The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-20
THE POISONED FAMILY,
The Maryland Mystery Stil1
UnsOlved.
Description Of the Scene When the Dying Ars.
Arnold and Her SPECIFICS Children Were
Discovered-Eighteen Hours Struggling
Against Death-The Daughters State
msnt-Calling for PA" = An
other Theory Put Forward.


BUaKITTsvILLE, Nd, March 10. 1877.
/ left Frederick CITY this morning at an early
hour, and my road to this place lay through .
beautiful, exceedingly fertile country, nled with
evidences OF thrift and careful intelligent hus
bandry. drive of some three hours found me en-
terng this little country village, which lies night &C
the foot or the South Mountain, and has but single
street. upon either side OF which are ranged
the neat and commodlOus residences OF some
four hundred thrifty Maryland farmers; men who
have farms near by and have just created this little
village so as to be neighb0rly. The place seemed
deserted and everything about seemed to take
gloomy aspect, although the day bright and
beautiful as May. had driven almost through the
town before the gentleman VINO had come over
from Frederick with me pointed out the place where
we were TO stop, when was neat frame house, SIT
ting hard out upon the street, surrounded with an
ample yard and plenty OF large trees for shade In
summer. 1 drew up in front Of It and everything
seemed as still as death around II; the wind scarcely
sighed whisper through the leaness branches VI
the tree to which tied my horse gentle rap at
the door by the gentleman who came over with me
brought response from the INSIDE ana he being
well known we were Invited in and d moment alter
stood within the abode Of the stricken Arnold
family-or which ! telegrapned you last NIGH
with the evidence OF That shocking tragedy before
THE ROOM OF DEATH.
There lay the mother, shrouded for the grave,
already the victim or poison she had consumed,
while In the room above the five children, two
OF wnom are still struggling between life and death
with the same secret Toe That eat out their mOnerS
life. There, too, was the s0rrow-stricken husband,
bowed ana almost heart-brUken by the terrible
scOuige that had so mysleriOusy come upon MIN,
and kind neghoOrs and relations, all weeping at the
awful calamity that had so suddenly stolen
In upon this once happy family. The scene was one
that DeRgars description; no tongue could tell or
pen write It's awful solemnity. Alter few moments
street to find some one whose heart Was not break
ing with sorrow to tell me something OF what mad
at the house Immediately alter the discovery OF the
dying family was made and he Said
| presented when entered the house. 1t was the
| most sOrrowful sight ever saw in q room.
THE MOTHER STRUGGLING WITH DEATH.
Upon the first floor we found the mother lying In
the very last agonies of the deatn.struggle, aud
Wnen We'll. and now Utterly speecniess, VINO ap-
peared dangerously ILL., Out in the Kitchen the eld-
sa s MD "a it,
| tie infant, and both exhibiting signs or dam
"aSS nes In Ddy upSsGG room rsrs
eleven years. respectively. apparently past all
recovery speech ess ana unable to recognize any
the scene none of the family were able to utter an
Intelligent sentence IN relation 10 their condition,
ana the mystery that hung about the terrible
tragedy ADDED thousand fold to the sorrow that
came so suddenly upon us. While we were stand
ing Mortified at the scene Mrs. Arnold died, thus
adding to the sorrowfu sight q hundred fold and
cutting or all hope OF the discovery OF any facts
That would tend to solve the awful mystery.
| The medical assistance that summoned at
| once turned their whole attention the children
! be done Tor them was DONE
| "How long do you think they had been affected
| before fOundfn said l..
| sIhey were discovered said me- ''Sunday after.
noon. ana 1t Is believed that they had been suffer-
ing at least eighteen hours but 1t is all conjecture:
| No one knows anything about 1t, and am afraid
| the mystery viii never be solved"
1.-THE ram,,y ware a1FrT s paMIY
'oh, yes; Mr.. Arnold was one Of our best citi-
zens, and his family was , a charming household;
Arnold was an estimabe lady and much beloved"
'.What is the theory OF the poisoning among the.
:'They cannot tell, sir. Some think it was poison
matter used to color the tea which they drank
s snyaRs sGEs the but no one Knows
| THE ELDEST DAUGHTERS STATEMENT.
She says that lust after supper on Saturday even.
Ing ma began 10 feel SICK, and Immediately after all
GA them n1 ie m SICK nS nain rney
sible and could NOT, not speak or raise an
alarm she then EN- related with with fhdke simplicity
her children struggling with the secret foe
that sought their lives. she could not give any
satisfactory account OF the origin OF the sickness,
and could only tell how they longed for 'pa, when
tue first pangs OF the poison came upon them, ana
how they all gathered around .'ma' for shelter
| when she was worse than all the rest. The
simple story Of the little girl was deeply Affecting,
! but unsatisfactory IN relation TO the poisoning.
| NO CLUE TO TIKI OF THE POISON.
! Taking this case, with its surroundings and
mournul drapings. in has no counterpart In ,he
nails of mysterious occurrences IN this country, and
| from close and patient investigation OF ali the
! facts attanable am forced to say that there no
fact yet a1duced that throws the least light upon
! the painful occurrence. There Is something so
! strange and unnatural In the thought that whole
1 family living In the very midst OF a country
| town OF several hundred inhabitants sh Ould be
| accidentally poisoned so badly that no sign
! OF distress could be given to the next door neigh
| bor and more, chat for eighteen or twenty hours
| they should remain alone struggling with Death
| without friendly call from some OF their relatives
or associates that lived within a stones throw.
| But find no shadow OF suspicion resting upon any
/ 10 4 IonG
| have aught besides the work OF mere accident
| WERE THEY POISONED FROM THE STOVE?
The first theory that was advanced In relation to
the poisoning 10y tea seems to be somewhat shaken
the tea, ana yet are, and have been, worse tnan
any OF the rest OF the children. The general theory
now advanced Is that the gas from the stove WAS
the poison taken; but what the true facts In the
Arnold was Tits afternoon buried without post
mortem examination or chemical analysis being
made. The boys, who are vet
UNCONSCIOUS ana may not survive, may, when
they able to speak. throw some light upon
tine mysterious and sorr0wfu occurrence, but until
then nothing can said that Will tend to clear up
the mystery. The greatest excitement prevails
through all this country, heightened by the terrible
uncertainty that shrOuds the sOrrOwful event, and
the bereaved husband and father, who was aWay
from home when this sudden and crushing be-
reavement came upon him. has the sympathy OF all
who know OF the SAD occurrence that draped his
household In mourning.
A.-"Come WHAT, Come May. Time and the
couragng and bny your Hats KNOxS, No 22 Broad
Spring style just introduced
A.-F0r n Fine md lcaaut Spring Hat Co
direct to the manufacturer ESPENSCHEID lis Nassau a.