The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-07-19
Terms, by Mail, in Advance
MRS. WHARTON.
The Baltimore Poisoning Gases
Sketches OF Mrs. wharton's Early
Life-Signs OF Insanity.

The Baltimore Poisoning Cases
Sketches OF Mrs. wharton's Early
Life-Signs OF Insanity.
The Baltimore Sun of Monday says;
No event in the annals of crime in this
city ever stirred the emotions of wha,
is called the cultivated circles of society
as the extraordinary crimes charged
against Mrs. Wharton. The facts OIL
the case as they stand before the
public, are of themselves sufficiently
sensational, without the exaggeration
Of any highly-wrought description.
Those who have been accustomed to
regard crime as an accompaniment OIL
rude and vulgar lite are astounded al
the information that the educated and
refined walks of life have been invaded
by the arrest of one OF its members upon
charges 80 heinous, atrocious and appall'
ing, especially when considered in con,
nection with the suspicious which have
been engendered of antecedent crimes,
as to be too horrible for ready belief.
The charges read like chapter-in the
life Of the Borgias, or of the Bourbons
Of latter date, in an age when the
poisoning Of human life was regarded
as science and practised as an art.
Unlike, however, the crimes dictated by
State policy and craft, or the strong pas
sions of jealousy and revenge, the theory
OF Mrs. Wharton's case is that she was
influenced by motives entirely oil pecu'
mary nature.
1t is not just, however. to base any
assumptions upon the preceding deaths
of Mrs. Wharton's husband and her
son because there happened to be a
large insurance on the latters life, for
it is understood that the physician in
his case certified TO his death resulting
from typhoid fever; and as to the death
of Mr. Edward Wharton, her brother
in-law, at her house, and that of her
daughter two weeks after, three years
or 80 ago, the intimate friends of the
family of the latter declare there was
never any ground of suspicion in either
case against her.
1t is known that Mr.. Van Ness, one
Of the victims of the alleged poisoning,
wholly exonerates Mrs. Wharton from
all suspicious of guilt in his case, and
it is inferred that such was the nature
of his testimony before the grand jury,
and also that the vote ofthat body was
not unanimous upon the subject OF the
presentment.
The manner and bearing Of Mrs.
Wharton undec the terrible circumstan-
ces in which she is placed are said to
be perfectly composed. She sheds no
tears, utters no reproaches, but quietly
asserts her innocence of the charges
alleged. She appears like a woman
accustomed to discipline her feelings
and the exercise of perfect self-control.
Her daughter, however, though as
Stunning sprightly manner to encour-
age her mothers spirits, cannot con-
conceal her anguish OF mind. Mrs. W.,
since her first arrest, has been visited
BY her brother, DR.. Nugent, of Pittston,
Pa, and sister, but it is stated that
since the death of her husband his
family connections have held no init
mate relations with her.
ROMANTIC SKETCH OF MRS WHARTON s
EARLY LIFE.
The following comments upon Mrs.
Wharton's case, are from the Philadel-
phia Evening Telegraph:
Ellen G. Nugent was born in this
city about forty-6ve years ago Her
father, George Nugent, was most
prominent and successful merchant of
the day, doing large importing bust
ness OF fine goods, silks, etc. In char
acter, he was strictly upright and hon
orable, living as it were by set rule OF
firmness and justice to all. His daugh-
ter Ellen was by his second wife, he
having been previously married to a
Cuban woman, by whom he had two
children, both boys, one of whom is
now respectable and prosperous mem
Der of our community. There were
six other children by the second wife,
four sons and two daughters. Both Of
the daughters are married and living
in the city. Her mother, Mrs. Nu-
gent, has only been dead few years,
having outlived her husband, who died
about the time of the great California
gold excitement.
Of all Mr.. Nugent's children his
daughter Nellie was his idol. He Law
ished every attention upon her that
money could command. Especial pains
were taken with her education, and
she spent considerable time at Bishop
Doanes seminary, in Burlington, New
jersey. And now the real interest OF
our story commences. Nellie has
grown up under our pencil into beautl-
ful womanhood, and her mature char
scter is begin ming to determine ITSELF
The scene is the Gulf Mills House,
and the time is about twenty-five years
ago.
By the universal voice of those who
knew her at this time, she was certain
" most lovely girl. About twenty
years of age, of slender and graceful,
vet oueenly bearing, with magnificent
iet-biack hair of unusual length, dark
ewes, and fair complexion-such was
her physical beauty. But those who
new her we'll say that that was the
at of her attractions. ltwas her en-
e. 'ug manner, her winnil g ways, her
aga %, inspiring disposition that
ASH, sptlve at the chariot-wheei OF
ound { many Of her male acqualnt'
'upid so.
noes. ut this time that she be.
1t was abe a passion, that has ever