The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-29
THE DORCHESTER POISONING.
OF the COrOner's
Inquest.
Remarkable Goodness Of the Accused Anxious
Spectators and Exciting Incidents-The
Druggists Testimony-Who Sold the
Arsenic "A Sensible Verdict
More Work for the
Grand Jury.

An adjourned session OF the ofriclal investg auon
regarding the hitherto mysterious manner by which
arsenious acid was administered to Jane Ann An
thony, the coored woman whose tragic death by
poisoning was depicted in the HERALD OF Sunday,
was held at Portchester, Westchester county,
yesterday afternoon. AS the protracted in
quest was known to be drawing near
Its termination the excitement which has
existed in the neighborhood for many weeks
past became intensified, so that long before tho
hour set apart for the continuation OF the inquiry
before Coroner Meeks and a jury the spacious hall
In which the examination has been from time
TO time conducted was taken possession of by
q numerous assembage, among them being
cloud OF colored people OF various ages ana null
tiplicity Of shades As the only important witness
remaining to be examined was the drug clerk who
compounded the prescription which was subse-
quently 'dOctored" with arsenic, and which the
mother OF the deceased swore had been obtained at
the drug store by her sonn-aw,
GREAT ANXIETY WAS EvINcED
to know whether mis- testimony would tend to still
further implcate the woman, Henrietta Knapp. as
being the murderess Of her own offspring. Having
noticed that the suspected female had not presented
herself in the room the Coroner at once despatched
q constable to her house, from whence he returned
after a lapse Of about half an hour, with the
accused party. who, with measured tread ana
serene exterior walked through the gazing throng
to that portion of the apartment occupied by her
friends and acquaintance Of the African persua-
sion. The following is IN subs lance, the additional
evidence elicited:-
Henry Clay Roberts, having been sworn, deposed
that he was druggist by profession and
resided in Portchester; has had charge OF
Mrs. Snifien's drug store Tor the past eight
months; every prescription compounded was num-
bered and afterwards pasted In book expressly for
that purpose. This book having been produced the
cuyaln cl-a,l Inv fhn af 20 InrU m
read the prescriptions put on the 9Th inst,
which he did, stopping, however at the one which
had been prescribed Tor the deceased. He was then
handed
THE vERITABLE BOTTLE
in which he had placed the mixture, and, having
compared the lapel with the original order. pro-
nounced the same which he had written and hanued
to one OF two colored women who brought it to the
1t VIII be remembered that Henrietta Knapp.
mother of the deceased swore positively that James
Anthony. her son-in-law, took the prescription TO
tie druggists.
On being further questioned by the foreman Of the
jury the witness stated that the
TWO COLoRED WOMEN
called for the medicine between three and Ave
O'Clock In the afternoon OF the day named above.
When asked to describe the parties VINO obtained
the remedy witness replied that one OF the women
Wss very das aad G OF middle age ne
VINO deposed on Saturday that the parties drank
A GLASS OF SODA WATER
before presenting the prescription. In answer to
question by the foreman. the witness stated that he
never sold arsenic or other poison TO any person ex
II. He also added that even under these c1rcum.
stances he had only sold arsenic twice since he came
to the village eight months since. Certain he was,
however, that no cOlOred woman had ever obtained
Arsenic In the store where he was engaged.
At TINS stage OF the examination the witness was
requested by the foreman to look carefully on the
colored faces in the and say whether he conld
recognize any which he had seen in the drug store.
After scrutinizng intently the
MANY CoLoRED COUNTENANCEs
before him the witness paused and, pointing to a
sadde-cOored female, intmated that he was not UNI
familiar with her features. A look OF DIS
appointment was Immediately visible In
the faces OF the spectators, since the
woman, although she stood by the side OF the
latter. In the next Instant however when the eyes
OF the witness became fixed on Henrietta Knapp, o
universal sigh OF relief might have been heard pre-
cedlng the almost GREATNESS exclamation,
"HE HAS GOT HER %
In order to aid the process OF Identification the
accused was ordered TO stand up and take or her
shawl, which she did with the same lmpudent COOL
ordeal. The witness, however. did not absolutely
identify Knapp as the woman who got the medicine
although he was certain that her complexion, height
and appearance cOrrespOnded with the party who
obtained the prescription.
Mrs. Sniien, the proprletress OF the drug store,
was again placed on the witness stand, and
POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED MRS. KNAPP
as one OF the women who drank soda water and
had the prescription compounded in her store on
the 9TH inst This OF course destroys the last SUD-
that she had not entered the drug
store Indicated during the past four months.
After a few pertinent remarks by Coroner MeeKs
the Jury retired, and IN short time returned with
their verdict, setting forth that deceased had died
from poisoning, ana under circumstances which
warranted the holding or Henrietta Knapp VINO
was accordingly committed by the Coroner await
the action OIL the Grand Jury.