The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-01
M:SE1s, FEUDS.
A Strange Case Of Poisoning In Contra Costa
County, Gala Miner Mixes Siryc:,nine la
the Eafab,es of His Enemy.

COunGys Gala Miner Mikes Siryc.slnc la
the Enfab.es of His Enemy.
From the Oakland tCal) Transcript Sent, l2l
terrible case Of poisoning, said to have occurred
on ranch about five miles front Antioch Contra
Costa county, was related to US on Saturday by
gentleman who came from Antioch on Friday night.
IL appears That German, whose name Is not given
by our Informant, arrived at Antioch on Wednesday
and there met a friend who owns the ranch where
the affair occurred. The German had about one
thousand dollars with him, mostly In drafts upon
Wells, Fargo IL Co., which he informed his friend he
intended investing in piece Of land somewhere and
setting down 10 farming. The owner OF the ranch
offered his property Tor SALE ana the proceeded
10 the place for the purpose OF examining It, and II
possible make trade. On arriving at the ranch,
the proprietor, who lived alone, prepared supper
and the two sat down to the meal. tho
German was taken with fearful pains in
the stomach, and the owner, fearing poison had been
mixed with the hour with which he used 10 make
the bread they had eaten, proceeded TO a closet in
which he had left that morning twelve bottles Of
strychnine and counted the bottles Finding that
four We're gone his suspicious were confirmed, and
he at once hitched up his team. and helping the
cure medical assistance. They lad got but a short
distance on tho road when the proprietor began to
feel the same symptoms, ana In short time was
suffering the same excruclatlng tornents expe.
rienced by his companion Some time during the
night blacksmith, who keeps q shop on the road
about two miles from town, was awakened from his
sleep by hearing the two men utering the ter
rble cries 81 PAIN and, gong out found them In the
bottom OF the wagon writing In paroxyisms OF SUI.
1ering. lie mounted the wagon and drove the team
into Antioch, where DR.. Howard was called upon to
attend them. The proprietor OF the ranch was re-
leved ana soon placed IN lair way 10 recover, but
the unfortunate German died about two O'Clock on
Tuesday morning. short limo before he died he
recovered consciousness and sufficient ease
from suffering as to be able to make q
will by which his money was LETT to a
brother now living IN Germany. priest had been
seen for who upon his arrival administered the last
consultations to The dying man. The authorities had
Ia the meantime been notified OF the strange occur.
renee, and at an early hour officers were despatched
to the ranch to examine the premises. The salt
upon the table from which the men had eaten their
slppers, was found TO be thoroughly mixed with
stychnne, and quantities OF poison were also found
In the -four, IRON which the owner Of the ranch had
made the bread they had eaten. A post-mortem ex-
animation was made on the body OF the dead man
and the stomach was removed and taken to San
Francisco by Dr.. Howard Tor the purpose OF having
Its contents ana zed. As to the solution or the
mystery our informant states that man named
Brown, who owns ranch ncighboring to the one
al which the case occurred, has for some time been
on bad terms with his nelghbor-the man who mar
rowly escaped being poisoned 10 death. Upon this
being diyuigcd the officers proceeded to Browns
ranch and placed him under arrest. Witnesses
were subp9naed and an Inquest held on the body OF
the deceased but with what result We have not yet
been informed.