The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-26
THE SHAW POISONING CASE
A Mother and Her Five b. u"''
Partake Of the Deadly Dlsught.
The Husband and Father tho Sup
posed Murderer.
One Of the Daughters Dead and the Mother
Dying-The Suspicious circumstances
Ante-Mortsm Statement Of the Mother.

CAMBRIDGE, N. Y, Jan. rs, 1873.
The horrible crime that has startled the people
OF this neighborhood for miles around Ia still the
alabsorbing topic Of interest here and the facts
come to light suspicion grows stronger that
CHARLES SHAW Is TIE MURDERER
Of his daughter and the intending murderer OF his
wife and five children. Shaw bears bad veputa-
ton in this county. but his wife has been always
much respected. The cause OF all the trouble
seems to have arisen from Shaw's intimacy with
Mrs. Briggs the wife Of former neigrbor, and this
intimacy Is the strongest proof OF
MOTIVE FOR THE FIENDIsH ACT
The Shaw family reside about three miles from
Cambridge, on the road to East Bridge, the Briggs
family now residing at HoOslch, having removed
thither at Christmas last. The names OF the chill
dren who have suffered are Marietta, aged eigh-
teen; Elizabeth, aged fourteen Hattie, aged
twelve; Anna, aged eight, aud Ida, aged Ave.
Elizabeth Is
THE ONLY ONE AS YET THAT HAS DIED,
but the mother Is now 30 low that NO hope OF Eer
recovery is entertained The doctors have exam
med the stomach OF the deceased girl, and have
found that she died from poison. The stomach and
contents are now atAlbany for positive information
as to the kind Of poison used. Immediately pre-
from home
ON A VISIT TO THE BRIdGsEs,
and this circumstance especially excites corrobo-
rative and indignant suspicion OF his guilt.
During several years past he has been frequently
before the Court here for lltreatment Of his wife,
and his general character was very bad. Shaw has
been mostly employed asa farm laDorer, and is
about thirty nine years OF age. Besides the chill
dren named above, there Is son, who is married
and who lives no one knows where. The eldest
daughter, Fanny, now about twenty years Of age,
became the mother Of an illegitimate offspring
some years ago, but is now married. Marietta gave
birth to child only few days since, which died
within few hours after birth. The QUEER children
are Emma, aged three, and Charlie, one.A
Shaw has persisted in denying his guilt ever
since the doctor who was summoned to attend tn,
two children first taken sick stated his suspicious
Of there being foul play.
The following ante-mortem statement of MES
Shaw, taken before Justice Fletcher yesterday,
tells the story Of how the deed was done and the
circumstances under which Shaw Ia deservedly
looked upon as the perpetrator OF it,
ANTE-M0RTEM STATEMENT OF MRS. SHAW.
am the wife Of Charles Shaw. think ] shall
never get well. have no hope of ever recover
ing l was taken sick week ago last Monday,
about the middle Of the afternoon. My children,
Harriet, Libbie Anna and Ida, were taken sick.
at the same time, and Marietta was taken.
sick the next day. We were all taken in the same
way with Q headache, pain in the bowels and
vomiting. had eaten nothing unusual upon the
day l was taken sick nor upon the day before.
My husband lett home the Saturday before was
taken sick, and came back Sunday about four
O'Clock in the afternoon and remained at home
until we were taken sick. Tuesday afternoon my
husband went and got
and n xed aome of IL in a plass and rave Il to the
children, who were sick: He then fixed some more
in q goblet and offered 1t TO me. told him
would not drink 1t until he drank some Of It.
told him this because he Thought so much OF Mrs.
Briggs that was afraid to drink 1t. Mrs. Briggs
had sworn that she would have my life and take
her comfort with my husband. did not know but
THERE NIGHT BE SOMETHING WRONG IN THE
NV husband drank most Of the liquor and drank
the rest Of 1t. My husband brought home quite
quantity OF sausage the Thursday before was
taken sick, and all ate OF the sausage twice every
Jay until we were taken sick; gave some Of this
sausage to my daughter Fannie, who keeps house.
There had been no one In the house but our own
family for several days before we were taken SICK.
There had been no stranger In or about the house
for u week before we were taken sick That know
Of About week before Briggs and his his wife
venge upon me; that need not think that was
going to have comfort with Charles Shaw the rest
Of my days. Briggs and wife moved away upon
since. Charles shaw has
THREATENED MY LIFE GREAT MANY TIMES.
don't rccOlect that he ever threatened to poison
me. Think that Charles Shaw and the Briggses
know all about the trouble. About q week before
Mrs. Briggs moved away she told me she had two
bottles OF corrosive subiimate and offered to give
me one. did not take It, She said she had 1t to Kill
bedbugs with. Mrs. Briggs often told me she could
destroy regiment OF folks and not be found out
did not feel well when took the liquor; but the
children were not taken sick until after they drank
the liauOr. Neither the children nor myself vOm-
tied until after we drank the liquor. had not
vomited at all. My husband told me last Summer
that Mrs, Briggs would sbe the stepmother Of my
children MY husband has asked me several times
lately II would give him bill, and told me he
would give me
THE COW AND FIFTY DOLLARS IF I WOULD GIVE
HIM BILL OF DIVORCE.
Mrs. Shaw Is still alive, but her death Is m0men-
tariy expected. She made another statement q
fe days ago, when she thought she would get WELL
differing from this but claims that 1t was made In
fear Of her husband. The other poisoned ones
remain In about the same condition, with hopes OF
their ultimate recovery
THE ANALYSIS OF THE STOMACH
OF the first victim Is being proceeded with, and the
exact nature Of the poison will soon be made
known. Shaw and the Briggses seem to be strongly
implicated In the crime, and the latter Will be ar
rested ct once. Public sentiment Is strongly
against them.
THE EXAMINATION
into the whole circumstances attending this, the
most horrible crime ever committed tn washington
county, Will be commenced on Monday, when 10 Is
hoped that such facts will be elected that there
will be no doubt as to who the real criminals are
THE MOD0C WAR.