The Republican journal., 1875-11-11
/ From the Lewiston Journal.
Arsenic in a Well.

On the opposite side of the road lives G.
W Keith. father of young Keith. The
father and son are reported to have had
trouble, and young Keith was harbored
in the Thomas family.
The Thomas folks draw their water by
means of a pump whose boxes are low
down in the we'll Thursday at 6 p. NJ,
water was used from the we'll, and moth
ing strange discovered in it. An hour
later the little seven years old Thomas boy
grew thirsty, and young Keith went TO
the we'll and pumped Il pail OF water. On
bringing it into the house the thirsty
Thomas went for drink and found white
troth on the surface of the water. The at
tention of the various members OF the fam
ilv was called to the water, and soon a
white sediment was discovered in the bot
tom OF the pail.
The suspicious OF the family were arous-
ed, and they did not drink Of the water
fortunately for them, as subsequently APP
pears. A spoonful of white powder was
gathered in the bottom of the pail. A
lantern was lighted and the pump exam
med There was a white powder on top
of the pump, as if some one had thrown
handful OF flour into it.
The Thomases scrapcd up all of the
mysterious white powder that they could
find and on Friday brought it to Smiths
drug store in Auburn. Smith as once SAID
That is arsenic" On Saturday the white
powder was submitted to Prof. Stanley at
Bates College, and the Professor echoed:
lit is arsenic
Then Mr.. Thomas made a tour of the
drug stores At Wiggin's store it was
found that on Thursday a man called tor
arsenic to Kill rats and that the clerk
refused to sell. On visiting Smiths drug
store i'll Auburn it was found an honest
looking fellow on Thursday bought five
cents worth of arsenic to kill rats. The
clerk took his name. He gave it as
Charles Evans Of Greene
Armed with these facts Thomas suspic
IONS We're so far supported that he felt it
time to have the limb of the law enter the
ease He accordingly called on Judge
Dresser who issued a warrant for the AZ
rest OF G. w Keith OF Leeds. On Sunday
sheriff Littleticld drove to Slab City in
Leeds Mr. Thomas took along the clerks
at Wiggings' and at Smiths drug stores.
They drove up to keith's door and the
Sheriff politely informed that gentleman
that he was arrested for poisoning. The
prisoner shook like a leat-to use the Sher-
iits language as well he might, innocent
or guilty.
'Were YOU in Lewiston last Thursday ?H
sakcd the sheriff.
II was" Keith replied.
Ibid YOU visit drug store?"
mo"
Did You buy any medicine?
''No, sir"
Then came forward the two drug store
clerks. els this the man who asked for
arsenic last Thursday ?"
They both replied: 'IIe looks like the
same man.
Keith had bandage around his head
and said he had the headache. The band
age WAS removed and Keith dressed as he
was last Thursday. Then both the clerks
said:
Il am positive this is the man that call
ed for arsenic last Thursday"
Keith like many other men, honest and
otherwise, is a peculiar looking man.
His head and face are small and his ply
slognomy is such as suggests the phlloso-
phical doctrine of evolution.
Not this alone keith's neighbors do
not speak untavorably of him. He is a
man about 80 years OF age; has four or
five children, and served his country faith
fully for two years, in the 30th Maine reg
iment.
Keith was brought to Auburn jail where
he awaits a preliminary examination. In
conversation with one of the officers at
the Jail, Keith said he was in drug store
in Lewiston on Thursday last, but that he
bought no arsenic. He denies the charges
brought against him.
The Plymouth Church Middle.
NEW YORK. ). There We're extraordi-
nary proceedings in church matters in
Brooklyn, last night. Moody upbraided
protesting Christians for lack OF earnest
interest was taken at Plymouth church
and the Hanson Place Baptist church At
Plymouth church u committee reported in
favor of dropping from the roll of the
church the name of Deacon West, saying
the latter would not oppose such pro-
ceeding as he should not attend that church
any more. Ills name was accordingly
dropped. The same committee reported
Il recommendation that the name of Mrs
Emma {. Moulton be dropped from the
roll Mrs Mouton was present, accom-
panied by Gen Pryor as counsel, and
she stated that the first intimation she had
OF amy action contemplated by the church,
was the announcement by one of the COM |
miltee that her name was to be dropped,
and She protested against any such action
as she had been deprived of any hearing,
whatever, before the committee
1t having been stated that her name
was TO be dropped on account of absent
l. clio 4
as follows -
My absence is an enforced one, and is caus-
81 by the crime of adultery committedb by Henry
" ward Beecher, pastor OF this church, with one
Of his Pensioners, which | know to be Il fact,
through Mr.. Beecher's confession to me, and
through the confessions of Mrs. Tilton, and
through conclusive evidence Of the crime from
other sources. | appear before this church III
loyal obedience 10 the summons which | have
received, and hereby declare my disposition
and desire to discharge all the duties deyolving
on me Is a member that are consistent with
my knowledge of the adultery of the pastor and
ills false swearing with regard to it.
Very Respectfully, EMMA c. MoULTON,
Brooklyn, Nov. f."
The most impressive silence followed
the reading of Mrs Moulton's plea, and
the moderator then put the question. A
vote was taken and the name OF Mrs Moul-
ton was dropped from Plymouth church
roll Of membership. 1t is alleged that the
committee appointed by the Congrega-
tional association of New York and Brook
lyn, to inquire into the truth or falsity of
the charge against Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher, will enter upon the discharge of
It's duties at once, and that this is the pre-
llminary step toward dropping Beecher's
name from the list of Congregational min
IsterS.
The St. Louis Whiskey Ring.