Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-30
AN OHIO BORGIA.
Remarkable Case of Alleged POis.
Onlng-A ScnOOlmiatress Accused.

Remarkable Case of Alleged POis-
OniDg-A SchOOImiatress Accused.
At Fremont, Ohio, an alleged
case Of attempted poisoning has
greatly excited the community.
The person accused is a lady wEo
has for some time taught the public
school. The Cleveland Herald, of
May 23d, publishes an account of
an interview with her in her prison
as follows;
THE ACCUSED LADY.
Miss Smiths face has been de-
scribed as "not handsome" which
is true enough, and yet her face is
not repulSive. Her eyes are large
and deep blue and very prominent,
and their lids at present red and
swollen. Her chin is small and
her teeth large and white. Her
lips are thin and almost transpa-
rent and but partly cover her front
teeth, giving her strange appear
ance. The description is not flat
tering, but for all this she does not
strike one by her comeliness, and
by school children she is greatly
liked.
~ have not much to say" she
continued. 81 have no confession
to make, for | have nothing to con-
fess." This was said voluntarily,
and is probably explained by the
following: "My counsel desire me
to converse with no one upon this
subject, and l prefer not to, am
innocent; | am not guilty"
ct AM NOT A MURDERESs."
| told her that had visited her
old room and had seen her scholars.
" / shall never teach there again."
she said rather mournfully, {" for
circumstances are all against me. /
will try and bear up the best | can,
though, for Ihave others to live for,
you know, as well as myself" In
regard to her arrest she said she
was never more surprised in her
life, and that if she had fallen down
dead in the street her friends could
not have been more completely sur
prised. She was not inclined to
talk much, aud her voice is so small
and plaintive, her appearance and
manner so retiring, that she is hard
to converse with, especially when
under instructions Of silence. No
ticing that the reporter was looking
intently at her, she inquired if she
looked much like murderess, and
said most pitifully, go, believe me,
| am notw
THE POISONING PLOT.
The history of ber alleged guilt,
as sketched in the Cleveland Her
aid, is as follows:
A year ago last Christmas Mr..
Slime was made the recipient of a
handsome cigar case filled with fine
cigars. He was enjoying an even
ing at cards with some gentlemen
friends, when some one lit a cigar,
and he said, Z" Well, guess | can
do that much myself" or some
thing to that effect, at the same
time drawing one Of the cigars from
his case and passing the others
around. He bit the end Of one
and litit, when he was obliged to
throw it way from its extreme bit
terness. The effect was the same in
all. The gentleman could not
stand the taste and the cigars were
unwrapped, when between the leaves
was found a white powder. Mr.,
Slime then supposed that . joke
was being played upon him and
thought that the powder was qui-
nine.
Another peculiar case occurred in
February last. Mr.. Stine's son
Willie, a child Of ten years, goes to
a schoolroom adjoining that Of Miss
Smith. lie is a healthy, robust
lad, never having been sick since
his infancy, and is to-day the very
picture of health. Much to his
parents surprise he was, on the
day above stated, brought home in
spasms. For many hours the doc
tors labored with him, treating him
for fits, Or thinking some brain dis
case bad been contracted by over.