Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-07-11
Wholesale Poisoning.
From the Manassas Gazette.


On Monday evening last, the village of
Brentsve was startled at the announcement
that the family of Hon. Aylett Nicol. Judge OF
the County Court, had becu poisoned. DR.. }.
Willett Leach hurried to the residence about
quarter Of mile outside the village, and
found eight of the family, Mrs Nieo Miss
Ida Nlco little Blauche aud Graclc Nlcol, Nlr.
John A. Nicol who had just returned from
William and Mary College, Mr.. P. II. Eager
of Miss. and college mate OF Mr.. Edgar Nj
col, who had accompanied him from Richmond
College home on visit; black man and black
girl, all sufftriog from the effects OF arsenic
which had been put in the coffee ADD bread
partaken OF at the supper table. The proper
aDtidoes were promptly administered and nav
ing the desired effects, saved all who had par
taken of the poisoned food. a reporter OF the
Gazette visited the sceoe OF the attempted
slaughter on Thursday, aud found the family all
| up but week aud feeble from the effects OF the
poison, and all having the appearance OF i per
son who had Just awaked from deep sleep.
The following particulars OF the affair were were
given by members Of the family. Judge Nicol
was holding his Court on that day and being
detained. was not at tea, aud thus escaped.
| Three others; Judge Ncol's sister, Mr.. Ed gar
Nicol and the youngest child also escaped, by
not partaking Of the poisoned vlctuals. The
only actor at present positively Known, though
there is suspicion that another may be guilty,
is girl banned Susan Cisson, aged about J. or
Is years, daughter Of a widow woman living
near Potomac City,. in this county. This girl
has been living with the family three years, and
is said TO be possessed Of Il very high temper,
so much so in her fits OF anger, that she would
break up article, about the kitchen, aud had
on the morning Of the day OF the poisoning,
punched hole through the bottom OF new
tin pan, having been afironted at some thug
said to her by one Of the family
An ounce box ofarsenic was purchased over
a wear ago by Judge Nicol, to be used on one
of his horses suffering from the h,too, and only
about one fourth of it had been used. Early
in the evening and about two hours before The
time to prepare tea, the girl carried the label
which she had taken from the box, to Mrs.
| Nicol and asked her what it vas. Mrs. y.
being surprised at the girl having the LABEL,
| asked her what she was doing with it, She
replied that she found it on the washing ma.
chine" As she could not read, it is supposed
she took the label to Mrs n. so as to be sure
the aaticle she Intended to use was poison,
The hour for supper which had been prcpar-
| ed Dy the girl, Cduc w duu wv iaui,J "t' :"
| formed that it was ready. Miss Ida Nicol who
the girl informed that supper was ready, no.
ticed something rather peculiar 10 her bearing
and remarked why Susan you speak as If you
we're inviting US to funeral Instead OF sup
| per-" TO this she made no reply. The family
seated themselves at the supper table, and the
girl took the buckets and went out to milk
| After tea Miss Ida took seat on the porch,
and 10 few minutes was taden deathy sick
| Going into the dining room she found her
mother and the two little children all suffering
in the same way Immediately all the rest
who had partaken of the bread and coffee were
| taken i'll and at once suspicion was aroused that
they were all poisoned. The question by the
girl about the label DOW Was solved, aud the
culprit who had just returned from milking
was accused OF the diabolical act. She oil course
denied it, Mrs Nlcol told her to 60 and bring
the box of arsenic but instead she ut once lied
to the woods.
The amount of arsenic put 10 the coffee and
bread was sufficient to kill hall Of Prince VIII
liam county. The cause that prompted so
young girl to such deed is uuknow. Nhetll-
| er it was done to aveuge some tanclcd wrong,
or whether it was sort of mania TO administer
the poison and see its effects, is question tor
the girl to answer The latter may seem rcas-
enable theory as she had some time ago asked
members of the family what effect the arsenic
would have, if it was eaten, and was told that
it would kill.
| Constable Geo. B. Jones we are Informed ar
| rested the accused in Dum!ries on Thursday
and lodged her in Jail at BrentsvIlc.