The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-08-25
Wholesale Poisoning.
A Sad Ending TO a EHappy
Gathering.
TWENTY-FIVE PERSONS ACCT.
DENTALLY DOSED WITH
ARSENIC.

Sunday last, the 10Th inst, vii!
long be remembered by many families
residing on The Sand Fork Of the Ia.
uawha, in this county. Our citizens
will remember that that section Of the
county is owned and occupied by q
hard working and thrifty settlement Of
Irish people, who, by the labor Of
years, have. made what used to he con-
sidcred a desert, one Of the richest
portions Of our community. Among
tho FIRST Of tho settlers was James
Murray, man who. after toi!iug al.
most life time, has surrounded him
self with all tho comforts OF life, and
in his old age is enjoying the fruits Of
bis labor. Like all who come from the
Green Isle, Mr. Murray is hOspitablc
10 4 fault; md he frequently gathers
around him his pcighbOrs and friends.
Last week he invited about % Of his
ucighbOrs to meet at his house on Sun
day, the l9't inst When he proposed
10 have grand dinner, and q chat
with his friends about "auld lang
syuc." Great preparations had been
made for the occasion, and vixen din.
nGr was announced, tho tables fairly
grouncd with the weight Of tho good
things furnished and it is bu. proper
to say that the guests seemed to vic
with each other il doing amplO justice
to the elegant dinner which was spread
before thcm. After the usual courses,
cake and other dclicacics wcrc iu'ro.
dueCd, and all went merry as a mar.
riugc bell ; but shortly after the party
had left tho table some Of them were
taken seriously i'll, and suffered itteusc-
Is from violent and prolonged yonit.
ing, severe headache, cramp, burning
Of the stomach, and other extreme
symptoms. Ia short timc nearly CIV.
cry member Of the party began to suf-
fer in similar way-somc moro &C.
vcrcly than othcrs-unti! not less than
twenty five Mcu, women and children
had been attacked. It then became
evident that the cause Of tue sudden
illness Of tho sufferers was poison, Of
which they must have parIaken during
dinner.
\ messenger was dispatched to town
in hrt haste for Dr.. Arthur NJ. Dent,
who reached the scene Of suffering US
soon as fleet horse could carry him
there, Having carried with him
proper medicines aul antidotcs, he
soon succeeded in relieving his young
hospital Of patients, and he reports to
us that all Of them are now out OF dan
ger, although some are still suffering
from prostralion.-Of course tho man.
ner Of the poisoning was matter Of
interest, and was strictly investigated ;
aud it appears that Mr.. Murray has
been in the habit ofkecping quantity
of arsenic, which he used for the DC.
s'ruction of rats, foxes, squirrels, and
other game. BY sumo mistake, the
paper containing the arsenic had bccu
conveyed to the pantry, aud ito young
lady Who made up tho cake mistook
the poison for b1kiug powders. which
were usually kept on tho same shelf,
1t wos sad mistake; and its result.
ing as it did, in almost killing a large
number Of people, should DO lasting
lesson to our people US 10 tho criminal
error Of keeping pOisOns in way that
might lead 10 death aud suffering.
Among the number who partook
Of the poisOn were Luke White and
wife, James Murray, Thomas Cummings
aud wife, Mr.. - Kcnton and wife,
Michael, Edwin aul Thomas Murray,
Mrs. John Hayden, james White,
Thomas Casey, and several others.