The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-14

Legs at this time declined to say any more and
the HERALD representative left.
SEARCHING THE BOOKS.
The next move was 10 the store formerly oc-
cupiei By MIR. Legs bat now carried on by
Neaker Shea. These gentlemen, when the err
rand was explained TO them, kindly gave all the
facilities In their power, and placed their books
at the disposal OF the reporter for the time be-
ing. careful search was made through them,
but no entry could be found OF q prescription
either.
Feeling however confident that Mr.. Legs knew
more than he was wiling to state, visit was paid
to some OF his personal frIends ana their good
oflces brought into requlsltion, In order to get
Mr.. Legs to make the desired avowa. Ac-
cordiDgly, another visit was maze so White
stone yesterday, which resulted In perfect
confirmation by MIR. Legs OF the facts
already surmised. Mr.. Legs after being conyersed
with for a considerable time, and through the
pressure brought to bear on him by his
friends, who were present at the interview,
finally concluded to give the whole story, saying
that he did not see, now that the evidence Is all
in. that ne was committing any wrong 10 tell
what he did know. He therefore, In answer to
the questions put to him, made the following
statement
1t is with the greatest reluctance that speak
about any transactions that have occurred be-
tween Mr.. Beecher and myself ana IL Is only by
reason o. the great influence you have brought
to bear me that am induced to give you the
Information you seek. In the first place,
however. let me say that up to the pres
ent have been induced to keep silent
on this matter, through my friendship
and the personal regard that entertained for
Mr.. Beecner during my acquaintance with him,
and which has EXTENDED over period OF many
years
MRS. MoULToN CONFIRMED.
You have asked me the question whether ever
sold Mr.. Beecner any poison. To this must reply
that have, and ] viii tell you how IL occurred
and how the fact was brought TO my recollection
and the whole history Of the matter. 1t was
as DEMONSTRATING the course or the trial,
and while Mrs. Moulton was giving her testimony
on the witness stand was one morning sitting In
nv store here, ana reading the account OF her
testimony as given in :he HERALD, when came
TO the paragraph in which she referred to Beecher
telling her that he had q powder or poison at
home on his library table, which he was prepared
TO take at any time. As read this IL came across
my mind ike nasn that l had sold some
poison to Mr.. Beecher in the year 1871 l
turned round on my chair and spoke to
Rev. J. Beers Presbyterian clergyman, who was
on o visit TO my family and who at the time was
sitting with me. | called his attention to the
phTaRIdpH anu SAiuv 'DO you SEQ mrs. MOulLOn
tesliaes that Beecher told her that he
had some poison In his room, and that
be intended to make away with HIM
SELF | believe sold him some stun
that he could do it with too.n SO impressed was
with the TACT that called my son and told him
TO bring me my ledger, In which l kept MIR.
Beecher's account
THE ENTRY OF THE SALE
When he brought 1t to me said to Mr.. Beers
'Now, we shall soon see II aid let Mr.. Beecher
have any poison for it win be entered here. I
feel sure that did, but let US look TO make assur-
ance doubly suIe.n
Mr.. Beers was, like myself somewhat excited
over the matter, and he expressed great horror
at the thought even that It could be possible 10
a man like Rev. Henry Ward Beecher 10 con-
template putting himself out or existence.
turned TO the account, and there, 20 my great
grief ana SORROW | found the following entry,
which fully confirmed my previous reconec-
tions:-
MAY IL, 1s71-oNE OUNCE OF Prussia ACID FIFTY
CENTS,
and which now show you
Mr.. Beers and myself talked the subject over for
some time, and he tried 10 persuade me not TO
speak OF the fact TO any one. and gave him a
promise finally not TO say word about the sale
or The poison to Mr.. Beecher while the trial was
going on, being convinced that IL was my duty to
keep silent unless called upon by the proper per-
son. |, as have previously stated, give you this
Information now most unwlllingly.
SEEKING A KNOWLEDGE OF PoIsoNs.
The circumstances attending the sale OF the
prussic acid 70 Mr. Beecher were wildly brought
10 my mind Immediately | saw the entry In
the ledger, although. from the time I sold the
poison until the moment | read Mrs. Moulton's
evidence, l had FORGOTTEN the fact | remem-
Der Mr.. Beecher coming into my store on the
day mentioned and chatting With me, as
was often his habit when, alter we
mad talked on general topics. the con-
versation was turned by Mr.. Beecher 60 the
subject Of poisons. lie questioned me about the
several kinds aud asked about their component
parts. their general effect, &C. After talking
with him on these points for some little time he
made the inquiry as to what the effect or arsenic
would be on the human system. what dose it
would require TO destroy life. what tae
symptoms would be alter lt was taken
into tue stomach, ana what appearance
the body would present after death.
| explained all these points to him, and he then
asked me II did not think arsenic would be she
best thing for man to take n be wanted TO make
an end OF his life. To this replied that thought
not Prusslc aclu would be, In my opinion, the
quietest and surest thing to take. We stu kept
on talking on poIsons and he again asked me
WHAT THE SYMPTOMS WOULD BIZ
after man had taken dose Of prussic acid. he
also asked me what sort or an appearance the
face would present Immediately before and after
death, ana whether there would be any Indications
observable Dy whicn people could detect that q
poison had been taken and that the death had not
been brought about By natural causes He ike
wise asked me II there would be any odor or smell
Observable that would lead to the conclusion
that there had been anything wrong. I
explained all these points pretty thoroughly 70
him, and in the course or so doing told him the
quantity that would Kill person. The conversa-
ton At the time made but little impression on my
miud, for / thought he was merely asking me the
questions he Gid out OF curiosity.
Finally, just before he was leaving the store, he
asked me to give MIN some prussic acid, which
ID, not thinking that he had any intention Of
making an improper use OF II. In fact, no such
thought entered my head. gave him one-ounce