The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-03-01
THE LUCKY LARCENY.


aud the uncle of a couple ofnephews-the
one brothers, and the other sisters
son. These two were his next of kin,
legally entitled, in case he died intestate,
to inherit his property.
Edward Horton, his deceased sisters
son, was decidedly his favorite, and to
him the old gentleman resolved to give
the bulk of his estate.
Charles Courtney, the other nephew,
had inherited handsome fortune from
his father, and, moreover, by his uncle's
will, was entitled to succeed to that left
to his cousin, in the event of the latter's
dying without issue.
Old Mr.. Courtney was one of the halest
of bachelors, when it was suddenly an
pounced, notonly that he was dead, but
that foul play was suspected. A post
mortem examination demonstrated that
he had fallen victim to poison; and it
was given out that the hand that had ad-
ministered it was that of his fayorite
nephew. The public mind was naturally
both surprised and shocked.
1t was not until Edward Norton had
been fully committed for trial for his
uncle's murder that was retained to get
up the defense.
His own statement was, in substance,
this: A physician had been called in to
see Mr.. Courtney on the occasion of
some apparently triding illness, requir-
ing some simple remedy, for which
prescription was written, and handed to
the prisoner to have made up. This the
latter had carried to a well-known, COM
petent druggist, who had put it upin his
presence. The medicine consisted of
three white powders, each folded in a
scrap of paper, and the whole inclosed in
asingle wrapper. They were to be given
at intervals of an hour, and had remained
continuously in the prisoners possession
till tho first was administered, which was
done by himself, Immediately on his re-
turn from the druggists. Mr.. Courtney
grew rapidly worse, and when, at the ex-
piration ofan hour, 9 second powder was
administered, the symptoms became Sc
alarming That's messenger was dispatched
for the physician, who, on his arrival, de-
clared that the patient was suffering from
the effects of poison. An examination o.
the remaining powder disclosed the
fact that it was pure arsenic. 1t was toe
late for any antidote to be available, and
in less than an hour death had relieved
the sufferer. An autopsy of the body
and analysis of the contents of tn,
stomach, left no doubt as to the cause o
death. The presence of arsenic, in 4;
necessarily fatal quantity, was indicated
by every known chemical test. 1t wa
further admitted by the prisoner that h,
alone had access to his uncle's apartment
or had handed the medicine from tn
time it was compounded by the druggis
till the coming of the physician, after tn
second powder had been taken.
The druggist, who was known to be
man of extraordinary caution, and thol
oughly skilled in his business, was read
to swear that by no possibility could an
mistake have occurred in putting up th
medicine.
To make the matter worse, it tran
pired that the amicable relations betwee
the uncle and nephew had been som,
what disturbed Of late, by reason of a
attachment of the latter disapproved
the former, who had gone so far as I
threaten to change his will unless h
wishes were respected.
Who was in company with you fro
the time you, received the medicine tt
you returned to your uncle's house
1 asked the prisoner, desperately gropir
after something to afford ray of hope.
"No one" he answered, "but n
Cousin Charles, whom 1 met near Il
druggists, and who accompanied n
in"
/ drew from Edward the fact tn
Charles saw the medicine put up; walk
with him little way then went ba
for something, Edward awaiting his
turn; then walked arm-in-arm near
home, when Charles left. l also !
minded Edward that, his uncle bel
dead, if he also should die childle
Charles would inherit the whole esta