The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-25
A DARK MYSTERY.
Poison Given to Family In an Apple
Two Strange Negro Women I'm the
Plot-The Motive OF the Deed Un-
known-One OF the Victims Dead.

Poison Given To . FAMILY In an Apple
Two Strange Negro Women In the
Plot-The Motive OF the Deed Un-
known-One OF the Victims Dead.
PORTSMOUTH, March "a, 1874.
A mysterious and singular apple poisoning case
has occurred IN the suburbs OF Portsmouth, in the
negro settlement known as Philadelphia. We have
managed to some extent to unearth the facts,
which prove fully atrocious and diabocal as the
vague rumors minated that first brought Us in
telligence Of the horrible deed.
At the very extremity OF West County street re-
sides family named Bracey-Ralph Bracey and
his children. Nearly at dusk on Friday evening
when all the grown people were absent there
came to this house two strange negro women and
inquired OF a small girl named Adeline Page, who
was in charge of the house and children, where
the grown people were. She replied simply that
they were away from home. The women then
passed INTO the lront yard and asked to go INTO
the mouse. The girl Adehne replied that there
was no one in the house but the children. The
omen then requested the privilege OF going INTO
the garden. The girl objected. still persistent,
the strangers applied to the girl to bring out the
children as they desired 10 see and talk 70 them
This request was also declined, and the unknown
women took their departure and passed down the
street towards Portsmouth.
Shortly after this occurrence the children came
out TO play. In a lew moments "Bily" Bracey
found an apple IN the yard aud ran with 1t 10 the
girl Adenne. she divided the iruIt, reserving for
herself a piece and giving portion to The boy
"Blly,N his brother "Aleck' ana an infant. No
unpleasant symptoms from eating the run
experienced by the children until midnight, when
the boy BILLY" was taken with violent vomiting,
followed by similar symptoms on the part
OF the other TWO Children "Aleck" and
the baby. This vomiting continued at in.
tervas until morning, when they appeared
to be easier, but very much Frustrated. The
girl Adeline was then attacked with a terrible
retcning, followed by the most agonizine pans
and soon frothng at the mouth. This new de-
velopment alarmed the family, and Bracey started
OH to town to get some medicine. The girl grew
rapidly worse, and commenced raving and tearing
her clothes rom her person. In this condition she
fingered Tor a lew hours and then died in horrible
agony. Before Bracey returned on sunday the re-
mains were quietly buried. The other three chill
Dir n continue to suffer and are very low.
The iend!sh a1air seems TO have created no IN
usual excitement in the neighbOrhoOd, and no one
in authority seems TO have been informed OF 1t.
Tne result s that no cognizance has been taken OF
the transaction. Who threw the apple into the lot
is a mystery. Bracey avOws that he has had no
difficulty with any one. and cannot possibly COM
prehend who the female visitors were. The irult
was evidently thoroughly impregnated with arse-
mic and was doubtless lett by the women who
had called on Friday. The dark deed Is wrapped
in profound mystery.