The New York herald., 1874-08-08
THOSE POISONOUS PICKLES y

COroner's Inquest In tho Supposed Pickle
Poisoning Case-How Very Many
People Use Paris Green.
Coroner Woltman held an inquest at five O'Clock
last evening in the case OF the supposed POISONOUS
pickles which caused the death OF John Powers
his sister Anna and Ellen Burke about two
weeks slnce. The evidence In this case pain
fully but clearly demonstrated the ignorance and
carelessness Of very many people in relation to
one OF the most deadly poisons known to chemis-
try-Parls green.
Not one person In q thousand would think OF
allowing arsenic to lay indiscrmlnateiy about his
kitchen, in pantries and dressers and yet Paris
green, compound OF arsenic and copper, and
much more deadly poison than arsenic, can be
found on the mantelplece OF the kitchen, in the
sink and even in dish closets Of hundreds OF houses
inhabited by Intelligent people and thick.headed
The firsf witness called in this case was Mr. John
A. Ubstell, OF No. East Thirty-second street, IN
whose house two OF the victims worked and died.
He tesrfed- Il went to the country on Saturday,
Sabina Blger the servants, in charge Of my house
my family was absent; returned the following
Monday and was told that Ann Powers was sick;
called = physician, but she died two days later;
Tuesday, July Il, was informed that the cook,
Ellen Burke, was also sick; procured
iy's return home an examination OF the Kitchen
was had. and here great quantity of Paris green
last winter; she wanted 1t to XIII cockroacnes; 1
never knew OF the existence OF any illleehng
among my servants.
in the employ OF Mr.. Ubstell; that on Sunday, the
10th Of Juiy John Powers came to the house about
eleven O'Clock In the morning and stayed TO dinner;
the meal consisted or cold roast beei boiled pota-
toes, rice pudding and chow-chow pickles; she ate
some OF the chow-cnow ana lound u was 'awiul;'
Ann Powers; they were not intended for use
among the servants, but were for the family; al
ways knew there was great deal OF Paris green
about the kitchen; 1t was always around and In
the sink; In q drawer where were kept the knives,
forks and spoons; there was great deal OF 1t In
Harriet Coles, the governess, and very intelli-
gent person, swore that sae returned e. nome with
kitchen she found Paris green In large quantities;
besides seeing 1t IN the localities mentioned
to the extent Of three or four spoonfus on
a moulding which ran along the wall over the
were washed the vegetables and meats used in the
house. 1t was dry and susceptible OF being blown
the tSnsn the n wneS ~
the closets where 1t was found the saucepans were
kept and in another the dishes. In both these
kept the knives and forks the poison was
strewn about like sand. Mrs. UbsteI strongly
about the kitchen, but on being urged finally con-
sented, at the same time being careful to direct
that be used only at night and then set in differ
The physicians who attended the victims were
examined and testified to the lacts as regards the
COuOltlOu VI Tue poeicuso " hhiS uuucI tucH CATes
This was published at the time OF the deaths.
Professor Dofemus gave the result OF his analysis
Of the bodies OF the three deceased persons,
which was to the effect that Paris green
WAS found in the stomach and intestines
OF two and in the tissues OF another
There WAS no poisonous substance OF any kind In
the chow-chow. quantity OF which he analy zed.
The case was gwen to the jury. all Of whom were
either physicians or druggists and they very
promptly rendered verdict Of death from Paris
green accidentally taken into the stomach, and
they cautioned the public against the use of SO
deadly poison as Paris green ior the destruction
OF insects.