The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-18
A FEMALE FIEND.
4 SERVANT GIRL cosrEssrs TO HAVING por-

A SERVANT GIRL coNFEssEs TO HAVING POI
soNED THE CHILD OF HER EMPLOYER
On the I'd inst. Nicholas Keynes, the proprietor Of
lager beer saloon at No. 30 Third avenue. buried
bright little boy OF and half years after ILL.,
ness Of about month, tho cause OF death being u
was supposed scarlet fever and Inflammation Of tho KID
ncys The attending physician made out the ncces-
sary certificate OF death to that effect and the body
inferred Greenwood Cemetery. Yesterday confes-
sion was mado by servant girl IN the family named
Au susta Kasson, aged nineteen years, that tho child
was poisoned by her. Tho story, however, must Be
taken for tho present with some little caution,
as a suspicion exists that tho grl is insane.
Yet the manner In which she told the story OF the
dreadful crime gives it an appearance Of TRUTH The
manner in which the discovery was made Is as fol-
lows
Shortly before seven O'Clock yesterday morning Mrs.
Keynes called to the bedroom Of the girl by Grief
OF pain Sho acted II quite ILL., and ON being asked
tho cause, answered that shs had taken poison little
while before Tor the purpose OF ending her lfo MrA
Keynes became alarmed and hurrodly sent for DR..
Racle who administered magncsia and other counter
acting medicines. The girl explained that the poison
she had taken oxaic acid, AMI pointed to cup
standing on the manic TO corroborac her statement
Dr. Racfc examined II and ound traces Of the poison.
by tho family Tor cleaning copper kettlcsand brass
work. After the physician had brought his patient
Of danger ne took his departure promising 20 70:
called her mistress the bedside and in solemn and
impressive voice SAID, "Mrs Keynes, have terrible
secret TO tell you but you must promise never 10 III
BIO, Mrs. Keynes gave the promise Then the g.r rc.
lated that few hours prior to the death vi to Char.
Icy she had
GIVEN HIN DOSE or SAME POISON
with which she intended TO tnkc her own liic Point
ing 10 tue empty cup the girl continued, "and that
the very cup out OF which gave II to him. =
Hardly creditng her senses, Mrs Keynes hurried
after her husband whom she related the cor cssvn.
Tho police promptly notici, and Coroner Eckhoh
summoned to tho house. To HIM tho girl made
that she gave the child the poison because she wanted
TO him net ''quecr," and further said that low
days atcrward she gave some TO pet cat In tho house
that died In minutes from It's effects Tho iamily
corroboTacd the latter statement as they marvcllcd
much at the time 10 the cause OF death OF the cat
confession copied AMI the g'rl sufficiently re-
covered the Coroner had her committed 10 tho TOmbs
without bail 10 await further Investigations Al the
same timo he forwarded request TO the Brooklyn
authorities the body oil the child exhumcd thu
a post morton examination might be made.
Augusta Kasson entered Mr. Keynes employ on tbs
10th of May, having IRON the intelligence Office
OF Mrs Bloch near BY. For the frs week she worked
faithfully but after that she did give satisfaction
and Mrs. Keynes threatened 10 dismiss her or her
Blooms oicc the day Of her engagement and offered
references, but Mrs Keynes liking her appearance, did
not insist on any.
Dr. Raclc who attended the deceased, stated 10 the
reporter last night that he could hardly believe %.
child bad been poisoned, AS u showed no symptoms Of
death from that cause. DR. I.iniann was In consuIta
ton With him Ia tho and both were convinced
that death resulted from scarlet foyer and Inflammation
Kidneys His only theory was that the girl was
insane and yet lie admitted that sho did not present
evidence OF insanity when no treated nor yoaser
day morning.
The post norton examination will DO madc to-day.