The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-09-11

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relative to an alleged poisoning case in the
vicinity of Mount Sidney, Mr.. G. ". Allen,
who died on the 23d ult being the victim. and
his wife, Sarah A. Allen, the guilty party.
Deeming it prudent and just to. all the parties
as we'll % to our sense Of right as journalist
we made no allusion to these rumors simplyan-
nouncing under our obituary head the death Of
Mr.Allen inasmuch as any publication at that
time of the current statements, would have
been anticipating the formal legal proceedings
which had been instituted Further, we have
the strongest antipathy to sensational jour
nalism. We regard it as harm to the com
munity, and baneful perversion of the tone
Of public sentiment. More especially is it
such. when life and character are involved in
it. Whatever may be the verdict of a sworn
jury in the case of Mrs Allen, after her trial
has been legally concluded whether YER
dict OF guilty or Innocent is brought 10, she is
ruined ,conson. AS long as she lives-even
If she is acquitted of the grave charge of hav-
ing murdered her husband by poison, the bare
fact that she was arrested aud tried, and the
detailed circumstances attending, sent broad
Cast over the country, will cause a suspicion
to cling to her name,
The body of Mr. Allen, which had been
buried on the 9th Of August, was disinterr-
ed on chs Sd OF Sept, under the direction
Of e. NJ. Cushing, Coroner, and Capt. james
Bumgardner, Commonwealth s attorney The
principal tiess examined was DR. VIM.
Crawford, who atteu ded the deceased in his
sickness. He merely gave the symptoms Of
the case, aad the reasons why he thought he
had been poisoned. This opinion how
ever, he kept to himself until after the burial
OF the deceased. Upon the evidence addue-
ed on the occasion, Chas Roller, Esq,
aud she was brought to the city and lodged
IN Jail by Mr.. Quincy Boiler, deputy Sheriff
OF the evening of the inquest
The jury of inquest was again convened
on the 9th inst, and further hearing Of
the evidence had. Itappoars from the evil
deuce Of Dr. Wayt that Mrs. Allen had pur
chased arsenic ia July last at his drug store,
for the purpose Of killing ''bis rat, as she
seated. Her name and residence were taken
! down by Mr.. w. and his suspicion aroused
at the time by the conversation that ensued ).
1t appeared IN evidence that the arsenic had
been lost by Mrs A. on her way home.
Some two weeks previous to the death of
Mr. Allen he had a severe tetanic spasm.
From this he had apparently recovered. On
the Tuesday previous to his death. he Was
taken with another Sickness and vomiting
ensued From the effects of the last attack
he never recovered, dying on the Saturday
following Ga the 18th Of August Mrs. AL
len had gotten arsenic from Dir. Eichelber-
gers store, but allegad that she threw it in
he FIRE, not having to use it for the purpose
she purchased it, and fearing to keep it about
the house on account Of the children.
Tie body Of Mr.. Allen was taken up on
the 81 inst the stomach taken out by Drs.
Fauutleroy and W. S. McCheney, and por-
tiops OF it submitted Co scientific tests to dis
cover whether there was arsenic in it. In the
evidence Of these gentlemen GA the 9th they
deposed that they thought arsedic had been
discovered
A number Of other witnesses were exam
I'd on this occasion, including DR.. w. J
! Bell James w. Webb, j. Moorman, Jno. II.
Parkias, and Hiss Eliza Allen, sister CT the
decess.d 1t does not appear that any suspl-
cion was entertained that Mr.. Allen had died
from any violent means uuti Dr.. Crawford
had stated that as his belief after the burial
It vas on evidence that Mr.. and Mrs Allan
lived happily together, that she was affection
ate and attentive during his sickness, and
manifested the utmost concern about his cor
dit,on. lie had eaten some chicken soup
while he was sick. but 1t appears that MIR.
Aliens sister made it in the room where Mr..
A. lay, and Mrs, A gave him some OF it, that
all ia the house had taken some Of it, and eat
en- of the chicken from which it was made
We DO cot deen it necessary to give in de-
tail the evidence. It is with reluctance that
we publish what we have written, for the
reason that it is one OF those delicate cases
which should first he exhausted by legal
process before having morbid septimen
excited about it. The verdict of the coro
ners's jury was:
At an iuqusition taken at Mt Sidney
in Augusta county, Sept 9th, 1873 before
Il III. Gushing, coroner Of said county upon
the REV Of the body there lying dead, the
Jurors sworn to inquire how aud by what
means the said Chas w. Allen came to his
death, upon their oaths do say that the said
Chas W. Allen on the 23d day of Au- ust
1873, from the effects Of poison which was
given to him by Sarah NJ. Allen with intent
to xiii aud murder him, the said Chas
W. Allen. La testimony whereof the
said coroner and Jurors bereunto set their
hands, &c
1t Is proper to state that Mr. Allen had
had running sore on his leg for a number OF
years, ever since the battle Of Cold Arbor
and that it was source of constant annoy
ance aud pain, and that the spasmodic con
traciio were more violent 10 this leg than
any other portions of his body. This might
aecoaut for the spasms, as it is known that
tetanns is often produced from wounds DR.
Crawfo d has expressed the opinion that Mr..
Alien had died from gangrene Of the stom-
ach resulting from the wound as appeared
in evidence
We have no disposition to express through
these columns an opinion as to the correctness
of the verdict OF the jury Of inquest. They
were under oath. and were doubtless duly
impressed with the solemnity Of the occas-
sion and the sanctity of their obligation
The courts have the case in hand, and until
its final determination, painful in any way
we may view it, and doubly painful to the
highly respectable relatives of the parties
from the unnecessary nuhlicitv ri ven to it. Ii