The New York herald., 1878-03-02
A DASTARDLY POISONER

A BOTTLE OF GIN AND PRUssIC ACID SENT
ANONYMOUSLY TO AN UNsUspECTING FAM
ILY-HEvENGE THE MoTIvE-A NARROW
ESCAPE.
From the San francisco Chronicle, Fob. 2o.l
On Tuesday, the 18th OF January, a carefully done
up package left at the house OF Mr.. Druckor by
mysterious messenger, who, in roply TO tae inquiry
TO whence 1t came and by whom sent, replied that
he did not know and then disappeared. The package
contained bottle labelled '.Best Holland GIn." 1t
was quietly put away in cupboard for safe keeping
until required, and nothing more said or thought
about It until the following Saturday, wnen, alter
dinner, as Mrs. Drucker and two OF her daughters
sitting in conversation with lady friend of the
family the dining room. the eldest daughter hav.
ing complained OF suffering from indigestion, her
mother suggested to her that she seek relief by
ing spoonful of whskey or oi gin rather than have
recourse physic OF any kind In conseQ uence tho
bottle OF gin was produced and small quantity
thereof poured in wine glass and offered the
liquor possessed rather the color OF sherry than that
oil gin, and some water having beeu added TO it, she
took more sip thereof whoreupon she added that 1t
had not the taste Of gin.
A NARROW ESCAPE.
The eldest daughter swallowed tho dose, however,
and almost instantly fell to the floor writhipg tho
agonies of violent couvulsons accompanied by other
symptoms Indicative OF the presence of prussc acid
A physician was Immediately sent for, and by the
lilo saved, though she suffered for some tmo after.
ward IRON the painful ELECTS oi tho poison. The lady
friend Of the family who mad tasted the ad adulterated
cordial also taken Ill, but owing to the very small
quantity which She had tasted sho suffered great
Inconvenience therefrom.
A DREADFUL POISON
An examination OF The liquor contained In the bottle
with prussic acid, The most deadly and violent OF
poisohs. No clcw could be found by which 10 trace
the motive or the deed TO It's author. inc unknown
reward was advertised, but II brought no response
Detectives were put on Tho alert, but for somo time
tho source oil the matter and AL connected with II re-
maincd cnveoped In the darkest folds OF mystery,
and the officers buhlcd In every effort lnd a
clew which might lead " revelation OF moro light
upon the subject.
About two weeks ago M Drucker received an
anon letter inqnring II he had received a bottle
OF GIN corresponding IN description to tue
tanning the deadly fluid, aud requesting that an
WeIs Fargo Co. Is Office Captain Stone, OF the de-
tectives, at once put In possession OF the letter
Tho desired reply was sent as requested, on the 9th
inst and an incossant and unrolcnling watch man.
tanned at the express office. For week no one called
Tor the letter, but on last Saturday morning party
| put in appearance and made q demand Tor 1t,
whcreupon the clerk who delivered II gave the signal
previously agreed upon TO the officer, and the mao
was spotted. Alter having road the answer he pro-
ceeded 10 writo reply thereto at o the desks In
lhs ROOM and he nnishedI Captain stone arrested
| hlm The letter which he had written a confess
sion that he had written the label the bottle, but
| exoneratng himself from any further completely In
| the mater He gave his name as Jonn Hetzier said
he miner by trade, was forty.hvc years OF aRo
and that the principal In the a.topt AT poisoning The
| Drucker family was one Frederick W. May, oil the
Same age, fellow lodger OF his at tho Coso House
he assisted Captain Stone IN his
for May, who managed to keep out OF the way until
Monday night when he was apprehended
| "REvENGE Is SWEET"
In diary kept by May are SAID 10 bo inscribed tho
words, "Revenge Is sweet" and other sentences Of
showing how he had gloated over
his near approach 10 successful execution OF ms
| diabolica aud malicious plot. BY q strangc coinc-
dence also remembered that the day that the
poison delivered at the house May was seon Ia
| Darroom AZ the same time that Mr. Druckor was
taking drink, and was heard 10 say that he intended
sending up TO his house botte OF gin. May proOa-
bly, saw his Opportunity, and avaod himself thereof
| without delay. The motives which actuated May to
tho performance OF this cowardly deed are matter OF
conjecture, but Is attributed to deeprooted feol-
ing OF hatred and an nvoteratc thirst Tor revenge
against Mr. Druoker Tor having several years ago. in
| the capacity o administrator oi an estate divided
| equally between her children anu widow whom May
married. nerercd with the atters efforts TO appr0.
| praie her portion Tor his own use lu consequence
OF being thwarcd in his designs upon tho property OF
his wife he abandoned her. ana she shortly alter.
ward obtained divorce. Since then May nas been
the invetcrate enemy Of Mr. Drucker, and no longer
| able to contain and control the bittcvness oi his
spleen, he at last determined to give vpnt TO his
| tired.