The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-25
A Period OF Extraordinary Crimes
The Poison Epidemic.


1t is singular fact that great crimes of q
certain character often follow each other in
rapid succession, and occur apparently in
something like periodical cycles. The cause
of this, probably, may be traced in measure
to the excitement and universal discussion
which follow the commission Of on extraordi-
nary crime or crimes. Minds diseased by
criminal proclivities catch the contagion OF
such On excitement, and are apt to carry out
their wicked purposes by initiating the example
set. Latterly the public has been shocked by
the preparation or strong suspicion of the
most heinous crimes. They have been SO hor-
rible and repugnant to human nature and
the civilization Of the age that the
people and judges and juries can hardly
believe them possible. Strange to say, too,
most of these terrible crimes Of late have been
charged to women, and, in some cases, to
women of respectable character and conduct
otherwise. Yes, women who were exemplary
members Of Christian communities and whose
lives seemed to be above the reproach Of
crime, have been placed before the bar Of
justice under strong suspicion of numbering
their nearest relatives, dearest friends, and
even their own offspring.
few months ago the country was shocked
with the alleged crime Of Mrs. Wharton Of
poisoning her friend, General Ketchum.
Rumor charged her even with the death Of
others nearer to her. Members Of her own
family died apparently in a mysterious and
Juf hn Wac Nv
jury of the charge of numbering General
Ketchum it is right to assume she was
innocent of that crime. Suspicion feeds
upon suspicion, as crime does upon
crime, and web of circumstantial
evidence may be woven out Of the very excite
ment and suspicion that seems damaging to
one accused when there is no guilt. Still such
circumstances as surrounded the Wharton case
made people shudder at the possibility Of q
fearful crime having been committed Fol-
lowing this alleged poisoning case, and the
trial for it, is that Of Lydia Sherman, at New
Haven, for the murder of her husband by
poison, last May. Here, too, suspicion Of
woman is rife. The counsel for the prosecu-
ton wanted to have evidence admitted Of the
death Of Sherman's two children and another
person. Dennis Hurlburt, by poison, and the
facts attending their sickness to show that all
these persons and Sherman died with similar
symptoms; that all were attended by the pris-
oner in their Sickness and that she had poison in
her possession. Whether these suspicious cir
cumstances be admissible as evidence or not,
or this woman be proved guilty or not, this
catalogue Of supposed crimes is startling and
awakens serious thoughts as to the tendency
of our boosted civilization.
More horrible still was the news we received
a few days ago from Leesburg, Virginia. There
woman, Emily E. Lloyd, was arrested for
poisoning her own children, four in number,
her husband, and on aunt Mrs. Lloyd was
deemed a very respectable person, was strict
member of the Episcopal church. was long
resident of Leesburg and known well to every
one in the community. One after another of this
family was taken sick and died under similar
circumstances, beginning with Mr.. Lloyd, the
husband, in the winter of 1869-'7O The fol-
lowing summer her two boys, aged eight and
ten years respectively, died suddenly; after
that her eldest girl, and then the fourth and
last child. All were buried, seemingly, without
suspicion being expressed, such was the re-
spectacle character of the woman, till the last
child died. Then the people in the village
began to whisper their suspicious, and finally a
post-mortem examination was made. Poison
was found in the stomach of the child, and
n1-1 fa1 nrla hoxyo hoo.
given for the disintcrment and examination of
the other bodies. 1t is hardly possible to
realize that such henious and deliberate crimes
as these would have been committed by wife
and mother, especially by one whose character
was deemed SO respectable. We must wait for
further Developments of facts and to show the
motive before admitting such an unparalleled
horror.
In our own neighborhood another woman,
Fanny Hyde, has just been tried for the murder
by shooting, of George w. Watson. This case,
though very different from the ones we have
mentioned, shows how reckless people have be-
come in taking human life The provoking
circumstances that led to this deed may in the
minds of some appear to justify il, and the
jury acting from the same impulse Of sympa-
thy which the public entertain, failed to
agree and have been discharged This will, no
doubt, be the end Of the affair SO far as trial
for the capital offence is concerned. But is it
not time that the taking Of life should be pun
ished, or that the homicide should, ct least,
be kept under restraint Society must be pro-
tected, and this cannot be if every one is to
take the law in his or her own hand. The
poisoning epidemic or mania seems to be on
the increase There is still another report of
a whole family being poisoned in East New
York. These victims were colored people
three children and their mother. The wretched