
d a day or two afterwards was taken suddel
J. " sick. A lady, who resided in the neigl
borhood, visited him and found him suffe
d ing ten rIbly. She asked Mrs. Grinder VIII
n was the matter with him, when she reptile
10 that he had an attack of dyptheria. II
o sick man called repeatedly for water, whe
n the lady handed him 3 drink. Mrs. Girl
It der noticing the movement, seizsd the tun
bier, and dashed it upon the hearth, breal
Is LuE " lnbO pioCosi saying al Tue bauu5 I'LL
p that water would kill him. The poor fe
IF low died the next morning.
Is A soldiers widow, having with her
If young child, stopped at the house short
It Afterwsrd. The same evening the Chi
became sick and died in q few days, A
3 inquest was held on the body by the Cor
Is ner, and the jury complimented Mr.
d Grinder for the attention she had psid II
n little sufferer. The poor mother was il
h %eonsolRble OF the loss of her child, and il
formed the neighbors that she feared it hs
j. been poisoned. She lives in the vicinity
Alliance, Ohio.
An old lady, named Gallagher died gu,
denly at Mrs. Grinders house about Il
middle of last month, from symptom
which led to the BELIZE that poison hs
been administered. Mrs. Shoemaker,
wssherwOmsn, living on Morgan stree
It was taken suddenly sick s Jew days az
r. after eating at Mrs. Grinders house, b.
10 she is now convAlsscent.' Mr.. Smith
b family psrtook of some soup prepared b
9. Mrs. Grinder, and we're Immediately seize
o with violent purging and vomiting. HI
10 own babe also died Suddenly a few WeeE
h ago.
ls ANOTHER HORRIBLE CAST
+ a new development was brought to ligl
- -