The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-06-11

Startling Wickedness OF Girl f.!
Years OId-She POisons n Babe and
Fires a Dwelling House. -r d.
From the Syracuse Courier, May 81
We record this morning one of the most
startling and vicious acts in the annals OF
crime. 1t is no less than an alleged at
tempt on the part of girl named Mary
Schame to poison child only three years
old, and then fire a dwelling house in
which she was engaged as servant. ..-.
Last Thursday, Mr.. Freeman. B. Edger-
ton, a most worthy farmer residing about
four miles from Onondaga HILL being iii
want of a house servant, went to the poor
house to obtain the needed assistance
Arriving there, the keeper. Mr.. Warner,
pointed out to him Mary Schame, whom he
had lately taken from the Home in this
city. The girl is. only eleven years and
seven months old. Mr.. Edgerton con
versed with and endeavored to induce her
to accompany him to his home, where she
would be fed and clothed and kindly treat
ed. She positively refused to go. AS the
offer was an excellent one, the keeper, Mr..
Warner, was justified in compelling her
to CO. Mary was put into the wagon by
main force, and Mr.. E. started for home.
She swore that if Mr.. Warner did not al
low her to return she would burn the Poor
house at the first opportunity. Turning
to Mr.. T. she vowed she would kill his
children, and if she could do it in no other
way she would poison them Reaching
Mr.. Els. home, Mary's anger was some
what Modified, and on introducing her to
Mrs. E. she said she was satisfi ed and liked
her situation. e.. l.s. .
Nothing unusual occurred until Friday
In the forenoon of that day as Mrs. Edger-
ton was cleaning the shelves of her cup
I'd oh Of y
of lead. Mary enquired what it was,
and Mrs. 4. told her it was poison, and
that she must not touch it. A few hours
after little boy only three Years old COM
planned of being sick. His mother paid
no attention to him at first, thinking that
it was nothing more than a common all
ment. The child, however grew rapidly
worse, and finally was taken with cranp-
ing, which eliminated in vomiting. After
this the boy recovered and nothing more
was thought of the matter until the after
noon of the same day. AS Mrs E. was al
work about her house, she perceived q
strong smell of smoke, and was soon con-
WINGED that the house was on fire. Pro
ceeding to the cellar, she found that boards
and kindling had been deliberately piled
on the cellar bottom and then set on fire.
The flames were just reaching the floor OF
the first story Fortunately the fire was
discovered in time, and it was at once
easily extinguished. On looking around
for Mary, it was found that she had fed.
The suspicious of the family were now
thoroughly aroused, and for the first time
they began to think Mary had endeavored
to carry her threats of poisoning and burn
ing into execution. On searching for the
package of lead. it bore evidences of hay
ing been opened and portion distracted.
On looking into the milk cup from which
the little boy drank, traces of lead were
unmistakable. The mix in the bottom
of the cup was quite thick with the sedi-
ment.
Measures were at once taken for the ar
rest of this child poisoner and house burn
er. We understand she was taken into
custody at the Home in this city, Satur-
day afternoon. She denied before Justice
Corbett all knowledge of the poisoning
She was committed to the cells, where
she will await the action Of the Grand
Jury.