The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1879-11-09
ARSENIC MISTAKE.
DEATH OF THE WIFE OF EX.Goy. LETCHER
OF KENTUCKY.

DEATH OF THE WIFE or EX-Goy. LETCHER
OF KENTUCKY.
At S o'clock p. H., Oct 30, Mrs Char
lotte Letcher, reiict of ex-Gov. Letcher
died at her residence in this city. Although
she had reached the ripe age OF 81, the cir
cumstances attending her death are very
sad, the immediasc cause of her denise be-
ing the administering of arsenic by MS
take for burnt alum. She had been in her
usual health except slight cold, accom-
panied by hoarseness, and in cndcayorng
to relieve herself from the latter the fatal
mistake was made, the powder from paper
Of arsenic which was in le house being
used instead of the alum.
Mrs. Letcher, who was the youngest sis
ter of the late Chief Justice George Rob
erson, next 10 him in age, and the youngest
of a family of ten children, was born in
Mercer county, Kentucky, on the 9th day
OF May, 1893.
Her father was Alexander Robertson, and
her mother Margaret Robinson. They
were both Vlrginians, from the Roanoke
valley, Montgomery county, and were both
of Scotch Irish descent. They were among
the first settlers in Kentucky, coming to
Gordons Station, in Mercer county, in the
"hard winter" of 1910, and reaching their
destination on the day before Christmas.
Judge Robertson, in his autobiography, in
speaking OF their trials, says; During
the hard winter, my parents lived in an
open cabin, without chimney, and which
had been bmlt for a smoke-hOuse. The
cold was so severe as TO prevent either their
thinking the cracks Or adding chimney
have heard my mother say that the frozen
breath often made the ham on her head
stand out as so many icicles, and that the
midest day during that winter was, to he!
feelings the coolest she ever felt before OF
since. And have heard her also say that
their only food was green buffalo meat
without bread or salt, Nevertheless, they
enjoyed good health, and were happy will
the prospects before them.
Her father was member of the first
county court Of Lincoln county, of which
Mercer county then formed part, HI
was elected delegate to the Virginia con
vention of 1878, called to ratify the fedora
constitution, and also member Of the Nir
ginia Legislature succeeding the convention
He, with Patrick Henry, and all the Ken
lucky delegation except Humphrey Mar
shall, voted against the adoption Of the con
stitution
At an early age she married Robert P
Letcher, who was at that time citizen o
Girard county. He was elected to con
gress IN 1923, succeeding John Speed Smith
and continued member Of that body IN
til 1885. In 1910 he was elected governor
appointed minister to Mexico in 1910. Up
on his election as governor lie removed Il
Frankfort, which continued to be his resi-
dence until his death.
Mrs Letcher was a lady who, in he
prime, was conspicuous equally for her &C
complshment Of mind and her grace o
person, adjoining every station to which sh'
was called by the prominence of her dis
tinguished husband. Her old age was mel
lowed by the faith Of the Christian, AM
cheered by the love of her relations, and tn
, respect of all who knew her Her funeral
which took place yesterday afternoon at
o'clock, was very largely attended
If juryman is not to be allowed to Sc
any one but the other jurors and the Sheriff
during the progress of a trial, we shoul
/ like to know how he is to inform hi
+, friends which way to bet 1t II get t
that pass that it's no object to man t
sit on jury if things continue in this way
Boston Post.