The New York herald., 1869-02-27
TEE ALLEGED WIFE POISONING In FITCH.
BURG, MASS.

The Examination Of Robert ID. Pylxc ON the
Charge of Poisoning His Wife-Grcat Ex-
citemenf in the Comm unity-A Horrible
Case OF Human and Parental Dcpravity.
FITCHBURG Mass, Feb. 25. 1860.
The case Of Robert d. Pyke Appointment citizen
Of this town. who is charged with producing the
death OF his wife by the administration OF poison
came up in the Police Court this forenoon. 1t will
be remembered that Mrs. Pyke died about the mid
die OF January, and that the physicians IN attend
ancc were strong in the opinion that her death
was produced by poison, and that the deadly
potion was administered By her husband. The de-
ceased was several years the senior OF her husband
and had . daughter adelaide Evans) by previous
husband. with whom, as acknowledged by both par
ties the stepfaher Pyke had for series years had
criminal intercourse. This fact being admitted by
the accused the popular belief has been that desire
Of Mr.. Pyke and the daughter to live together was
probable motive for them to combine together to get
Mrs. Pykc out Of the way. The previous high stand
ing Of all the parties concerned and the pecu-
liarites Of the crime charged, has awak-
eneu the deepest interest In the community,
and upon the occasion Of the examination
OF Mr.. Pyke this morning the spacious Town Hall
was led to Its utmost capacity with spectators and
among the number were many ladies' Tie case was
tried before Judge Ware, District Attorney Rice ap-
pearing for the government and Amasa Norcross
and George A. Torrey for the prisoner.
Miss Evans, the daughter OF the deceased and one
Of the prominent parties in the case was the chief
witness called TO day, although there were some
half-a-dozen examined and cross-examined before
she took the stand. On account OF her unfortunate
situation she was allowed to be seated while CIV
ing in her testimony, and as the words OF
confessed guilt OF q criminal intimacy with
the prisoner fell from her lips there was
fnvn ain
SION OF pity by the hundreds Of listening spec
tators. Adelaide is far from handsome; but
there ssomething in her looks which indicates that
intelligence has been neutralzsd by sorrow, and
that II she has been actually guilty OF couDtenancng
murder she has been but the plastic and pliabe ma
terial OF one more accomplished. During the rem
dering OF her testimony the court room was as stn
as death, and the female spectators-old and
young strained every nerve OF the ear to catch the
almost inaud.bc sounds Of the sad story OF crime
which fell from the lips OF the unfortunate girl.
she said that she had always been with
her mother since her marriage to Pyke, and
in reply to the question II she had ever had any
criminal intercourse with her stepathcr she dropped
her head snd e ss % a In low and
jeced to the question or answer being recorded, on
the ground that II had no bearing tnts case. The
tho motive II such o ono was found TO exist, was
connected with the act OF alleged murder; or, In
other words, u Akrt. lyke coeu De GOt out OF the
way the prison srcould conabh with or marry the
witness Adelaide to better advantage than Ii his
wife was living. The Court did not sustain the OBJ
lection on the ground stated. but told the wit
ness that she was not obliged to answer airy
question which would criInnltc herself. Miss
In her favor, however but repeated that sho had
gagged IN criminal intimacy WIN her stepfather at
freQuen Intervals for the past sAxteen years. tho be-
ginning dating back TO year or more before PyKe
married her mother, and when she was scarcely
twelve years od. The renal nder OF her SAD story
fs.fa Iur yary lox xf l..p
mothers illness, and wherf shc was scarcely ex
pectcd 10 live from one liour to another. the pri
soner Pyke did not to exercise his control over
the unfortunate daughter. In reply to question OF
whether not her mother was Knowing TO the In
timacy existing between herself and Pyke she re-
eight years ago. but na up TO the hour OF her death
she never was sure thai, there was anything wrong.
Tue story Of Captain David w. Porter, or Bangor,
Maine, relative of Ts. Pyke through her first hus-
band someth ng OF tho discovery OF the inti-
macy between Adcl AIDE and the prisoner Ho tcstl-
daughter Adelaide; thai he found her In condition
likely to become q mother; that Pyke adverse to
convcrslng ab0h the natter but by repeating Qucs-
tlons 10 MIN no saId nnay tnat she had seen doc
tor about the natter and that he would write to the
captain about H. but he received any letter; he
Advlade's condition previous to her death. On tho
crosse ninaton the witness states that he had
eeeu not lng to indicate that Mrs. Pykes death was
caused 'Sy any act OF ner husbands.
Mrs. flza Adams Of East titchburg one Of the 1rst
witnesses called. said that she had known the de-
pr esen at her house % the time or her DEATH during
Ter acquaintance with the deceased shc general
AZ healthy, although she might have occasonally
complained OF feellns unwclli on the evening previ.