The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-05-30
4 LUCKY LARCENY.
BY A LAwl EH.

other u sisters son. These two were his
next of kin, legally entitled, in case he
died intcstote, to inherit his property.
Edward Horton, his deceased sisters
son. was decidedly his favoritc and to
him the old gentleman resolved to give
the bulk Of his estate
Charles Courtney, the other nephew,
had inherited handsome fortune from
his father, and moreover, by his uncle's
will. was entitled to succeed to that left
to his cousin, in event of the latter's dying
without issue.
Old MIR. Courtney was one Of the halest
of bachelors, when it was suddenly an
nounced. not only that he was dead, but
that foul play was suspected. \ post
mort,m examination demonstrated that
he had fallen a victim to poison and it
was aivcn out that the hand that had
administered it was that of his favorite
nephew. The public mind was naturally
both surprised and shocked
1t was not until Edward Horton had
been fully committed for trial for his
Uncle's murder, that | was retained to
get up the defence.
His own statement was, in substance,
thi, "A physician had been called in to
see Mr. Courtney on the occasion of some
apparently triaing illness requiring some
simple remedy, for which prescription
was written aud handed to the prisoner.
to have made up This the latter had
carried to well-known, competent drug
gist, who had put it up in his presence
The medicine consisted of three white
powders each folded in scrap of paper,
and the whole enclosed in single wrap.
per. They were to be administered at
intervals OF an hour and had remained
continuously in the prisoners possession
till the first was administered, which was
done 10y himself Immediately upon his re-
turn from the druggists. Mr.. Courtney
grew rapidly worse and when at the ex-
piration Of an hour, sccoua powder was
administered, the symptoms became so
alarming that messenger Yves despatch
ed for the physician, who, on his arrival
declared that the patient was suffering
from the effect of poison. AN examina-
tiOn Of the remaining powder disclosed
the fact that it was pure GrSontc. 1t was
too late for any antidote to be available
and in lessghan an hour death had relieved
the sufferer. An autopsy of the body,
and an analysis Of the contents of the
stomach left no doubt as to the cause
of death. The presence of arsenic, in
necessarily fatal quantity, was indicated
by every known chemical teet 1t was
further admitted by the prisoner, that he
alone had access to his Rncle's apartment,
or had handled the medicine from the
time twas compounded by the druggist,
till the coming of the physician, after the
second powder had been taken.
The druggist, who was known to be
man ofextraordinary caUtion, and thor
oughly skilled in his business, was ready
to swear that by no possibility could any
mistakehaye occurred in putting up the
medicine.
TO Aake matters worse, n transpired
that the amicable relations between the
uncle aad'the nephew had beer somewhat
disturbed Of late, by reason of an attach
mcnt Of the latter, disapprove3 by the
former, wh0Shad gone so far as ITO threaten
to change his will, unless his wishes were
ISopc'ioh'
Wh0 was in company with you from
the time youreceived the medicine till
you retunned to your uncle's hoQse ?" !
asked the prisoner, desperately cropping
after something to afford ray Of hope
No snc," he answered, '4but my
cousin Charles, whom met near the
druggists and who accompanied. me in"
drew from Edward the fact that
Charles saw the medicine put up. walked
with him little way; then wont back
for something, Edward awaiting shis re-
turn; then walked arm in arm nearly
Fhome, when Chatles left also Telaind- |
ed Edward that, his uncle being dead, I
T he also should die childless Charles |
would inherit the,Whole estate
" He did it ! he did it p the young |
msn cried in paroKysm Of excitement,
100 earnest to be counterfeit. " lie went |
out to get the poison when he left me
waiting He put it up to resemble the
druggists parcel, for (which he substhn-
ted It as we went along Yillain-I |
know it now | carried the parcel ia fhe 7
right pocket of my ove1eoat, and it was
lon that side he walked1'
j was seated in my olfce on the day
proceeding that fixed for the trial indui |
.ging in anything but sapguine expeeta-
tions. whoa a tap at the door announced
n visitor. II was detective whom / had |
employed.