Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-09-16

ALLEGED POISONING OASE.-ln our last issue
we gave the history of this case so far as it had
been developed up to that time. In pursuance
of its adjournment on Wednesday, the 3rd inst,
the jury of inquest was again held on Tues
day last, the 9th inst, at Mr.. ID. B. Hyde's
House of Entertainment at Mt. Sidney, when
the testimony of the following witnesses was
taken in the order mentioned:
DR.. Wm M. Crawford of Mt. Sidney, who
attended the deceased, Chas. w. Allen, during
the sickness which resulted in his death, which,
it is alleged was caused by poison administered
by his wife, Sarah NJ. Allen. His testimony
was confined chiefly to the detailed history of
his treatment of the case-giving symptoms ex-
hibited, and the prescriptions he administered;
DR.. Newton Wayt, druggist of Staunton, at
whose store Mrs. Allen purchased ten cents
worth of arsenic on the 23rd of July, which she
claims to have lost before she left Staunton
Drs. A M. Fauntleroy and William S. McChes-
ney, of Staunton, who made the post-msoa ten,
examination, and who, assisted by DR.. William
Hamilton, of the Western Lunatic Asylum, ap-
piled the chemical tests in the examination of
the stomach of the deceased, the result of which
was sufficient, they testified, to ground suspi-
cion ofthe probability of the presence of arsenic
DR.. VIM. Bell, who was neighboring physi-
clan and identified the exhumed body as that of
Chas. w. Allen; Captain John @. Webb and
j. w. Norman, who were called in on Tues
day evening when Allen was first seriously at
tackled John 81. Parkins, upon whose place
deceased lived, and who is positive in his belief
to the innocence of the accused, and who was
frequently with the deceased, both day and
night during his Illness nd mo hon
he died; Miss Eliza Allen, sister OF the de-
ceased and member of the family, whose testi-
mony is strongly in favor of the innocence of the
accused; Courtney Roller, deputy sheriff. who
says Dr. Crawford made statements to him as to
the cause of the death of Allen, attributing it to
gangrene, arising from the old and still running
wound in his ankle
The verdict Of the Coroners jury was that
Charles w. Allen, on the 23rd day of August
1873. died from the effects Of poison, which was
given to him, the said Ohas. w. Allen by Sa-
rah M. Allen with intent the said Charts W. Al
len to kill and murder.
On Thursday last Hon. A. H. g. Stuart, coun-
sci for the accused, waived an examining trial
before magistrate and made application to
Judge j. w. Green Smith, Judge of the Hust-
luSS OOuTI Vi lOT Udll Liz pTlSOnoI
was brought into court looking very weak. The
counsel for the accused, had DR.. William S.
McChesney called to the witness stand to testify
as to the condition of her health and what would
be the probable effect Of close and protracted
confinement upon her. Dr. McChesney test-
fed that he had been attending her profession
ally since she had been imprisoned; that she
had had, during that time, two slight hemor-
rhages; that her family physician, Dr. VIM. M.
Crawford, had told him she was delicate wo-
man, and that it was his CDR. McChesney's)
opinion that such imprisonment would endan-
ger her life.
The Common wealth's Attorney SAID that it
was important that the amount of bail should
be sufficient to assure the presence of the pris-
oner at the trial, and suggested SIS. 600 the
amount. The counsel for the prisoner deemed
this excessive, as the family and friends of the
accused were poor. The testimony of Chas S.
Roller, ESQ.,, was taken as to the amount of prop
erty owned by Mrs. Allen and her father, who
stated that Mrs. Allen owned no real estate and
that her personal property was not worth more
than $500, and that he did not know definitely
the pecuniary circumstances of her father, but
believed them to be lmited-had heard that he
had taken the benefit of the bankrupt act, but
did not know whether it was true or not.
Judge Smith, with the view of examining the
testimony given before the coroner's jury, ad-
journed the further hearing of the application
for bail till the next day. On the next day, af-
ter further examination Of the case, Judge
Smith fixed the amount Of bail at the sum OF
$4,000. which was given accordingly, and Mrs.
Allen was released from prison. Her trial will
take place during the next session of the circuit
court for this county, which commences on the
1st day of October.