The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-23
A Succinct Story of
Their Crime.
ARREST AND APPEARANCE OF TIE ACCUSED
fcsnes at the Examiqation-A Drug Clerks
Damaging Testimony-Will Dead Men Tell
TalesEThe Bodies of Supposed VIC
Tins To Be Exhumed-Pen Pic
lures Of the Principal Ac-
tors-Case Given to the
7a Grand Jury. Hs

Eirhart and her son Michael on suspicion Of poison
ing number OF persons, including John Hanna,
his son John. Jr.. and daughter Catherine The
correspondent says
Her connection with the Hanna family dates
pack several years, aud their associations have
been OF the most pleasant nature.
THE BEGINNING OF THE ACQUAINTANCE.
II. appears the acquaintance began short time
after the death Of Michael Eirhart's first wife,
about three years ago. In the intercourse conse-
the families, Michael became attached to Mary
Hanna, then about twenty years OF age; and
about one year and half ago he married her.
The families lived on the Farmersville pike, within
few miles Of each other. and friendly calls
were exchanged frequently. On the ed April
Michael Etrhart, his wife and mother, Sarah, left
nome In the morning, and, as they say after
making q Few ordinary purchases In town, went TO
ss % na ios for
with his father-in-law some time before. 1t was
about halfpast eleven O'Clock when they called on
the Hannas, and an hour alter they par tcipated In
the family dinner, which was prepared IN de-
tached building used rs cookhouse. Contrary to
pared and partaken OF BY an Nothing UNUSUAL
occurred during the meal, and subsequently, Mr..
hart;s wisa want rom the cookho1se into the
- AWAITING AN OPPORTUNITY.
Catherine Hanna thought her grandmother, as
she pleased to call her sisters mOther.in-law,
would be more comfortable in the sitting
ing away the dinner dsoris. Mrs. Eirhart said the
cOokhOuse was good enough for her, and the
1ssss ie aaf e psS es Se
stove. and, after placing it upon the hearth, she
left the building and passed around the house and
into the cellar, where she put away the bread that
.tf4 THE POISON DEPOSITED.
When she returned Mrs. Eirnart was sitting very
near the stove hearth, and almost directly over
the cofee-pot Catherine took the vessel, and,
after placing it in the cupboard she again asked
building, and this time she complied without
demur The Eirharts remained at Hanna's until
halfpaSt one, when they started for home.
se9Igr THE FIRST VICTIM e-N-i
As they were driving away from the house they
met John Hanna, who, after greeting them, con-
ttnued on his way to the house, and as he was late
for the regular meal he went into the cookhouse
and got ready cold lunch. He poured cupful OF
drank but half Of 1t. While at work in the yard.
less than five minutes after he drank the cOnee he
wss seized oMs With a. terrible gripping pains IN the sto
and he was compelled to stop work. He ate a few
apples. IN the hope Of alternating his sunerlngs.
The vomiting and pains continued, and he was
compelled to retire to his His father being in
the fields and his sister having gone to the CITY, he
went to his room and learned OF his sickness. She
did not believe him to be seriously ILL and after ar.
ranging for his comfort during the night she LETT
THE FATAL PoT AND IT'S FArED PATRONS.
the cofiee-pot with Its contents poisoned, was
put upon the stove, and father and daughter drank
OF the fatal aduteration. Before leaving the table
they were attacked in the manner described by
young John, and the old man, who had raKen
full cup OF the cursed drink, was unable to rise
from his chair. Catherine, though very weak con.
trived to take or his boots and drag him to his
room. The exertlon Frustrated her, and she could
barely crawl TO her own sleeping apartment
NIGHT OF TERRIBLE SUFFERING.
During that long, terrible night they suffered
the most intense agony. Each was too weak to
help the other and echoing means were the only
lone build NJ. without all was dark and the
helpless ones, alone in their misery, suffered till
gered from the house and slowly and painfully
made MS way to the house OF neighbor named
Sharet, whom he sent to Germantown for q ply
stefan. Mr.. Sharet returned with DR.. Donneilan,
who at once recognized the evidences OF arsenic
poisoning and administered the proper antidoes.
THE CRIME DISCOVERED.
the Hannas told him the story OF the cofee-pot,
and he procured portion OF the grounds and sent
them to Professor Swayne, OF Cincinnati, for ana
lyzati0n. The chemist reported that the reuse
contained WHITE arsenic, and the poisoned family
tered by their aged relative,
SUSPECTED OF A SERIES OF MURDERS.
Their suspicious assumed a broad scope, and the
sudden and Oit-recurring deaths In the Eirhart
family led them to believe that some OF them had
been the victims Of foul play. They remembered
be assassin was suddenly taken iii, and expired in
rev days, 1t ID said, without having the services
Bp nGss o asS E
WI Wincnestsr Ohio was a ami In IKE manner
second day physician was called IN In time to
her die. Again, q short time before the death of
Mrs. Eirhart the old lady was living with her SON.
there her little grandson succumbed to q sudden
attack. After the exposition OF the attempt on the
lives Of the Hanna family Mr. Foultz shot himself
through the head, because, as 1t is said he knew
his mothertn-law to be guilty and did not care to
live through the disgrace that would inevitably fol-
low her arrest on the present charges.
The facts being reported to Justice Frank and
the mother and son being arrested, they were
lodged in hotel, until prelimin ary examination
was held on the 18th. The correspondent pro-
ceeds:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRISONERS.
Seated In retired corner OF the room. Sarah
Eirhart, the principal, was apparently the least
concerned person present. She is seventy-three
ana maryeousiy erect in bearing when her ace Il
considered. Her head Is OF peculiar shape, and.
when considered from the chin it forms an eilipse
pointed and protruding. Her face is corrugated
with wrinkles and her hair is silver gray. Her
nent nose half conceas cold, malicious, animal
like gray eye She wore plain black dress OF coarse
material an ancient Widows bonnet and tunnel
commented upon the evidence, and smiled quite
happily whenever her counsel made point in her
favor. Her son Michael who sat near her, is about
conspicuous sllmness. his upper lip is shaded with
Cling wnisSer OF like color. He is awkward in his
movements, and is apparently an ordinary igno-
WHERE THE POISON WAS PROCURED.
The history OF his mothers crime, as recited by
the victims, had no erect upon him; but when
store In Germantown, testified that on the morn
ing OF the ed OF April, about ten O'CLOCK he had
sold half an ounce OF white arsenic TO man OF the
general appearance OF the prisoner Eirharts face
turned CHASTITY pale, and he did not recover his
Selfpossession again during the day.
THE PRISONERS ADMITTED TO Rail.
At the conclusion OF the examination Squire
Frank fixed the bail at $4,000, and w. II. Zener,
druggist, and Michael Shuey, mill proprietor,
entered into bond for the appearance OF Mcnael
who was liberated.
Mrs Eirhart did not secure bail until the follow
ing day, and in the meantime she was detained In
the custody Of Constable Young, who quartered
her at his house. Her bondsmen are her brother
John Ryder-whose barn she Is accused OF atremp.-
The papers in the case have been sent TO the
Grand Jury, In session at Dayton, and that BODY
will act on them on Thursday.
THE CHARACTER OF THE VICTIMS.
The Hanna family have lived In the immediate
neighborhood OF their present residence for mere
than half century. The head Of the line, MT
John Hanna, Is OF staid, old PENNSYLVANIA Dutch