The New York herald., 1873-03-04
PATE2SON'S POISONING CASE.
The Second Marriage Of John Parker
and What Came of It.
STARVATION AND POISON.

STARVATION AND POISON.
Paterson has got another genuine sensation.
This nourishing New Jersey town has, within the
past year or two, gained quite reputation Tor the
number and magnitude OF its tragedies. Libby
Garrabrant the poisoner Of Burroughs has only
quite recently had her sentence committed
from death to Imprisonment for life, and Van Win.
ke Bogert her confederate, is still prisoner in
the Paterson JAIL awaiting his trial, which will
shortly come of. The tragedy which has excited
Paterson for the past few days is very peculiar
one. The victim died in Paterson, but the crime
was committed in a Western town. The alleged
perpetrator resides there now, ana up to the pres
ent time the law has been poweress to fasten guilt
upon her. The circumstances of the supposed
crime are as follows:-
About seventeen years ago Mr.. John Parker one
OF the wealthiest and most influential citizens OF
Paterson, was living happily with his first wife.
lie had amassed large fortune by the pur-
suit OF his calling, and when his wife died Mr..
Parker. who was still young, was very desirable
parsonage In matrimonial light Mrs. Laverack,
q sister OF Parker, while on visit to New York,
called at the house OF Mr.. Thumm, a shoemaker re-
siding at Fiftythird street and Third avenue With
the
NATURAL GARRULITY OF WOMEN
Mrs. Laverack spoke OF her brothers. wealth to the
shoemaker. The conversation was overheard by
woman in the employ OF Mr.. Thumm, and
few days afterwards Mrs. Laverack was
called upon at her residence in Paterson by
this woman She asked permission to remain in
the house until the cars came up. Mrs. Laverack
readily consented, and entered into conversation
with her visitor. The latter during the talk men.
toned her name, and Mrs. Laverack was aston
ished and In some measure alarmed to find that
she was person who only a short time before had
been arrested on charge of administering poison
visitor stOutly denied the truth of the charge to
Mrs. Laverack, and told what she called the facts
old lady, and as her death was attended by some
strange circumstances. at the suggestion Of one of
THE BODY WAS RAISED
and an analysis was made, when a. quantity OF
arsenic was found in the stomach. Suspicion was
entertained of the younger daughter the visitor Of
Mrs. Laverack, but there was no evidence sutlcent
to hold her and she was discharged
The cordiality with which Mrs. Laverack treated
the woman dropped as soon as she discovered her
identity, and she was naturally anxious to see her
out Of the house. The woman expressed desire
TO get rid OF her. that she sent her little nephew to
show the way. To see the Falls was only blind to
suaded the boy to escort her to the house OF Mr..
Parker. where she introduced herself as friend
Of his sister. Mr.. Parker did the honors
or the house, and before the woman departed she
had gained his good graces so far that he promised
to call upon her at his next visit to New York.
the intimacy finally resulted In marriage, des-
pte all Mrs. Laverack's efforts to prevent it, This
triumph effected, the character of the newly welded
woman began TO manifest Itself. That she had
married Mr. Parker for love could not be believed;
she wanted money and she commenced sys-
tematc course OF boarding. selling articles OF tri-
nng value from the house from time to time and
concealing the money.
A9er s?9s time she tired Of Paterson and, by
Parker to sell his property and remove to La
Crosse, Wisconsin. This was about year
and since ssen H pslSa SSSaf II xsss Years. M
Parker's life has been one career OF misery. The
woman was born mser, and the couple lived like
systematic course of deceit Mrs. Parker got pos
session OF nearly all the husbands property in her
% his s hs ne unhappy wrote
his amable spouse he scarcely dared to hint at the
nature OF the life he was leading.
pears, more deadly element, began to do their
Work A little over nye months ago Mr..
to be ssen on to snd w
felt himself dying and had letter despatched to
his sister by stealth. The letter concluded fol-
lows:-"I am afraid II were to have long and se-
we're illness & she would make q hard nurse and
letter Mr.. and Mrs Laverack. accompanied 6y the
Paterson Chief OF Police at once started for La
Crosse. When they arrived at the house OF Mr..
Parker they witnessed deplOrabe sight. The
weather was intensely cold yet no fire was burning
in the room OF the invalid, and he was faint from
long-cOntinued starvation. Dr. HOugh, who was
Immediately called in, said that but for the arrival
OF Mr.. Parker's sister he would not have lived
thirty-six hours longer.
Mrs. Parker, who was absent at the time Of the
arrival, on coming back to her house was met by
the Paterson Chief OF Police. "ls he dead Y'' she
asked. She was informed that he had been taken
to the fremont House, whereat she became very
violent, but in the end got frightened. A number
Of pills were found IN the house which Mrs Parker
had been In the habit OF giving to her husband
daily. The pills on being analyzed were found to
-~ LoBELfA AND TARTAR EMETIc.
When Mr.. Parker had in some measure re.
covered he told the tale OF his suffeings. He said
that he was supplied with nothing to eat but q
small quantity Of cruel daily. The pills nauseated
him and he constantly SO i'll that for some time
he could not stand upright. He had been hoard
ing up every cent he could lay his hands upon. un
known to his wife in the hopes OF making his es-
cape. The sum amounted to $1a 50 :.
The Mayor OF La Crosse was given q power OF
attorney Tor the adjustment OF Mr.. Parkers aairs,
and the latter started for Paterson with his sister.
Arrived there he made q new will, from which his
wife's name was excluded. With the care that
was lavished upon him he seemed to be progressing
toward recovery; but relapse came on and
last Friday he died. He protested with his last
breath that his wife was the cause OF his death,
and In this opinion the doctors concur. The
affair was yesterday the theme OF general con-
veBatiOn In Paterson, and 1t is believed that
post-mortem will be made and a warrant issued
for the arrast Of Mra parker who ia vet "A