The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-27
A FiENDISH ACT.
Attempt to Murder Two Families BY Poison

Attempt to Murder Two Families by Poison
The town of South Windsor, Conn.,, says the
Hartford COurdnt was startled by learning that
the families of Mr.. Lester Dewey and E. Il. Pit
kins had been poisoned by eating candy which
came through the mail last Friday. Mr.. Dewey
received package of prize candy about 3
o'clock on Friday, and opening the same ate
two gum drops, and handed it to Mrs. Dewey.
She ate two or three, and turned out the con-
tents to discover the prize, which was trife
AS she did so she noticed the crumbs of candy
and considerable white powder in the bottom of
the box which looked like sugar. She wet her
finger and touched this and put it on her tongue
remarking that il tasted queer for candy. They
were just ready to ride out, and so giving the
children a taste OF one or two apiece the box
was put up.
This seems to have been great mercy; for
that white powder was arsenic, and If they had
eaten all the contents of the package no medical
skill could have saved their lives. The two
children who ate were boy fourteen and girl
thirteen years of age. After they returned from
their ride Mrs. Dewey began to complain of
pain in her stomach and bad feelings in her
head. Simple remedies were resorted to, which
had no effect. Her distress increased, and be.
fore long Mr.. Dewey began to feel sick. His
head was heavy; there was pain in his stomach,
and the perspiration started through every pore,
which is a symptom of arsenic poison. He
began to suspect something wrong, and took
small dose of gin, which so far counteracted the
poison as 10 vomit him. He now suspected
poison, and gave glass of spirits TO his wife,
which was the first relief she obtained.
Continuing to use gin, they succeeded in
throwing the candy out of the stomach. But
the quantity of arsenic Mrs. Dewey took upon
her finger was so large that she was prostrated,
and for two days has hovered between life and
death.
During Saturday Mr. Dewey learned that Mr.
Pitkins' family were in like condition. seven
being prostrated in that family. Two packages
came to Mr.. Pitkins' family and O valentine.
The valentine was postmarked Windsor Locks.
This clew was followed up, and the otIicials in
that office testified that woman mailed three
boxes and valentine at that Office on Thursday,
| the day before the poisoning.
1t is believed that the poison was sent by q
Mrs. Stiles, who formerly lived in South Wind
| sor, and manifested a very jealous disposition
while there. But it is difficult to imagine what
could have been the motive for this fendish
| work.
Mrs. Stiles was examined before Edmund
| Watson, Justice of the Peace, in East Windsor
| on Wednesday. The testimony of Lester
Dewey, of the physicians and others, including
| the postmasters who received and delivered
tie boxes was heard, and she was bound over
for trial in the sum of $25O0. Mrs. Stiles is a
tall fair-looking lady, about forty years of age,
| whom one would scarcely suspect to be crimi-
| nal She had no counsel at the examination,
but made statement, not under oath, that a
| week ago Monday gentleman came to her back
door and gave her the packages and letter
requesting that she should mail them. She
thought it strange, but found note inside say
ing that the reason of the request would be
known hereafter. She made other statements
| which were somewhat confused; saying that she
! could not think what il meant, and had no rea
son for doing anything of the kind herself; tha
she had no poison of any kind, and never had
| She repeatedly remarked that she wondered
at il" and asserted that there was five dolla
bill in the bundle of packages to pay tn,
| postage.