The union Democrat., 1867-11-02
Murder BY Poi>onta. in Maripesa


Murder BY P.isontagin Msripe.a,
The Herald of last evening gives the follow.
ins synopsis Of circumstances that tend L.
inculpate the accused;
\ most astounding affair has occurred in
Marinosa country. James W. Scale. ESQ
an old and prominent citizen at that place,
died very suddenly en- the night of the 3oth
Of September las. a> was supposed at the
time. of raraiy,is Deceased was hurried
without post morte@ examination. although
there were vague suspicious of foul play.
these sn nspiciun> were so greatly >tteng brned
hy soms things disc ,ysred after the uriai ns
IL demanl Investigation. S0me fv" daN>
after the inral "f NJ Scale. 'he luly MAS
eshumei by the Coroner. nr Turner, and
the stomach taken out hv several members al
the medical profession. The neccs>atv chemi
cal agents fnr ana wing the contents of the
stomach no; being nc.e>sihle there. they
were sent for az San Francisco. O, their
arrival, nrs. Turner Bedford and Smile on
Wednesday night lasr. proceeded ~ ANA, ~
the contents "f tha stomach when prn~~;c
acid was found on four separate and d!Stiuct
tests This discovery 81 strongly confirmed
the previous presumption that poison had been
administered and that that poison was pru>>i'
acid. that warrants were immediately issued
for the arrest of the suspected parties. The
suspected parties wCra sea e : wife. who Is
regarded as the belle of Mariposa county, and
is only 10 years of age, and SwaGey. editor
of the Mariposa Gazette. The evidence against
these two was so strong that Il letter, received
Yesterday, in this city. states that the jury
charged both with murder in the first degree,
and they were sent to iail. no bail being ad.
mitted Seals wife gave him some Hamburg
tea tn drink and few minutes afterwards
he was deal man II Is suppose that she
attempted twire befare to poison him. but
gave him ton strong doses, az he vomited each
time previous to the third and last, when she
gave him medicine. A bottle that contained
prussic acid. was found in the privy of her
residence. In the room of Swaney, was
found bill for prussic purchased in this city.
Upon being questioned, Swaney acknowledge
ell to having purchased prussic acid in Stock
ton, but said he intended to take it himself.
but unon further questioning, could not tell
what deserse he desired it for, and said he
had dropped the bottle, but upon being taken
to the place he mentioned, no bottle could be
found. A short time since. the wife Of
Swaney died suddenly, about ten days after
child birth. when she was considered in no
danger and grave suspicious arc entertained
regarding her death. An improper intimacy
between Swaney and Mrs. Scale has long
been suspected in Mariposa. 1t is now the
intention to examine the body of Mrs. Swa-
npv. 10 ascertain the cause of her Death
Stockton Independent.
In addition to the above We learn the fol
lowing particulars from the Mariposa
MH: Some five DAYS after the burial
of Mrs. Scale the body was cxhumed ly the
Coroner, Dr. Turner. and the stomach taken
out by several members Of the medical pro.
fcs>ion The necessary chemical agents for
analvzing the contents Of the stomach not be-
ing accessible here, they were sent for belnw.
On their arrival. Drs Turner. (Coronrrl.
Bedford md Smile, On Wednesday night last
proceeded to analyze tie contents of the
stomach, when pru>sic acid was found on four
separate and distinct tests. This discovery
So strongly confirmed the previous presump-
ton that poison had been administered and
that that poison was prussi acid, that warrants
were Immediately issued for the arrest of the
suspected parties. The persons accused W re
arrested early Thursday morning and brought
before Mr. Justice McNicar for examination
on application Of counsel for the State, the
examination vas continued until yesterday at
l0o'clock. A. NJ At that hour the examina
ton commenced, hut will NOT. probably, be
concluded before this evening.
Tue LArEsT.-We learn the following par
ticulars of the examination from gentle
nan Just arrived from Mariposa. The evi-
dence against Swaney and Mrs Scale was
circumstantia', but very strong. The follow
ing Is synopsis of the facts. \ bill FOR
prussic acid was found in Tie street of Mari
fosa, from 1Inlden's drug store. Stockton.
to Swaney. When questioned about il hv
committee. lie FIRST denied, but on being con
fronted with the bill. admitted having hou -ht
the pp'srn. stating that it was fnr his own use.
"a medicine and that in bringing it from
:, c Express Office. the h1x fell and broke the
lotie to u eres. lie said that lie " then kick
it To hell." Subsequently, the bottle was
Sound in his pri,v. Ms. S. ie'> father ,es
led that Scale was apparently in excelier'
health two hours hei"re his decea$o. A Ia
,ly testified that Swancv came ia her house tc
borrow 4 work on chemistry she did nos
have it, but told him where he could get II.
The book was produced II; the exam nation.
Each of the accamplices we're bound in the
penal sum of $4,000 10 appear before The grand
jury. Mrs Scale i, out on bail. Swaney AT
the advice of his friends went t. prison. They
believed his person to be safer there than At
large.
PUBLIc DEsT STATEMENT FOR OCTOBER lST-
The ftlluwins is the October statement of the
public deht
Debt hearing cin 81 i5. .lsI 1880
Rearing currency 46i .0T4 CSC. 90
Naipl sd debt not presented for payment Is 1 56sO0
Debt bearing M nniuter,st.....-.. Stl 1t4S.i. co
Fractional currency ..........-... q. .S64, 1l3S.