The New York herald., 1872-12-12
ARSENIC AND MYSTERY.

ON wednesday, December 4, August Allenquist
was arraigned before Recorder PARCELS OF Astoria
charged with an attempt to poison his wife and
children. The case Is one or peculiar interest, and
either presents crime OF the most atrocious char
acter or a hallucinatOn on the part OF the woman
almost unprecedented, and is surrounded by cir
cumstantial evidence calculated to deceive the
most acute legal mind. The story told by this
woman can be best appreciated by reading her evi-
dence, which we give in full.
The prisoner is employed as q draughtsman on
the Scientific american. He is about thirty-four
years OF age, and presents anything but the ap-
pearance OF q Blue Beard. Mrs. Aenquist is about
twenty-four years OF age and might be called
handsome. She has black hair and eyes, clear
complexion, and regular features. Mr.. Ralph Bur-
nett appeared for the prosecution, Mr.. R. L. Payne
for the defence. The testimony embraces most OF
the evidence for the prosecution. The evidence
for the defence will begin to-day.
Sarah Allenquist testified as fOll0ws:-Am the
wife Of defendant; was married March &c. 1856;
have lived In Astoria about three years; recollect
the day the offence took place; l awoke
In the morning between three and four O'Clock;
! found that something had been put into
my mouth; 1t caused q burning sensation in my
mouth, throat and whole system; l sat up in bed
and took towel and tried to clean my tongue and
mouth; something bearing the appearance of
white powder was on the towel; the burning sem
satiOn continued all next day: l consulted DR..
Watts, Of New York; he told me that looked very
badly; gave me prescription; my Oldest child Is
six years OF age; on the night the powder was ad-
mtnistered no one was In the room but my hus-
band, children and myself; l could see the mantel
and bureau and childrens bedroom from by bed
my husband was up stairs in his workroom
could see him and lay awake watching
went into the kitchen; saw him have paper In
his hand and heard the paper rattle; he went over
him have something in his fingers; could not
what; then he took something between his fingers
and turned round and put something into Lillys
mouth; he then came into my room; ne placed the
lamp upon the mantel and commenced scraping
ne had done in the cnild's room; all this time
began to cry he prepared for bed, but at the same
time rocked the cradle, murmurng something to
from the noise OF the baby pretended to wake;
baby appeared playful at first but soon became
became very nervous and heightened; awoke my
husband and told him l had been nursing baby
slnce 1nree O'CLOCK; ne e. tod me TO give hlm some
in the morning and slept until eight when awoke
felt the same burning sensation on my lips in my
as my husband went away went to my mothers;
we then went to DR.. Watts, in New York;
mother that certan9 ue Gould and not 5td Vs
DR.. Watts was not at home; went into
drug store; told the druggist that had been
poisoned; he gave me powder aud told me to
take it afterI went home an drink plenty of warm
water; on arriving at my sisters MRS. Meagher
increasing; Dr. Dennler was sent for, as was get
ting worse; when the Doctor came into the room
asked him Ii he thought l was out Of danger; he
said he could not tell, but would give me an anti
dote, and said 1t would be test whether it was
poison or nof; he gave me lime water first over
heard the Doctor say that he would be willing to
swear that l was laboring under arsen-
husband Brought me- oG| some EYE figs nsni and taf
ing one. one q, out ..,Ia insisted on my eating it;
saying he had eaten all he wanted; he said he
would like the children to have them; took
home nuts and canpies I determined to have my
husband arrested; we talked about numbering peo-
he said it was nothing after one got used to it,
not taken ANYTHING to beautlfy my complexion.
Mrs. Alienquist v0mited and the vomit was
placed in jar for analysis The analysis was
made by Or. Dennler OF Hunters Point, who testi-
fed as f0llOws:-"Most OF the contents OF the jar
was water; supposed 1t TO be the warm water
thrown OF the stomach of Mrs. Alenqulst; there
was very small quantity Of food mixed with it;
was at the bottom OF the jar; arsenic is very
heavy substance when dropped into water 1t VIII
drop to the bottom; small quantity will remain
analysis from the bottom OF the jar the greater por
tion OF the arsenic must have been taken by me
from the DOttom OF the Jar; at least one-naf OF the
arsenic must have remained, except what might
have been In solution in the mass; the contents of
the jar contained arsenic; cannot swear as to
quantity; 1t must have been more than one grain;
how much more could not tell; did not search
as to quantity.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Payne-Was employed by
Benjamin w. Downing to make the analysis; /
don't know chemist making analysis for the
quantity; cannot tell whether there was or was
not sufficient quantity to cause death; four pounds
OF yomit and an ounce OF arsenic would dissolve
the arsenic OF one part to a hundred OF warm
water; the warmth of the water makes q differ
ence the juices of the stomach would have an
effect; eight drachms Of water will dissolve four
grains OF arsenic; about one thousand grains OF
water will take up ten grains of arsenic; the
periments l made by the copper plates demon
strates that there Is grain more in six ounces
OF vomit anaiyZed.
Adjourned till ter O'Clock to-day.