The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-19
A FAMILY POISONED.
A Horrible and Heart IL end
ing Story.
A Wife and Five Children Found senseless in
Their Home-The Death Of the Woman
and Sad Condition ofths Children
The Poisoned Tea Supposed to
Have Been Bought

BALTIMORE, Nd, March Is, 1872
The usual Sabbath quiet of this charming Monu-
mental City was greatly disturbed yesterday evening
by the announcement that the entire family OF Mr..
Ezra Arnold one of the most prominent, wealthy
and esteemed citizens OF Frederick county, had
been poisoned, and that the wife was dead, while
the five children, ranging in age from five to
twenty years, were in insensible condition. The
news spread like ''wildnre, and created the most
intense excitement, for Mr.. Arnold was well known
and highly esteemed; and the interest increased as
the rumors were each time related, because IL was
Impossible to get the particulars, as the
residence Of the stricken family was nearly
twenty miles distant AS it was quite late when
the carrier arrived, and In almost speechless
fright told his story to the physician 10 whom he
had come for aid. The most fearful stories were
lated by the eager crowds that gathered to discuss
the terrible news, and 1t was almost impossible to
gain any authentic statement last night OF one OF
the most mysterious occurrences that have ever
transplred IN this country.
This morning the excitement seemed to have in
creased instead OF decreased. The widest stories
were related In reference to the manner OF the pol
sonng, and the source whence the fearful crime
emanated-if crime 1t was The stories that
set anoat by the Imagination OF the common herd
were as varied as the people that discussed the
sorr0wrul event.
RELIABLE REPORT.
Later In the day the more truthful and au-
thentc statements OF people from that
locality were substituted for those imaginative
tales and from one or the most intelligent of
these learned all ne or any one else not direct
from the painful scene knew OF the melan-
choly affair. 1t appears from his statement
that ON Sunday evening some OF the nelghbors
went 70 MI. Arnod's house for the purpose OF pay
Ing u VISIT and that upon rapping at the door no
response came save the cries or little enid within
their sight, who seemed seriously i'll and unab to
speak This aroused the suspicious OF the visitors,
and they entered the house only to witness scene
OF horror the terparJ OF which has rarely II
ever, been seen III this country.
A DYING MOTHER AND sENsELEss CHILDREN.
There lay the mother IN the very last agonies Of
the death struggle with all the evidences OF the
ribe suffering that follows poisoning depicted upon
her countenance, while around about her were her
offspring, all that were or her flesh and blood even to
the infant that gathered her breast strug
Cling with the terrible demon that was eating her
life away Each and all were insensible; not one
could command It's powers OF speech to tell what
had happened and while the terrified nelghbors
fearful scene before them, the mother upon whose
brow the death damp had long since gathered,
r3m es aG , and was free from the terrible
ATTEMPTS TO SAVE THE CHILDREN.
AS soon as Thought could be collected other neigh.
bors were called in, the best medical aid that
could be obtained IN Burkettsvle, little mountain
village OF some four hundred inhabitants by,
yet insenslble children that tender sympathy could
suggest. courier was at once despatched TO
ever since their arrival all that skill
and careful nursing could do for their recovery has
been done, and this evening comes the cheering
news that there is hopes Of the recovery
OF the children. But as yet there Is no solu-
tlon Of the mystery as to how or why the poison
able to talk much, and what they can say goes but
little way toward accounting for the terrible Oc-
currence that has caused such great excitement
and wrapped whole community In the deepest
gloom.
SUPPOSED TO HAVE DRANK POISONED TEA.
1t Is believed that the tea which was made for
supper on Saturday evening, which had been pur-
| chased at country store day previous, was
the vehicle through which poison was admins.
tered, ana portion Of II is IN tho hands
OF chemist, who Will submit 1t to q
| thorough analysis and determine the fact
whether or not 1t contains poison. No suspicion OF
foul play exists on any member OF the family for all
were equally affected by the poison, save Mr. Ar.
mold, who had left home for Baltimore with a
drove OF cattle day or two before the fatal
occurrence. He was Immediately summoned home
! and Is deeply sorrow stricken by the great
calamity that has befallen his heretofore happy and
prosperous household. The authorities have taken
the matter In hand and Will proceed to q rigid IN
vestgatOn OF all the facts and circumstances that
cluster around this remarkable and mysterious
case, and II crime there be it will be brought to
light