The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-09-05
The Bulftnbarger Poisoning Mystery
The Denouement and the End
Mrs. COIburm TriuIn II ftaantly
Acquitted.
Or. Vandeventer q Fraud and a
DeluSiOn.
The Curtain Falls on the Last Act.
Especial Correspondents of the Enquirer. !


The last act in this grand life drains
has been performed, the denouement ha:
been reached, the curtain has failed up
on the stirring scenes presented, ard the
characters who have figured so promi
nchtly before the public are about to
disappear, probably forever, from the
public gaze. Mrs. Angeline Colburn has
been on trial for the murder of her for.
mer husband, Mr.. Peter Buffanbarger, by
means of arsehical poison, administered
in small doses at frequent intervals, and
after thorough investigation of all the
facts and circumstances connected with
the case, the defendant has been trium
pbantly acquitted by the Court before
whom the preliminary examination has
been made, without shadow of suspi
cion resting upon her character.
This morning,upOn the opening of the
Court, Mr.. John T. Chapman, of the
counsel for the prosecution, announced
that after consultation with his col.
leagues it had been determined by them
to proceed with the argument of the
motion to dismiss pending upon the ad
journment of Court last evening.
Mr.. Rankin then arose and addressed
the Court in lengthy argument. He
was followed by Mr. Chapman, and the
closing argument was then made by Mr..
G. N. Olds for the defense. Immediately
upon the conclusion of Mr. Old's re.
marks Justice Crabb delivered his decis-
ion, sustaining the motion to dismiss the
case.
THE DECISION OF THE COURT.
81 always prefer to have all the evi.
dence in case before me before decid.
ing upon its merits, to that of consider.
ing motion to dismiss, especially to one
of as much Importance as this one pre-.
sents, But the motion is before me and
must be disposed Of; and in deciding
upon it the Court is fully aware of the
duty and responsibility resting upon it
duty due not only to the public, but to
the accused; and it's conclusions, what
ever they may be, must be based upon
or drawn from the evidence produced in
the case, and not from what gentlemen
may have said outside of or foreign to
that evidence.
"Now, without going into discus
sion of the testimony, l would here re-
mark that it shows this fact, that arsenic
was found in the viscera of Peter Buffen-
barger by Prof. Wormley, oey ond a
doubt But, beyond that, does it show
facts sufficient to authorize an examining
Court to hold the defendant to answer
before the Court of Common Pleas? l
am of the opinion that it does not, un-
less tile Court is to presume that the re-
lationship of ths accused as wife to Buff
fenbarger is to be taken as sufficient evil
dence Of her guilt.
"The motion to dismiss is Sustained" !"
4 PATHETIC SCENE.
The scene in the Court room upon the
announcement by Justice Crabb of his
decision to dismiss the case was one Of
the most stirring and toiching charac
ter. A universal shout of eXultation
burst from the throats of the assembled
multitude who crowded every part of the
Courtroom, and swelled upon the trem-
bling air in diapason of sweet sounds.
Ladies sprang to their feet and waved
their handkerchiefs; gentlemen arose
and swung their hats, and a scene Of
wild confdsion occurred A general
rush was made for the acquitted lady, land
congratulations were bestowed and d
handshaking indulged in, grateful to re-
ceive but painful to experience Tears
were visible in the Soft eyes of the ladies,
and even stalwart strong-hearted men
were seen to weep. No one that !. have
yet seen or heard of here believes there
was the slightest ground in fact for the
cruel charges that have been brought
against this innocent lady by one or two
bad people, With the expectation of gain
OF influenced by motives Of malice or
revenge.
THE DEFENSE.
A remarkable feature Of the case, and
one which renders the acquittal Of Mrs.
Colburn doubly satisfactory to herself
and friends, is the fact that not single
witness or solitary syllable of evidence
was adduced on behalf of the defense.
This was not because there was 10 ev-
idence which could be produced, for
counsel for the defense had made the
most ample, systematic and thorough
arrangements to meet any exigency
which might aIise..