The daily gazette., 1876-05-31
FIRST EDITION
Suspected Poisoning,
A UOHi0n Suspected of I'oi.oni,,y
her Husband

TO BE ANALYZED,
The Coroner is now investigating a
case OF supposed poisoning which ap-
pears to be enveloped In mystery and
by romance and scandal.
Great efforts were made to keep this
affair quiet, but the following facts re
known:
1t appears that Edward Downing
well to do farmer about sixty years of
age, near Bear Station, New Castle
Hundred, died on the 18th of March
last, after an illness of less than two
weeks. He was buried at Christiana,
and his death, at the time, occasioned
no unusual surprise or comment.
On Saturday last, Edward Downing,
Jr.; son of the deceased, appeared
before Coroner Groves and made oath
that he believed his father had been
poisoned by his mother, He assigned
as reason for the act That few years
ago a young man named Thomas
Phillips, of st. Georges, had been en-
ployed on his fathers farm, and being
suspected of criminal intimacy with
Mrs. Downing. and had been dis.
charged.
Young Downing further stated that
during his fathers last illness he com.
planned of o burning sensation in his
stomach, and was tormented by bur.
ming thirst. Two days before his
death he was suffering In this manner,
and. told the son that his wife had
given him "too many of those drops"
Afterwards when the young man asked
his mother why she gave her husband
the drops" she answered for the
inward piles"
Although the young man knew
nothing of any criminal intimacy
between his mother and the man
Phillips, he heard frequent intimation
to this effect. One report was that
they met at the. house of a colorcd
woman named Susan Butcher, in Will
mington, and on going to see Susan
Butcher she told him that on ono oc.
casion Mrs. Downing had asked her it
she could not give her something to
put the old man out of the way. \ n,
Mr., Downing also recited other
instances pointing to a criminal init.
macy between his mother and Phillips
and declared his belief that the two
had poisoned his father. The latter
had beena stout hearty man, compare.
lively FREQ from sickness up to a short
time before his death.
Upon the strength Of young Dswn-
ing's statement the Coroner by order
of States Attorney Pennington decided
to disinter the remains ofMr. Downing
and hold an inquest. Accordingly,
yesterday afternoon, he went out to
Christiana, accompanied by DR.. A. II.
Grirhshaw, for this purpose.
Arrived in Christiana he summoned
the following jury of inquest. Abram
Cannon, VIM. l.. Wier, John Lewden,
L. Butler, l.. Ashton, James II. Small
ley, Stephen ]. Markley, John Peters,
VIM. f. Smalley, d. Fl. Egbert, James
r. Vincent, Isaac Stoops. Thos. Mar
tin. VIM. Donaldson, George Allen
w. Il. Cam.
The jury then proceeded to the
burying ground, where the body was
exhumed. 1t was found to be in 6
remarkable state of preservation, de.
composition having scarcely commen
ced.
After viewing the body the Jury
organized by electing Abraham Can
non, foreman, and John s. Lewden,
clerk. A resolution was adopted. de-
claring that the evidence adduced by
the inquest shall be kept profound
secret until it is all received and &
verdict rendered. About a dozen
witnesses were examined. and the jury
adjourned until June 22d.
| AmnnT tho Nyif n,
were Mrs. Downing her, son, thu
complainant, and Phillips, but it il
understood that no terminating evi
dence was elected. Those witnesse,
whose evidence is said to be mort
strong and pointed have not yet beer
examined.
| During the afternoon DIR. Grimshaw
removed the stomach from the hody
of Mr.. Downing, and brought it witt
him to this city. 1t will analyzed by
experts, who will be selected by thu
States Attorney.
| The cost of the affair to the count,
may be considerable; but it would b,
strange if man should implicate hi
mother in such an affair, on mere i'm.
aginatio1.
| hO aAoi ha5 ClCdtcu COuSIueTaDlt
excitdment in New Castle and adioin
ing Hundreds, and various runners are
afioat regarding it. All these storie
will be carefully investigated by tn,
jury, and large number of witnesses
have been summoned. Ono rumor il
to the effect that Phillips has resided
on the Downing farm since the deatl
of Mr.. Downing and that one night
about two weeks ago, he was shot a
while standing at window in tn
house.
The analysis of the stomach will
throw more light upon the matte
than the other evidence, and it was t.
receive this evidence that the iur,
adjourned to such distant day.
Il The stomachl will be analyzed b.
DR.. Grimshaw and Ogle, of this city
new for this delicate dutv