The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-19
GIVEN POISON BY HER MAID.
PARIS GREEN MINED WITH BREAD AND
MILK JUST BEFORE BEDTIME
Lena Norris's Thrent. against Miss Tompitins.
who Took Her from an Asylum, Gave
Her n Home, aud Tried 10 Educate Her.


Her II Home. and Tried 10 Educate Her
Three or four years ago, Miss Helena
Tompkins, daughter OF Ray Tompkins Of
Somers, Westrhestcr county. took from tho
Sailors Half Orphan Asylum on Staten Island.
a ten-ycar.od girl named Lem Norris to be her
maid. Mr.. Tompkins formerly lived on Staten
Island. Tomukinsville was named after his
father. who was Gov. Tompkins. and tina, Is
why Miss Helena chose her proteg6 from the
Sailors Orphan Asylum. in place OF from some
similar institution In Wcstchcstcr Somers Ia n
hamlet about mile from Purdys Station on
the Harlem Railroad The Tompkinses live in
half manor half farmhouse. that nestcs in n
shady hollow. with broad level meadow on the
right. and woods in the background. Mr.. Temp
kns lost nearly all his inheritance In Wall
street az much as twenty years ago. and owes
his present fortune TO having befrended bus
mess acquaintance who WINS in financial
difficulty. The grateful daughter OF that ac-
quainance. not having married left Mr.. Temp
kns life interest in $4,000. Twenty thousand
dollars was also loft TO Mrs. Tompkins by her
father. 1t was. therefore, to more than ordi-
nnrily pleasant home that Lena Norris went.
But the child did not seem to appreciate the
change. Although she made capable and eff
ncicnt servant in some Respects, there
Ts sSTen9S Hncanny about her yh tGs
conditions on which she WAS bound out to SER
vice WIS that she should he taught in the ole
mentary branches Of education Hiss Helena
became her teacher. For reading. writing. and
spellin., Lena showed some aptitude especially
/ for the first named. and she used to devote her
! leisure TO the perusnl OF everything that came
in her way. II II believed that by hook or by
! crook she gCt possession Of some OF the cheap
/ petnicious llteruture in circulation, and nHed
| her mind with stOries Of crime aud revenge.
| She Is known, indeed. to hHvo rend the more
! Legitimate aud trurr annals OF crime found in
! IN" newspapers with pertinacity worthy OF n
! hotter cnus". But for Arithmetic Lena from tho
] first had dptc-intion. MULTIPLICATION WIS her
| vcNation NJ the start. and she grew duller MS
/ she advanced into fractions and decimals. Miss
/ Helena was \ gentle tenchor. but L"nas dull
/ that pun ishm' nts were often necessary. and
| Ina, when particularly naughty, was kept
! from Sunday school. which was the hardest
cross apparently. that could ba laid upon her
/ When this happened she WIS overheard to NUT
tor TO herself mat she would pay, her oil, y
] meaning Miss Helena, and the word kill " was
nlorr than once distinguished.
About the middle OF tha winter Miss Helena.
who Is somewhat OF an invalid. when about to
take tin ture OF iron prescribed hy her physi-
elm. noticed the odor Of chloroform. On in
speeding the vial a whitish LIQUID was detected
that would not mingle with the iron. A nasty
| araiys showed that the foreign liquid was
culoro,VsHi bottle OF which was Kept in tho
! house in an accrssibla closet. Miss Helena hav-
| ing had Il pres ribbed for neuralgia. Lena was
at once accused OF having mixed the chloroform
IN 8 iron. but ~ she prot sted that She did not
| KNOW what u? en "is Oh the mixture would be.
and appeared 20 be- penit mt. the matter was
overlooked ana forgotten.
About three weeks ago Lena gave the man
servant employed by Mr. Tompkins n five-cent
| coin with a commiss ion 10 purchase Paris green.
| with which. she snld. she wanted 10 kill reaches.
| AZ the poison had been often used for that pur-
! pose the man. mistrusting nothing. bought
| the Paris green ana gave it to Lena.
Having tern more than usually obstinate the
| previous study days about her arithmrtir. Lena.
- q pun, hine nj. WAS Kept at home from church
| md san lay 'hOol a week ago last Sunday. She
had. apparently been offended when she mad
ordered The purchase OF the poison. ana this
punishment added fuel To her wrath. She was
seen ami heard 10 mouth nndemuttrr. and wild
| threats have slnce been remembered to have
come fron>her Miss Helena has long been ac.
custOmrd t. partlke OF bread and milk imme.
dintely ie.ore retiring and that night she, as
usual, ate her late supper. between and
o'fll IL ia tnr morn n. she Pwoke with sever,
pains in her stomach. and began 10 vuinit
She alarmed n. house. amt MS soon ns her con.
bought the Paris green told Mr.. Tompk ms ~ al
ne hnu don" so. aud that lie susg n"trd Miss He
lcna's sudden Illness was the consequence. A
physician WAS sent FOR. who Immediately. OF
or. n and he prescribed the usual antidotes
Sufficient. he said. had been taken TO caus,
death. hgd II not been given in milk. which Ii
an antidOtr Had the poison. he was positive
been given at AN ord nary meal. Miss Tompkin,
would have died. As IL WAS, Miss Helena sOof
recovered. and in few days Was IN her usua
/ health. Lena. on being accused OF the poison
ing. insisted TINT she had bought the Paris
green for the purpose stated. and tried L
SHOW that she had scattered the portion whicl
was missing from the paper that contained |
/ ~ her trunk. No Paris green was 70 b" found
however. and she has been sent back 10 the or
! phan asvlum on Staten Island. No crimina
/ arrangements have been made ~ consign hel
~ the House OF Refuge.