Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-09-02
From the Piitsburg Pos;, August es
4 PENNSYLVANIA RORGIa.
Wholesale Poisoning by N Boarding
House n e per I'm Piftsburg.

Wholesale Poisoning by n Boarding
Housekeeper I'm Piftsburg.
As se remarked or Friday. q saturnalia Of
crime appears 10 be passing over the land. Ga
Thursday evening 4 middleaged woman named
Mrs Grinder, who has resided for some time
uooa Gay alley. near River avenue, Fourth
Ward, Allegheny City. was before the Mayor
dressed in deep mourning. charged with LARCENY
The Mayor demanded 81 500 bail, which to US
seemed eKorbtAnt, and our sYmpztAiss ran with
the woman alihesgh ws suspected that some
thing beside larceny was lurking behind the in
formation On Friday $ development took place
which, if proven will certainly exhibit a state of
facts that whl brand this woman as one of the
most expert and systematic roisoners that has
turned up recently. On the charge of larceny
she entered bail, well known citizen becoming
her surety. and she wAs discharged, although
kept under surveillance bv two officers during
the night. But IN the morning il was discovered
that the bird had at least been taking an airing
II sbe bad not absolutely flown The bailman,
who - gentleman Of more goodness Of heart,
perhaps, than discretion, was annoyed at the cir
cunstance, and interested himself in procuring
officers to At once make arrest. She was des-
tined TO the custody Of Mayor Lowry, when q
gentleman named Geo A. Caruthers, EMPLOYED
IN the dry goods establishment OF James VI Carr
Of Allegheny, appeared at the Mayors Office
and preferred an information against a woman
named Martha Grinder, residing in Cav allev
near River avenue, Fourth Ward, ALLEGHENY.
charging her with murder, and administering
poison with intent to kill.
Ar. Caruthers alleges that OF Tuesday even
ing. June 9th last. bis wife, Mary O. Caruthers
was invited and did take tea with Mrs Grinder
who resides next door 10 him, and that shortly
after she returned to her home she was taken
With violent purgins and vomiting, which so
Frustrated her that she was confined TO her bed
The next day, however, she partly recovered
When be took her 10 the country for the purpose
OF recuperating her health He returned inme
diately. and on Friday eveing following also
took supper at Mrs. Grinders house He too
was taken with similar spell, only OF more
| aggravated character. and was compelled to re
main In the house Tor several weeks, the physl-
clan in Attendance giving up all hopes of his re
covery on two occasions. Mrs. Grinder was.
during bis illness, apparently very kind and un-
ceasing in her attentions, frequently preparing
his food. In the meantime, however his wife
was telegraphed for, aud returned to the city
Through her ministration TO his disease he re-
covered although shattered in health and consti-
tuition.
On the 18th of July Mrs. Caruthers again
took supper with Mrs Grinder and was again
| taken suddenly i'll physician was sent for
left, remsrkng that she would soon recover
Mrs Grinder was requested to wait on her and
nurse her, which she did, and the lady, instead of
recovering grew worse The physician could
| not account for her sudden change but again
prescribed. and from that time became regular
| in his attendance. Mrs. Caruthers fingered until
| the LIST OF August, when she died. and was taken
| TO Newcastle for burial.
Mr.. Caruthers. after the burial of bis wife. re
4 81 H. -.
house and sold a portion OF his furniture 10 a
gentleman named Johnson On the 5th inst
| Mr.. Johnson took possession, and his wife
Amanda Johnson, visited the house for the pur
| pose - cleaning and preparing il for occupation
She worked away until noon, when Mrs Grinder
kindly invited her to dine with her After some
persuasion, Mrs. Johnson complied with her re-
| quest, went into the house and partook of a
| hearty dinner But few minutes elapsed after
she left the table until she was seized with spasms
which continued until late in the night Owing
to her excessive prostration, she remained in
Mrs. Grinders house for several days, during
which time she appeared to get better At
| length her own house was fitted up and she was
| removed Mrs Grinder continued in attendance
preparing her food. and the lady again became
worse.
Mr. Caruthers, hearing OF the case. called to
see Mrs. johnson, when his suspicious were
/ hfOukeu, huu nc lIlOImeu tue physician IN charge
of his belief that Mrs, Grinder was administering
| poison The doctor gave orders that Mrs John
son should not eat any food prepared by Mrs
| Grinder, but that il should be retained for exam
nation This was done. and chemical analy
sis made, which showed conclasivey the presence
of some mineral poison. Mrs. johnson is now
better, and will probably recover. Her husband
| has also preferred ali information, charging Mrs
Grinder with administering poison with intent to
| kill.
| Mrs. Grinder has heretofore borne an ire
proachable character, and is well known in both
cities where she has pursued the occupation of
nurse Tor many years. She is perhaps forty
years Of age and rather progressing in APP
pearance.
Ii is also alleged that during the past few
month. several persons have died at her house.
all in mysterious manner. We were unable to
learn the names Of but two, Mrs. Gallagher
and brother of Grinder
Mr. Caruthers is a native of Newcastle, where
he married Miss Mary f. Phillips, and only
removed TO the city a short time ago. Her body
will be exhumed, aud chemical analysis made
Of the stomach ia few days Mrs. Grinder was
arrested and committed for hearing on Monday
next at 2 o'clock.
The motives for such refinement of deviltry
If proven upon the woman, has not transpired .
and until she is proven guilty We should bold the
woman innocent. But it appears, as we have
stated, that an epidemic Of crime is raging at the
present time.