The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-12-22
A DEED OF DIABOLISM.

THE PARTICULARS OF THE POISONING OF
THE FAMILY OF COL. DENNY, RECENTLY RE-
PORTED IN THE SENTINEL.
The following from the Sun are
the full details of the poisoning
oy a boy of the family of Col.
Denny, of Vincennes: This community
was electrified last Saturday night by the
report that the whole family of Col. W. n.
Denny, postmaster of this city, had been
poisoned. Very little credence was given to
the report at first, but an examination re-
vealed the fact that it was too true. The per-
petrator of this fiendish act Is a boy who
has been working in Col. Denny's
family for the past two months, and
whose name is Charles Sumnell. At an
interview a reporter of this paper had with
elected: The boy, Charles Sumnell,
came to this place with Aymar's
circus when it returned the second
time, during the fair. He went to
Colonel Denny's house one morning nearly
starved, and Mrs. Denny taking compassion
on the young devil, took him into her en-
ploy, little dreaming how her kindness
would be rewarded.
HE WAS A WELL BEHAVED BOY,
and very willisg TO work, so the colonel in
| forms us. The other day Mrs. d. made him
| as 1t had grown TO an unusual length. he
was very unwilling to do it, but finsIly con-
sented. It seems that this trivial thing stirred
up malice in him, and he determined on
| this disbolical deed. He walked into Con
yery's drug store last Thursday, and asked
for an ounce of arsenic, saying ne wanted it
for rats. COnvery, knowing that ne stayed
at Denny's gave it to him, and marked it
poison. He went home, and during the next
day he display ed signs of surliness, but the
| family thought nothing OF it. Saturday
night the family had ster soup for supper,
of which they all psrtOok very freely. In
very few moments after eating the soup, the
whole family, comprising the colonel, bis
wife, two little girls, girl who stayed with
them and Mrs. Hudson's little daughter, be-
came very sick, accompanied with violent
vomiting. The colonel thought that the
oysters were spoiled, but Mrs. d. at once
suspected poison, while the boy exhibited
| signs of great uneasiness, and wanted to 90
| for the doctor. He started of without
waiting to be told, and got DIR. Smith. DIR.
Smith Immediately perceived
SYMPTOMS OF ARsENICAL POISON,
and administered sntidotes to the family.
He then called DR.. Mantle in consultation,
and they snslized some of the soup and
pronounced it favored with arsenic. Joseph
Roseman was dispatched to Convery's drug
store, and he said that the boy had obtained
the arsenic at his store. By the time Joe
had got back to Col. Denny's the young
rascal had made good his escape. At this
writing the entire family had recovered
| from the effects of the arsenic, except Mrs,
| Denny, who is lying in an extremely crit
ical condition, and 1t is doubt
| full If she ever RECEIVERS. The
| boy has not vet been arrested, but
the officers think they have definite infor-
nation as to his whereabouts. II caught,
young villain. One end of a rope tied to
the limb OF tree, and the other end to his
| neck, with about two feet space between
the ground and his feet would be too good
for him. This disciple of Lucretis Borgla is
about nineteen years old, is five feet four
inches in height, stoops slightly, has light
hair and gray eyes, and when last seen, had
on light hat. blue coat and brown pants.
| A reward of $50 will be paid for his recov-
cry, and we hope ere this, the young fiend
has been brought to justice.