New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-27
TOTAL DEPRA VITY OF A CHILD.

LITTLE CoLoRED GIRL ATTEMPTS TO POISON AN
ENTIRE FAMILY IN CRAWFORD. ~ J.
The village of Crawford, on the New-Jersey
central Railroad. was greatly excited Thursday
morning by the that the family OF John
X Miller, weilknown resident. had been polsoped by
his coored girl Many friends visited the house
ana round that the report partially true, and that
the entire family had escaped death through the vigi
lance OF Mr.. Miller It seems that two months ago,
being IN need Of n Mr. Miller visited the Poor
House at Newark and brought home negro girl
named sarah Jane Reeves, aged 10 years. During
the hrst few weeks she gave general satisfaction,
bat soon she grew dsorderly and refused
10 obey Mr. Miller chded her. and he says,
was not violent few days the girl became abusive
and Mr. Miller threatened 10 send her back TO the Poor
house She promised to do better. and he allowed her
10 remain. AT breakfast yesterday morning Mr. Miller
detected peculiar odor arising from the coffee, and
mentioned the fact his family. sip Of 1t convinced
him mat contained some foreign substance audit was
preserved for examination The family physician
sent for, and the coffee and cream underwent a
chemical analysis, revealing large quantity OF
creosote, enough, the Doctor remarked, "to
Kill dozen persons" Suspicion fell upon the
girl Reeves. On being questioned, she said
that she administered poison and she did IL Of her
own free will, because she had been whipped When
questioned as 10 the manner In which she obtained It,
she declined answering Word immediately sent TO
Elizabeth warrant for the arrest OF the girl made
cut By Justice Noe and Constable Morris took her In
custody and committed the County Jail To the
other prisoners she soon became familiar, and laugh
lngly SAID, 81 thought I'd stop his mouth for
suah." During the morning the girl was brought
into the receptonroon Of the jail aud questioned by
Mr. Ward, the Warden. and a TRIBUNE reporter. She
was perfectly unconcerned and eyed the two with as
much nOnchalence as O veteran criminal. In night she
about three feet, has bright eyes, thin ups regular
features and talked and acted like girl OF Is sne said
that she WAS born In Petersburg Virginia. ana was ~
years OF age that she to NewJersey three years
ago from that city and had been left alone after her
mothers DEATH which occurred year ago. Her story
in extenuation of the crime with which she is charged
and which she admits. is that since being employed III
Mr. Millers family she had been continually
naltreated by Mr.. Miller 1t was only last
Monday" she said that he whipped me because " as
only talkin 10 myself. I belIeb a body talk ef
dey wants to. He has always whipped me wild cow
hide de butt end foremost and dat hurt very bad"
" Is that all that he did 7" asked the reporter. NO.,
she answered. he throwed the floor one day this
week after sappn' me wild de broad OF his hand, and
twisted my arm so dat coud't hardly use it for two
or three DAYS; hurts TO use it," "Wei SAID
Mr. Ward do you think you were doing right to Kill
the whole family get satisfaction The girl cast her
eyes the door, and made reply. She was then sent
back to the female department OF the prison. and Mr.
Ward sent his wife 20 examine the gr 20 find whether
there we're any marks OF violence her person. Mrs
Ward did as requested, and returned presently she
sd that she had thoroughly oveThauled the girl, and
only found two or slight abrasons on one OF her
arms The girl Will De arraigned for examination TO-
dly or Monday.