The New York herald., 1869-03-13
TUE BRIDGEPORT (ILL.) HORROR.
An Entire Family PoisOncd-The Mother and
Two Children Dcad-The Cnse Involved In

An Entire Family Poisoncd-The Mother and
Two Children Dcad-The Case Involved in
Mystery:
The telegraph informed rs Of horrible case OF
poisoning at Bridgeport H., on the 9th inst. The
Chicago Tribune OF the 11th prints the following
particulars OF the mysterious AFFAIR."
II has been many month since Chicago, prolific
as It is Of startling events has been 80 thoroughly
moved In connection with any occurrence as Is the
with the public feeling In relation to the Bridge
port horror, wherein three persons were poisoned to
The tragedy was the theme OF general and widespread
comment and speculation yesterday, not less because
on account Of the utter mystery with
which 1t Is surrounded. No one can advance
theory the logic OF which he insists upon, and no
has yet onered opinion to which he Is willing
TO adhere IL Is expected that DR.. Siebe the chemist
who Is entrusted with the analysis Of the stomachs
when he shall have arrived at the character OF the
poison which did the fatal work; but even then we
shall only know the material agent Of death and not
the motive OF It's use. 1t is confidently expected
THAI arsenic VIII be found but who shall tell the
manner or the circumstances OF It's lodgmenti
Morris Fem, the surviving husband and father OF
the dead family WILL It 10 thought, entirely recover
from the effects OF the poison taken by himself. lie
was removed 70 the County Hospital on Tuesday
evening and his condition has steadily improved.
Last evening he was comparatively free from pain
and abe TO converse with apparent ease In response
manner in which certain marks upon his wrists,
indicative OF some kind OF violent contact were
HAVING frozen that hand lew days since. No con-
ndence was placed In the statement but the abra-
sons not believed to be material as In any way
connected with the poisoning. Fem evinces a per
dren and the poisoning OF himself and has steadily
refused 10 render any account whatever. 1t Is be-
lieved that on Tuesday evening soon after the dis
covery was made, he did make to the attendant
priest, believing that he had but few moments to
i've a full and complete confession, but the secret
must be forever buried beneath sacerdoal robes and
the word may never obtain an calculation Of the
mystery, from that source ut least.
Ii was at FIRST thought that extreme destitution
and threatened starvation might have driven Fem
and his wiic to mutually agree upon the fatal step,
that ample aud adequate provisions were found in
the house. including over half barrel OF nour nearly
q barrel OF sduerkrtW, and good supply OF meat,
and Industrious, and The neighbors agree IN the
statement that the family were adequately provided
for IN the way OF fool and clothing so IL could not
have been want or threatened starvation that
cidcnia poisoning has been wholly discarded for no
article OF food found In the house which revealed
the presence OF any deadly element. III
or both conointy, were guilty OF the deed and The
opy question N how TO determine the matter. The
police authorities intend TO arrest Fem upon the
charge OF murder as soon as his physical condition
snail render the step feasible, which Will be within
two three days II ne continues to improve at the
present rate. lndeed. he Is now virtually under mr..
rest as the eyes OF the police are exercising con-
etant supervision over the hospital. Ski,ful detec.
tves bending their energies to the task OF fer.
retnR out the mystery aud IL will be strange indeed
n BY the time the stomachs OF the deceased shall
have undergone chemical analyzation and the pre-
cise nature VI the poison discovered the veil OF OBJ
security which now surrounds the tragedy is not Ia a
measure removed. The scientific inyestiqations are
expected 70 consume al least three days at the end
OF which time inc Coroner viii hold an inquest,
probably On sunday next In the meantime the
bodies wM remain ~ the Dead House. s49#