Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-04-20
A PASTORS FEARFUL CRIME.
POISONING HIS WIFE TO MARRY A RICH
MEMBERS DAUGHTER-TOUCHI SCENE
WITH THE DYING wOAIAN-ARREST OF
THE MINISTER.

&C., Sc. &C.
A fearful tragedy has just occurred in
Ashton, a thriving village of Illinois,
which has created much excitement. About
year ago the religious denomination
there called the ''Christians" called to
their pulpit Rev. S. H. MCGEE, aged thir-
ty-six years, who brought with him his
family. consisting of his wife, one year his
junior, a daughter fifteen years of age and
a son aged thirteen. One of the most
prominent members of the church was a
wealthy and influential farmer named
Thomas Paddock, who had daughter
about twenty years of age named Lorell
or "Rilla' AS she was called. The tragic
result Of the new minister's arrival is thus
described III letter to the Chicago Til
bune:''
1t WAS soon observed that the preacher
showed decided preference for the socie
ty of Rilla, and 1t was said by many thai
the young lady returned this fondness.
When this preacher made his advent here
tIilla was engaged to young man named
rhrOop He had been here but a few
months when, it is reported, Mrs. ThrOop
saw the preacher kissing or attempting to
kiss her prospective daughter-in-law at
camp meeting. This enraged the old lady.
She made row about it. She was deter
mined to have a church meeting over the
matter, but the affair was finally hushed
up 'sto avoid bringing the church of God in
to scandal"
Some time about the 10th of February
Mrs. McGee became i'll. and DR.. Brown, a
physician OF excellent repute in this section
of country, was called to attend her. The
symptoms kept changing, and about the
time he determined it was one thing, it
would appear to be something else. TO
the doctors mind there were indications
of poisoning. However, III the course Of
a few days she so far recovered that his
visits ceased. About the 25th he was again
called, and after leaving four powders, the
first of which was administered by himself
he left. This was about nine O'Clock in the
evening. At two o'clock the next morning
he was again sent for. The symptoms
were alarming. He found that the pow
ders had all been given, and the patient
was in spasms, Rilla Paddock was in the
house, with several other ladies, in atten-
dance upon the patient. The doctor asked
her to go to the drug store, not more than
a hundred yards removed, and tell the
druggist to give her some chloroform. The
Druggist compiled with the request, but as
soon as Rllla was gone he hurried 20 the
doctors house and asked Mrs. Brown to
run over to the parsonage and call her hus
band, as he wished to see him on important
business. Mrs. Brown complied. AS soon
as the doctor came into the house the drug
gist remarked to him that he believed that
he was dealing with q case Of poisoning, as
elder MCGEE had called there early in the
afternoon and procured some strichnine.
This confirmed the doctors worst fears.
He hurried back to the parsonage rs fast
as his legs could carry him, and as soon as
he entered the sick room he gathered from
the floor the papers which had contained
the powders and the spoon with which
they had been administered. He also di-
rectly ordesed coffee as an antidote. The
nurses at the bedside Instantly surmised
what was in the DEBTORS mind, and remark
ed to one another, "this means poison
At the request which followed the de-
cease of Mrs. MCGEE, Mrs. Freeman Net
Teton, one Of the nurses testified that
when the patient took the first powder, adj
ministered by the doctor himself, she made
no remark. Two hours later, when she
ooh, how bitter this isl The third pow
der called for no remark. On taking the
fourth, however-sle was already in
spasms-the patient again spoke up, say
ing, ooh. this is terribly bitter this is like
the second one." Mrs. Niece died short
ly after six O'Clock in the morning, the last
hours of her life being marked by terrible
commissions. AS she expired her knees
were so tightly pressed against her chest
as to leave their impression there.
The physician advised a post-.nortem
examination, and the Coroner was sum
moned. The evidence being exceedingly
Ior, iT,r ho Of # tn, (Ilioou,.
for analysis, the jury in the mean time adj
juurning until such analysis should be
made.
On Friday night the report came from
Chicago that the chemist had found one
grain of strychnine in the stomach. On
last Saturd " the Cororner's jury held their
adjourned session. AT this time Dr.
Brown gave important testimony addition
al to what he had deposed ut the first NEST
ing OF the jury. Then he only rected the
facts as presented in the above narrative,
with some additions, to the effect that he
had tasted the papers containing two Of
the powders and found them bitter also
the spoon, with which the powders were
administered-whiI the powders he had
prescribed being composed of bismuth and
calOmel were tasteless The addendum he
gave to the following effect:
On the day following the death, the doc
tor had a conversation with MCGEE in the
rear of his barn. The doctor said, "This
is a bad business the talk about town
about poisoning, is liable to injure me.
There has got to be some investigation in
order to save my reputation. ''-Ihen the
this spooa business any way? 81 have
the spoon," remarked the doctor. ''Well,
can't you fix it; can't you put some qui-
nine in it to conceal the taste at the poison !;
that may help me-"
The preacher does not deny this conYer-
sation, except in regard to one. word. He
claims that he did net say that 'sthis may
help me-" but ''Thls may help u.s."
The jury returned a verdict chat s'Mrs
MCGEE came to her death by being poison
ed with strychnine, and that from the evil
dence they believed the drug was admin
istere1 by Mr.. McGee."
On Monday morning the reverend gen
tleman in charge of a constable, was taken
to Dixon, where he now languishes in Jail,
awaiting his trial for murder.
MCGEE was exceedingly dressy, wearing
his stovepipe hat jauntly Oh one side, sport
ing goatee. He was born in Clinton
county, Pennsylvania, in 1911, and married
when 20 years Of age, while his wife was
10. He moved to Indiana, where he was
Vice President of the Eel River Confer
ence Of Christians. He has been a minis
ter since 1861, and pastor at this place about
lime months. 1t now transpire5 that he
bought stTychnire twice from the same
druggist, and the first time corresponds
most suspiciously with the inception CT
his wife's sickness, month ago. People
suspected him at the time of an intention
to poison his wife, and 1t was common
gossip that he was trying to get rid Of her
with a view of marrying Rilla, in order
that he might get a slice OF Paddock prop
erty. The Old gentleman has two daugh-
tets married, and Ill each instance he made
his sons-in-law a present Of farm. Of
course he would have done no less for the
husband of Rilla.
10 I.ad mi. II