The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-08
MRS. sTEFEHs CASE.
An Affecting Scene Betwceu Mother and
Ds.shter In Justice Eniett's Court.

Mrs. Caroline Sickle, who was arrested
last Thursday evening on complaint OF her
brother. John +. Ropko, OF 80 Ross street Will
liamsburgh. for an alleged attempt to poison
Mr. Ropke. mis- mother. Mrs. Pope. and his half
brother William, was arraignod yesterday be-
fore Justice Elliott. The thirteen year old
boy. John Blankmeyer, who said that Mrs.
Siefkc gave him tho can OF potcheese TO deliver
10 Mrs. Pope. and by the eating Of which Ropke
was made sick. was positive in his Identification
OF Mrs. Sickle. On cross-exam nation the boy
said that he went to Mrs. Sofke's house on
Wednesday night. He was a. positive that II
was Wednesday night as he was that the woman
who gave him the cheese was Mrs. Siefke. In
this he was mistaken however. as he visited
the house on Thursday night.
Dr. Edward Malone, the police surgeon. TO
whom was given the. potchcese for ANALYSIS;
said that be applied Marshalls test to It. and
from that test discovered the presence oil
arsenic. He would not. however, make oath on
that test alone The analysis x0 wh,cn hgs "l
the cheese alone would furnish ncontestble
proof OF the presence OF arsenic. He thought
Mr.. Ropke's symptoms were those oil arsenical
Dr.. j. L. Hasbrouek. who attended Mr.. Ropke
for the sickness which followed his eating OF
the potchecse, testified that Ropko's symptoms
| were those Of arsenical poison ng.
John !: Ropke took the stand and recited th /,
story,of the alleged attempt at poisoning as u
asked him: John Ropke did you. on either
| last Friday night or Saturday or SUNDAY nlgnt
| leave your mothers house with woman VINO
wore a waterproof cloakP"
Tho boys who had seen the woman call young
Biankmeyer 10 give him the can o. cheese ., hh p
testified that they could only recollect that tue
woman wore n waterproof CLOAK. -
On the question being repeated Mr. lopAe
replied: " do not remember"
" You may have done 50 p
| may have" ,t,,nt mr. "A
Mrs Pope. the mother of the cor,pll98n,nvsii' "uu
of the prisoner then gave hef ,,, dau,b
| Have YOU any feelips against your uaueh-
Ter sne ,h was mas kothory feeling toward her
she r9p ~ isking and answering Of this ques;
| tinr Ae mother and daughter. although seated
Two eSt apart h9d Siqd2p@s n y oG M 22 2
ply she looked at her daughter, and tears
started down her cheeks. The daughter cast q
quick glance at her mother. bit her liz. ana
with an effort restrained herself. Tears filled
"As a daughter. how has she behaved toward
-" As child should. She ncycr did anything
wrong. She Is my child. and am her mother
Do | come horo TO testify against herr Oh. no
do not"
According TO Mrs. Pope the lawsuits bctweer
herself and daughter and her husband are the
cause Of all the trouble which has disturbed the
peace 81 their household. Mr.. Siefkc and his
friends deny this. They say that il is because
Mr. Sofke has forbade his wife To associate
with hor people on account Of their improper
After Mrs Popes testimony. tho Assistant
District Attorney asked for an adjournment
Mr. Allen. the defendants lawyer. said he could
and would establish an abb in i've minutes Il
the case WIS allowed 10 go on. The Justice
granted an adjournment. remanding Mrs
Sickle to Raymond street Jail