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

wednesday morning the panel was filled with
the names OF John Reed and John Cusac. Henry
Brown Esq, presented to the jury the case on be-
half of the State: his speech was elaborate and is
regarded as a forensic effort of rare ability. We
present synopsis OF
MR.. BROWNS SPEECH
to the readers of the JefferSonian. He eommene-
ed by describing the relative distances from each
other of the several poisoned families He then
read and commented upon the statute defining the
character of the alleged crime and the penalty He
charged that the white arsenic that poisoned the
families was deposited in the yeast by the hand OF
the defendant that the bread made with this yeast
caused the poisoning from the effects OF which one
died and ten narrowly escaped death. There were
three separate counts in the Indictment. In order
to find defendant guilty of the crime charged, it
will be necessary that the State satisfy you that
Melissa Charles died on the date Eamed in the
instrument, and that her death was the result OF
partaking OF bread impregnated with arsenic. and
that the crime was committed in Hancock coun-
", DC Under the indictment, you can find the
prisoner guilty of murder in the first degree, in
the second degree. or OF manslaughter.
Having made his preliminary statement, Mr.
Brown proceeded TO rehearse the evidence upon
which the State relied to snbstantate its charges
Defendant was formerly of Richland County, and
during the war was considerable property
holder in Hardin and other counties. Up to
period within two years, he possessed the full
confidence OF the community OF which he was q
resident. His credit and character, up to that
time had never been asSailed-was an honored
member of an hOnored church, &c. But since
that time his downward career commenced and
rarely equaled in one Of human kind He had
been Treasurer of the Borough Of Ada-had
smuggled its funds and forged its orders Was
deposed from ofiiee, and lost his standing in
some wears ago defendant had married in Rich
land county woman of high character and fam
ily-a Miss Dixon. About two years ago this es-
timable woman died under circumstances which
left no room to doubt that she had come to her
death by poisoning. In this house was young
shame from the people of Ada that she leave the
place. and she did leave for Columbus and after
a considerable absence she returned and became
the wife OF defendant These guilty parties are
now both here i'll Court
In January, 1875, the first wife of Isaac B.
Charles died-and after her body had rested in
tine ground year, il was disinterred, and through
the best scientific tests, the presence of arsenic
was discovered in her stomach in large quantities
He hired at Ada, in February, 1875 horse and
sleigh, and visited his aged parents at Bluffton.
He found them in usual health. except his aged
mother. who was suffering from cold. He reached
BlufitOn at about O'Clock in the evening and
round his venerable parents on their knees, en-
plOyed in their usual evening devotion. To ale
viate the malady of his mother, he proposed to
procure medicine at a Button drug store and
administer to her. Two days afterward his mother
died and on the morning Of her death his father
and himself went to the barn to feed stock DC
They passed into the stable together and defend
ant gave out that the old man, while engaged in
cleaning out the stable, had received kick from
an old horse-a horse that had never before been
known TO raise an ungentle hoof against human
being. Within Is hours both parents passed away
The good people of Button were much excited
and manifold were the suspicious. The bodies
were exhumed, and in the stomach OF the old
lady arsenic was plainly manifest No poison,
however was found in the stomach of the old
gentleman. By his reckless ways he had become
bankrupt. The inventory of the personal estate
of the elder Charles footed up s24 600 besides 100
acres of land in Van Vert and considerable tracts
| in other counties. This defendant was one Of
hree brothers, and heir TO one-thtrd the estate.
The brothers OF the defendant, though not
strong intellectually, and not educated business
men, were persuaded 10 permit defendant 10 ad-
minister upon the estate. Having been duly ap-
| pointed, the first business OF the administrator
/ was 20 negotiate at the banking house of Henry
| e. Hedges, Mansfield, $1,000 value in notes, the
property of the estate, and appropriate the pro
| ceeds TO his own use. Mr.. Brown detailed other
instances of squandering. His surety and eo-heirS
became alarmed, and reported to Probate Judge
| 0vermeyer, of Allen County, facts which induced
that Judge 70 remove from the administrator Office
| defendant, and appoint Isaac Thompson admins
traitor, de boQis non, and on the oath day of May
last, Isaac B. Charles filed, under the compulsory
order of the Court. his final settlement account
Mr.. Thompson visited Ada ard notified defendant
| that ii was his (ThompsonfB duty TO notify
/ Charles that he must make settlement Thomp
son said to defendant, Il hope you do not think
hard of me?r mo, not of you, but of my broth
4
| Touching the opportunities defendant had d
poisoning the families, had he been 30 disposed
Mr. B. described the premises of Elijah Charles
Adjoining the log house in which he lived was {
milk or summer house, used as place for keeping
hour, vegetables, milk. &C.. and for making but
ter, washing dishes. preparing dough for bread
&c Melissa Charles mere prepared her yeast 10
making bread, and crock OF yeast was standing
here on Tuesday, the 9th of June last. on which
day Isaac appeared and enquired for Elijah, ant
was informed that he was absent in Putnam
mo
| Defendant remained about the preulises-and j
was noticed by Malissa Charles and he
daughter that defendant had frequent busi
ness in this milk house. Being enqulred o
Al length, as 10 what 50 interested b n
in the milk house he replied that IL was the ehrI
| which he had manufactured and sold Elijah III
was profoundly interested in that ehurn- II VII
appear in evidence that he had been advised o
the absence of his brother Elijah, before leaEini
Ada Mr.. B. then reterred TO the various place
.Ehere defendent had purchased arsenic-at Ada
Kenton, Lima, and PTusiae Acid, Al Mansfield
These purchases were made at different times, ,anf
for the ostensible purpose OF destroying rats. Nr
B. described the isolated situation of defendant
house and said that il any unusual noises haf
there been heard, they did lot proceed from rats
but quite as likely from the disturbed spirits o
his murdered victims
the house of Elijah on Thursday, June sth- Afte
the bread had been baked, and Melissa was reno
! wing it from the pans. she partook OF some bake
that had adhered TO the bake pans. and hence wa
the first affected by the poison. Directly after tn,
table wss prepared, she became suddenly III, anc
her sufenngs were 50 great that she was unable u
ion her friends at dinnet, but cast herself upon
bed The sickness Of the Others soon succeeded
Counsel described the remarkable conduct OF de
fendant on the day Of the poisoning his going ov
er 10 grocery and remarking that his brothers
Families had been poisoned. OF one on the stree
he enQuired, "Do they suspect any onez Dr stur
geon OF Ada, the family physician, who had been
lIoved by the defendant and wife. Defendant
Manifested deep solicitude and took charge of the