The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-05-23
Ghegntetligleatlte4.
THE RUTH POISONING CASE.
A Very Highly.C0Iorrd Domestic
Tragedy.

Lawrence NhuISus) IFDUHt, uIt VI lUC
most mysterious character. His family
physician, DR.. Medlicott, has been COM
mitted TO Jail on the verdict ot.Iho UDr
oner's inquest, which haFges him with
pcrpetrating the murder, but adds that
reasonable doubt exists Of his guilt.
Mr. Ruth was found dead in his bed on
morning Of the Goth OF April last, having
retired, it was supposed, in ordinary
health, at about 10 O'clock Of the evening
before, which he had spent in playing
three games of chess with DIR. MGdlicott.
On the morning of the previous day he
had, it is said, n violent alteration with
his wife, charging her with undue
familiarity with DR.. MedliCOtt, u subject
upon which he had frequently remon.
.trated with her before.
I'll. ere had for some time been whisper
ings that Mrs. Ruth was somewhat too
aricntly admired by DR. Medlicott; but
whether these rum0rs arose from the in
discretion OF the parties, or the iealousies
Of the marital partners, is not clear To
deepen the mystery and apparent guilt Of
the parties, shortly before the death OF
Ruth, Mrs, MedlCOtt had died suddenly,
under circumstances which would have
provoked immediate investigation but for
the high standing other husband. She
had risen on the morning Of her death in
perfect health. At breakfast she used
the milk with her coffee as usual; but the
Doctor, contrary to his usual custom, did
not use it. The cat, which drank the re-
mainder of the milk, died us If by poison
Immediately. Dr. Newman, who, on the
same day, examined the body Of Mrs
MedliCOtt, Thought she had been poison.
3D." and promptly informed the County
Attorney Of his suspicious. DR. Med
licotts position, however, prevented any
inquiry, An insurance policy of 81, 900 on
his wile's lie was paid to DR.. MedliCott.
Despite Mr.. Ruth's suspicious OF DR..
Medlcotts familiarity with his wife, r the
parties continued on apparently friendly
terms, the Doctor frequently playing
chess with MIR. Ruth and seeing much Of
his wife, On the last day OF MIR. lnth's
life Mrs. Ruth was absent, visiting some
friends in neighbOring city. On the
next morning, Ruth not appearing, nor
answering to the loud rapplng on his
door, the door was burst open and Ruth
was found dead and with the appearance
If being poisoned DIR. MedliCOtt, as the
family physician, was summoned, and
came, as was testified, "pale and trembl.
ing so violently that he could scarcely
hitch his horse In front Of the house."
BY the time the inquest began, however,
he had recovered his COmposure and
"langlGd his watch chain with consider
able sung JrOid," until the following star.
Ting letter, found in the handwriting Of
the deceased ind near his bed, was read:
DAZZLING Tho dOCtor-I mean DR..
Medlicott-gavG me II qulnine powder
Wednesday night, April Goth The e!.
Iccts are these: | have terrible sensa.
ton OF u rush of blood 10 the head, and
my skin burns and itChes. | Lam bccOm.
Ing numb and blind can scarcely hold
my pencil, and cannot keep my mind
steady. PcBpiratiOn stands out over my
whole body, and l feel terrible. The
clock has just struck II, and took the
medicine at l0i =. n. | write this SO
that, II never sec you again, you may
have my body examined, and see what
the trouble Is. Goodbye, and ever re-
member my Inst thoughts were of you.
cannot see to write more. God bless
you, and we may meet In heaven.
"IOur loving husband,
|. NJ. Ruth.
Upon this "dying declaration Of the
deceased, MGdliCOtt was, OF course, held
for trial An analysis Of Ruths stomach
proved that morplia, IN poisonous guam.
titles, had been given him, SO skiliully
mixed with other pOisons us to mnsk Its
presence and create general confusion
and difficulty in any attempted analysis
Of its contents. The nature OF the other
poisons remain still undetermined. The
theory of MedliCOLts defense Is that Ruth
committed suicide, and made his dying
statement rs u deliberate ialsGhOOd to
punish his wife Tor her supposed intimacy
with McdhCOtt. bid.
Behind this mysterious narrative lies
still another. Mrs. Ruth, whose attrac.
tons seem to have provoked thiSldouble
crime, has been three times married, and,
80 fir as We learn, her former husbands
are still living. Her first husband wnS n
Mr.. De Spraugh.. Tho causes Of her
separation from him do not appear. She
then became tho vile of II French lawyer
named Voullaire, residing IN ST. Louis.
While living very unhappily with him she
became acquainted with Ruth, WHO board.
ed in the Same house, and was then EN-.
plOyed in the Post Office In 81. Louis Mr.
VOullaire suspected them OF undue init.
macy, which both parties denied. No
quarrel occurred until one night when
Voullaire met Ruth cscorting Mrs. VOul.
laire home The lady recognized VOul.
laire on the opposite side of the street mp
preaching them, and, fearing impending
mischief, she, with that kindness Of heart
and presence Of mind for which certain
order Of ladies are remarkable, banded
Ruth derringer with which 10 protect
himself against her husband Ruth fired
and wounded VOulairc in the shoulder.
For this he was arrested, and tried Ior
assault with intent to kill, hut was nc
quilted. Mr.. and Mrs VoulInirc brought
cross actions against each other for di.
vorce, and, upon the divorce being grant
ed, Mrs. Vonllaire Immediately married
Ruth. This affair created 70 much scan
dial in 81. Louis that Mr.. and Mrs. Rutl
deemed II necessary to remove to Kansas
where the new and double tragedy lol
lowed. The central character In this
three told drama is, Of course, Mrs Ruth
Had the death Of Mr. Ruth passed OIL as
quietly as that Of Mrs. Medlicott, Mrs
Ruth would, in n few months, have
found cher fourth" in DR.. MedliCott
What has been the extent Of her aCqth
csCence in the two apparent crimes by
which DR.. Medlicott has become widow
er and she widow? And must II no
he a peculiarly fastidious regard for the In
sttution Of marriage which cnuses th'
members Of these disiointed couples Il
commit repeated murders, in order tina
they may be free to join in lawful matri