The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-04
MABEL WHITMAN'S RELEASE.
CHEERS ar THE END or An EXTRA Or
DINARY POISONING CASE


nctent Proof Against the Girl Whose
Friend re Was-The Girrs Deep Emotion.
Isor ne Boston Post
The trial OF the extraordinary poisoning
case which has excited such interest for several
days coded on Friday with the discharge IRON
custody Of both the accused persons. Dr.
Spears testified thnt Dr. Thnycr whom hccal,cd
In consultation. prescribed urscnicn. and that
he tthe witnessl prepared and udministercd it,
He accompanied the remains to Maine ut Mrs
Whitman's request. made when she knew she
WIS dying. His relations with Mabel were those
Of n friend. not Of IA lover. and he was conscious
oihayng behaved toward her always IN an up
right manner. He had not the slightest suspl-
cion that Mabel was In any way connected with
the death Of hcr mother
District Attorney Stevens arose aud creatcd
sensation In the crowded court room by saying
that. he felt II his duty 10 9Sk the discharge OF
DR.. Spears. continuing as follows:
think DR. spears has acted from the best 81 motives
Thc cause oi III. arrest y Or spear. was almost wholly
rsst or iii. person It through the Officers Of station
Of The testimony that has been elected SO lar as the
secused T. concerned In this ease. assent to the dis
rustic Of APPRECIATION went through the
court room. and tho Doctor was formally lib
Grated He rurd the announcement quietly.
and Immediately took his seat and listened in
tently to the Argument ot Mr.. Warren. Mnbels
lawyer, who asked for the discharge OF the girl
on the ground Of insufficient evidence to hold
tation Of his client
Thg District Attorney was then heard. He
established that Mrs. Whitman lied OF poison.
She was stricken down. and her children
were not; she desired to live, and therefore did
not commit the deed with her own hand. The
arsenic was bougl hy Mnbe on the day ot her
mothers return from Maine, Oct. 4. and she
gave false reason for buying IL: namely. TO
kill n cat The fact Of Mabcl's going the second
and third time for poison made the identity
positive. The questions asked the Canterbury
family were very strong evidence against the
girl. regarding how much arsenic would kill Il
person. and II Paris green would show in water
to color IT, When he said m explanation OF
these facts is necessary. he had. he said. said
Judge Warren then spoke substantially as
follows:
The defendant is charged with an unnatural crime.
There ought To be evidence to make " probable.
ocsn happens that the innocent are put to annoy ance
that Justice be done The evidence j. only circuu.
tsstn,ony alone has no weight lie has voiard the law
BY selling poison without keeping record, aud without
win his 6Sndw dunG on it. That payer would have
been destroyed u crime had been committed. The
tnsory e tia; their IS conspiracy that one per
II DOES not seem possible that any young man
see how he could have allowed her TO buy poison to
commit such deed The relations 81 the parties were
Of morbid condition OF The mind but IL was rational
and clear The character Ut Mabel has not been shown
70 DC impnre o m any way wrong Ihsre has not been
fri be discharged.
Loud demonstrations OF approval came from
the spectators and the clerk then asked Mabel
70 stand up. and said IL is the order Of the
Court that you be- discharged"
When the Judge ordered that Mabel be dis.
charged the applause was deafening. Mabel
tainted away. and was carried from the room
py II. X. Brigham. Esq. one OF her lawyers.
Upon coming to she cried: Oh my dear father
and mother in heaven. my prayers have been
ansWeredp'