The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-02-09
FIFTH DAYS PROCEEDINGS.

On Friday morning, the first witness TO testify
was
Anna aCharles-residence, Orange township, Han
cock County am is years of age; daughter of
Elijah Charles have four full brothers, and one
half brother; mother died June 1876 was in
bed, SICK at the time of the death OF mother; had
cramps in my limbs, headache, very thirsty symp-
toms came on Thursday, the Sth Of June, 1876
sickness came on about fifteen minutes after eat
ing dinner when was seized with vomiting saw
uncle, the defendant in milk house at three diff
ferent times, Wednesday afternoon; as witness
passed milk house saw him there, standing near
the ehurn yeast pot was about three feet distant
from the churn mother at this time was at the
well, about eighty feet distant from the milk
house; nom the wen, eonla not see mto spring
not remember to have ever seen uncle in the
spring house before that day. On Thursday, June
sth Thomas. his wife and child, came TO our house
at 10 O'Clock; our family, consisting Of father,
mother, two sisters, one brother and myself, were
all at home; at dinner, mother did not come to
the table, was too sick at the stomach mother
had tasted aside from bread, of some canned cur
rents currents had been put up the year before,
and had been placed in new can; upon the table
were preserves currents, lettuce, pork, potatoes,
tea, bread and butter; table remained standing
several hours, all in he house were sick uncle
Isaac remained in the house during the night All
the members OF the families, previous to the sick
ness in June, had enjoyed usual health yeast was
kept in u stone crock in the milk house. After
father returned home, in the evening. uncle Isaac
them. Was present when mother died on morn
ing of her dea th, about twenty-five minutes be-
lore she died, she en9uired; Can't some OF you
women help me9'' Mr.. N. Parks was at the house
on the evening before her death. Mother. pre-
yious TO her illness stated that she had troubled
dream, which was that uncle Isaac had come to
kill US all before relating i she said Anna this
Is my DREAM, This was Tuesday evening, June
9Th. On the day OF the poisoning, uncle Isaac
came to the honse shortly after the arrival of the
doctor heard him say: This must be sick wheat.
The next indication Of sickness after mothers at
tack, was little Eddy. my brother, who commenced
vomiting while yet at the table
Cross-exsmined-Uncle came Thursday, June
9Th currents were put up BY an aunt; spoons in
the house were of iron and german silver; water
Of which tea was made was boiled in sn iron ket
By prosecution-They were the same tea kettle,
same sugar, same water and same crock OF yeast,
that had been in use previously.
Dr. ~ B. Finefroek, swornEKesidenee N !s Nan:
ant am q druggist; met defendant In my store
about the middle or latter part OF March, 1876;
entered my store one day in the month and year
named Just as WAS passing out, and proposed TO
purchase prussic acid T; defendant stated that a
doctor in his town wanted some; would not take
Il then but would call as he returned and get IL
defendant remarked, it is powerful poison, is IL
not? and said that druggists In his town did not
keep ii. -
Eugene Rogers sworn-Reside in Kenton, seven
teen miles from Ada occupation, druggist; prs
Oner came 10 my store April ., 1870; sold him
arsenic, don't remember t5e amount Witness
produced his memorandum book and read Il.
B. Charles, April 25, 1876"
Cross-examined- no -ecollecton OF having
old him the arsenic-his book being his only
guide Testimony Of this witness ruled ont for
The reason that the recollection OF witness did not
correspond with his memorsndum
IOhn sharp druggist, Ada, swOrn.-KnOw de-
fendant. March 10th, 1876 defendant purchased
about One-half an ounce, as near as can recOl-
leet of arsenic; believe he said he wanted II for
rats five cents would buy tablespoonful
ID A Watt sWorn.LOn 10Th March 1876, resided
al Ada; that day heard defendant ask for arsenic.
which was sold 10 him; understood defendant tn
say that he wanted il for dog or rats.
Narv Sewella Charles sworn.-Am Is years o;
age: reside in Orange twp; was al home in June;
| fathers name is Elijah: defendant IS fathers
brother and was at our house June 6th, 1876;
came in the afternoon; father was absent, and
uncle remained until his return; whole family,
| including myself. were Frustrated by violent
illness which commenced directly after dinner on
Thnrsstay, June sth: Friday afternoon, June lOth
uncle said that witness appeared just as his first
wife had a short time before her death; also said
that he thought the disease the result Of sick
| wheat; saw Thomas wife feed her child tea and
bread; saw mother die, and saw her body after
/ death.
/ family OF Elijah Charles, Hancock Co. who are
our nearest neighbors. Mrs. Melissa Charles and
| witness knew each other from childhood June
7th 1876 in the afternoon. SAW defendant at house
Of Elijah Charles; saw him about the porch, and
/ saw him enter the milk house door about sun
down: was at the house of Elijah Charles about 10
oeioek Ihnrsday tn; on ,r lnvlanon o o. oidt hrs
4
one of the boys Willie called 10 me % come over
| and witness responded ct once; Mrs. Charles
thought the families were all poisoned, and that
/ they would all die remained all that night and
/ helped give the medicine and take care of sick:
i Isaac took the medicine and put 1t in his pocket;
saw deceased feed her youngest child some sweet
ened tea and bread, such as was eaten By the bal
/ anee OF the family; rubbed Helissa's limbs wheE
eramping: went home at O'Clock. A NJ, and re-
| turned az A "; they were all becoming wOrse,
| prisoner told me he thoui ht IL was sick wheat
| and he said IL worked like arsenic: said he had
studied poIsOns, and their aetion on the system;
Mr.. Isaac Charles, wife Of prisoner, came 70 the
house with him; heard him say 10 her not 70
l touch anything on the table; told her after
I they come that he thought there was poison In
| The bread; saw Dr. Sturgeon take from the un-
cleared table after his arrival at house, some Of
the new bread portions Of the same that she saw
Mrs. Melissa Charles feed the baby; prisoner, on
| second day at supper was particular TO enquire
| about the bread. and when informed that the
bread then on the table carte from HarmOn's, be
/ partook Of supper
and put il In his pocket; at least saw him take
medicine out Of bis pocket; turkey died OF hsy-
ing eaten the bread.
| Mrs Mary'Park sworn-Residence In Hancock
county, and live near neighbor 10 Elijah Charles,
| IN the dey OF the outbreak Of the illness in the
Charles families. was called upon By Mrs. Binkley
| whole Charles family were sick and wanted help;
| Mrs Binkley and witness proceeded Immediately
TO Mr., Charles house. and commenced the work
of administering % the suffers as best they could
all were vomiting and suffering other pains: We
Il waited upon nine OF them: were all sick before
the doctor came; remained az the house until
about O'Clock; defendant and wife were present
and he addressed his wife especially urging thai
she dp not partake of the bread Repeated testi
mony Of witness previously sworn regarding Dr
SfurEeon's taking bread from the table and secuF
ing it a. specimen Tor analystS Was not pres
ent ct Aeliss's death symptoms were shout th<
Cros-e1xmined-Thomas child was led Of IN.
/ broad and sweetened tea; seven horses BELONGING
10 hrBband were poigoued dRriux earIy uart o