The New York herald., 1873-10-25
POISON In PATCHOGUE.
A Terrible Story Of Crime-Captain Smiths Ser
want Girl Makes Startling Revelation
Alleged Attempt To Destroy the Life
Of Wife-Arrest Of the Accused
in Brooklyn-A Weak De-
nial Of the Charge.

In Brooklyn Weak De-
nial Of the Charge
man who gave his name as Atwood visited the
Ninth precinct station house, Brooklyn, yesterday
forenoon, and stated that lady named Mrs. Har-
team, residing at No. Sis Flushing avenue, had
married niece, residing at Patchogue, Mrs.
Samuel M. Smith, whose husband is shipbroker,
engaged in business IN New York. On Thursday
Mrs. Smith, in company with Anna Houghton.
servant girl, visited Mrs. Hartean. The domestic
admitted to said Atwood that she had admins
tered poison, at the request OF Captain Smith. TO
her mistress police officer visited the residence
OF Mrs. Hartean and had conversation with the
woman Houghton, who admitted having admins
tered powders TO her mistress. To a reporter SHE
made the following statement concerning the
affair -
CONFESSION OF THE poIsoNER's TOOL
Hilary SIRE ssss Sai saw Gsi @ st s
he n% Se hnfw s 20 se
Ia siaied ood That did where LIVED g
sSs
month Alter n had been there fey days Nrs ;
The The meals One sly day Mrs Margaret suan came into
sSsry cay IN Mrs Smiths food did So not tn thinking nix
which put the powder she was very sick Mrs kuan
sS a smith deay dSsi "e ppep
Well never mind 1t will do that at rst Give her the
SO kept gave her nine powders, and Mr.. Smith
had given ars M smith s pooS Mr. Smith
ss
away with his wife, and said i would nx her on he
chicago conened ie s
her more nor powSd!srs and when had once eonsened 70
me more nd more to do it.
Nj %a Ss wnt Gm p on I
kitchen and he said TO :"Now, Anna, you must do
hed aHs with s II
70 e me n m a
AND get s m and od me to be - sure ana do a.
yoTH" yTs went away On ma train and rot n. hammer ,nt
was afraid to do what he said Il rem mbed and my my
head reeled, and had to lay the hammer down
he eec the po%der she could
% do So and vent q back Y IN the M Kitchen
prayed to God to help me DO right and went in and
was sick and she couldn't deny it There some tea
Try IL As Soon m a sna M se se
affected nus Just sl, the same ne. as Ms Mss smith vas
Tuesday night expecting her be dead and told her
He did come home and he looked as black at me. be-
u hadn't s Sne s What he said Sa be dare
H 81 SS ns % keep 81
the train and before he went he called me out in the
at The back Of the house and awtuy mad
he made that I'd do i the night hat was
ihIns AID as Ss said; Hs that wanted Z
and yesterday Mrs. smith and came down here.
SHE TESTS HER OWN POISON.
The girl Houghton is about eighteen years OF
age, OF low stature and rather prepossessing in
appearance She accompanied the police to No. Al
Tillary street. the residence OF Mrs. Bailey the
mother OF Mrs. Smith, and there she pointed out
Captain Smith, who was seated by the stove in mis-
shirt sleeves. He was at once arrested and taken
to the court room OF Justice Semer. He was sent
to jail upon short commitment. To-day he will
be taken to Patchogue for examination. Smith,
who does business at No. so South street. is said to
be possessed OF considerable property Long
Island. The girl Houghton, who was also taken
fore Justice Semler stated that her going to inquire
Tor place from Smith was planned by Mrs. ku-
Ian, VINO told her to walk past No. Al Ttlary street
ana she would see Captain smith, whom she
should ASK Tor employ ment. She Iurther stated
that she first saw Smith in company with Mrs.
kuan in New Jersey. She admitted that she had
previously known MIN under tue name OF Captain
Willow and had been criminay intimate with
him. After this she came TO Brooklyn and worked
there Tor Or ala lady named Frost, u Henry street.
ment he pretended he did not want girl but
finally agreed to pay her 50 per month. snbse-
H0ughton statement, gave her $40 to go to
Patchogue, and promised her 500 and dresses
after the deed was done. 1t was on the 14tn OF
August when she went to Patchogue.
The girl says sne felt stricken with remorse at
one time and partook OF two Of the powders after
which she became deathly sick, and Mrs. Smith
gave her an emetic to make her sick.
Mrs. Smith, q pale, slight lady, has been married
for fifteen years, and appears to be oath to accept
the story OF Anna Hought0n. She, nevertheless,
states that she believes she has been poisoned.
STORY OF THE ACCUSED.
Captain Smith, the accused, denies the story In
toto.
He says, ''This girl came to ME one morning at No.
Al 1illary street, and asked me II l knew where she
could get work. said no. My sster-in-aw said,
Why don't you take her to Patchogue; you will
shortly need nurse there / said TO Anna.
would you like to 60 in the country y yes, any,
where where | can have home,' she said.
Il she seS T. she wees rex
ferred me to Mrs. Frost, in Henry street. and
she said she was good enough girl, but little
mischlevous.r
'Then how do you account for this remarkable
statement, Mr.. Smith ~
II can't understand it ALL Smith replied.
"Have you ever had any trouble with your
wife ~
s.No.n
"Did you know she had been suffering with
singular attacks ~
.Wel (after deberation) one time rice pud
ding was made, and all the children ate OF it and
my wife too. They were all very i'll, but only ate
a Little oft and was not sick. My wife said there
must be some poison in 1T, and Anna was asked
about 1t. She began to cry and said she knew
nothing OF It, that she had not put anything In it
at ALL said to her, this is serious CHARGE and
she cried and said she didn't know what the mat
ter was.'
Coroner Jones visited Mrs. Smith last evening
for the purpose OF taking her statement of the
verse on the subject.
A couple OF officers left Brooklyn last evening
for Patchogue for the purpose OF arresring Mrs.
Rulan and collecting such evidence as may be had
upon the premises. Anna Houghton accompanied
the officers.
THE CAPTIVE MOD0Cs.