The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-04-14
End OF . Remarkable Criminal Case.

! -
EvAssvrLLI, April l2.-One Of the
most remarkable and mysterious Grim
inal cases on record in the West, has
just come to an end in this city. A
German named Edward Leyer, farmer
in Warrick county, thirty miles from
here, was arrested last Decem Der, charged
with poisoning the cistern Of neighbor,
named Frederick Cook, from the effects
OF which Mrs. Cook and members OF the
surrounding community we're poisoned,
and Mrs Cook died. Mobs attempted
to hang Leyer twice, but he escaped, and
was brought to this city for trial.
An analysis of the cistern and
the water was had and q substance found
on the curbing and the stomach of the de-
ceased discovered arsenic in deadly
quantities in the cuticle, but none was
found in the stomach. Leyer was tried
here and the defense contended that the
absence of arsenic in the stomach was
proof that she was not poisoned, and that
the arsenic was placed in the cistern after
death by the enemies OF Leyer. Expert
medical testimony of an important nature
was introduced TO prove that she might
have been poisoned and 10 arsenic found
after death. Leyer was convicted by
the jury and senteLced to prison for life
The next day be attempted suicide.
cutting his wrist with bit OF glass. 1t
was discovered and his life saved. He
grew gloomy and despondent The case
was appealed TO the Supreme Court, and
last Tuesday evening he died suddenly,
after being dresry fer day. There
was suspicion that he had died Of poi
son furnished by his wife, who had brought
him food. The food, stomach and con-
tents were examined and analysed. The
coroners jury adjourned to-day, and
the chemist reported that no poison
could be found. he gave it as his opin-
ion that death came from the
administration OF hydrocyanic acid,
q volatile poison, which
in some cases produces convul-
sions, but may act as sedative and pro.
duce symptoms similar to those recorded
in Leyer's death. 1t is poon so deadly
that fraction of grain will cause
death in case the action is sedative. 1t
is evident that it has not been inflsmma
tory, as there were no signs of that kind
in the stomach. The poison can only be
discovered by the peculiar odor it causes,
resembling the fragrance of peach bios
SONS. On Wednesday Prof. Achilles
searched for this in the stomach, but
found no traces Of 1t. He states, how
ever, that in cases of long exposure after
death, before examination, as in Leyer's
case, the odor of the poison might dis
appear, aud when it had acted as seda-
tive, no traces of the poison could ever
be detected. Another doctor also
gave similar opinion. A third |
physician thought that he died OF
and fright. Leyer WAS
q file maker and had used hydrocyanlc |
acid in the preparation of steel, and WAS
acquainted with its properties |
and effects. On the other hand, his body |
was perfectly healthy and no sign ofrup.
ture or disease in the heart and brain
sufficien. to have produced death. The |
jury returned verdict of death by ur-
known means. The community has been |
violently agitated by the affair, and it is
n most sill gUlar case. Opinion Is greatly |
divided rs to his guilt or innocence, and |
rs to his death His son, who was in-
dicted with him, fed, and wrote a letter
back confessing the deed and exculpat-
ing his father. The son Is still at liberty.