The New York herald., 1869-09-07
TEE LOWELL (irAss.) PIE POISONING CASE.

Examination Of Miss Louisa w. Miner,
Chnrgcd with Attempting to Poison DIR.
l.. w. Jenness-Intcresting Developments
Jealousy tho Cause Of the Act-The Per.
s0nal and Business Relations OF the Par.
ties-The Defendant "NObody's Child.'
LOWELL, Mass, Sept. 4, 1859.
The examination Of Miss Louisa W. Miner on
charge Of attempting to take the life OF DR.. Lemuel
w. Jenness, OF this city was commenced In the Po-
lice Court to-day before Judge Crosby At early
hour the court had filed to repetion quickly
by curious spectators of both sexes that It was
found necessary to adjourn the examination to the
large room. The case attracts intense interest In
this section OF country. People came from all ada
cent parts all sorts OF vehicles, bringing their
luncheon with them. Az on oil similar
occasions the audience was composed mostly
Of women. Ono determined dame appeared with
three children and her knitting work. The plaintiff
In this case is well known practitioner for twenty
years, and the defendant is widely known as nurse
OF skill and high temper. Jenness received diploma
from the Worcester Medical Eclectic Institute, and
has always been held In good estimation among his
tOwnsmen. lie has resided In Lowell ABOUT six
years. and has known Kiss Miner some twelve years.
first professionally.
The counsel in the case are Messrs. Stevens & An.
derson and T. Wentlorth for the Defence and Messrs
A. r. Brown and d. o. Allen for the governments
The indictment contains four counts, complaining
that Louisa W. Miner, on the Sth Of August last
attempted to take the life Of Lemuel w. Jenness
Stated briefly, the first count charges mIngling Of
with food with intent to kill; second charges
an attempt to commit the crime OF murder by
administering arsenic; third, charges q minglIng
OF poison unknown to the complaina
with food with intent TO Kill; fourth, charges an at
tempt to commit the crime of murder by admins
| tering certain poison unknown TO the defendant
The first and third counts refer 10 the arsenic alleged
| to nave been put In the pies
On the opening OF the case for the government it
appeared that Miss Miner haa been freauent visitor
the family OF DR.. Jenness for ten years or more
| not boarder, but visitor; that she had always
| thought as much OF the members OF the family as
though they had been or her own blood relation:
that she had nursed both Mrs. Jenness and the Doc
tor in sickness; that the family nad been very kind
to her, as much so az If she had really been one of
their number But out OF this 1t s hypohetcated tnat
as a motive for the deed with which she is charged
the defendant had been for some months In NOR
bid state Of mind, bordering on jealousy as II fear.
| ing taat some other person might suppant her in
| the directions OF DR.. Jenness and his family.
IL was also stated that one day In August the de-.
| fendant went to DIR. Jenness' house and said she
wanted to make some apple pies for the Doctor
me request was an unusual one and the domestcs
IN the house, knowing something OF the feelings OF
the defendant objected to her making the pies But
She was very particular in her directions wha,
should be done with the pies. One she directed to
be saved for the Doctor and two were TO be sent to
the iamiy at tue seaside. AT tea time the meal was
prepared by the domestic MISS Stevens and no pies
| were put on the table. The defendant asked why
they dld NOT eat one said she would get one. which
she did, and cut 1t into four pieces ana ate one Of
! them herself. The Others declined TO eat any but
| the man lJollns0n) 1nally ate piece.
When DR.. Jenness returned from the seaside the
domestlcs quietly informed him OF their suspiclons
| which he made iun OF and treated very lightly.
| Ihey persisted, however, In asking him not TO eat
| the pies. The Doctor thereupon thought he would
ascertain II there was anything in the matter and 40
he told the City Marshal the circumstances and that
Oicer went and took possession OF the pes ana mt
| Miss Miner in dnrance vie. The Doctor never saw
the PIES referred TO untl the City Marshal took them
into his custody. One OF them was Immediately e x.
amined and five grains or arsenic found in IT. The
sugar Mt his house and felt sick thereafter and Dr
Gage told him that he showed symptoms of arsenical
poisoning.
About four weeks prior TO this circumstance Miss
Miner was at Dr. Jenness' house. In her presence al
the tea table Mrs. Jenness asked the Doctor N he
would bring Miss Lenfes, young lady who had
visited the family, home with him the next morning
when ne went down town, as he proposed doing He
assented Upon this the defendant got up and eft
the table, and did not return, exhibiting some feel
ing. Early the next morning the Doctor got mn and
found defendant already up and she asked him If he
was going to bring home the lady above referred to-
lie said he was; TO which the defendant said .sYou
with threat that II he did she would ruin him and
his family. These threats she afterwards repeated
to the girls and SAID she would do N. AT another
time she repeated the threat, ana added to a Miss
SWEET, "lf II hadn't been for what you said to INC
waile in bed On tho morning Of the Gfth Of July.