Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-05-30
A Terrible Charge.

Davis, formerly pastor of the Free Will
Baptist Church of this city, the charge
being nothing short of u statement that
he has been guilty of an attempt to
murder his business partner. Under
this damaging charge he to day rests in
the village of Madelia, where lie has re
sided for some time past. DR.. G. 0.
Cooley, medical expert, who las fig
ured conspicuously in the case, arrived
in the city on Saturday evening for the
purpose of making M analysis of the
evidence of the crime, in cOnjunct ion
with Prof. Peckham, chemist ut the
University of Minnesota. From him
the particulars of the Case have been
learned, and his story is substantially
that which follows: Mr. Davis about
year ago removed to Mudelia, where
he embarked in the milling bust.
ness with q man named Fisher, no
supplied the greater share of the CAPT
tai. Their business relations, so far as
known, have been uniformly VI s-ant.
On Monday evening last Mr., Davis was
in company with Mr.. Fisher and the
miller III their employ, ant took from
his pocket II handful Of ruisins, which
he presented to Fisher. The miller
states that Davis then took from AL
other pocket a q uantity of raisins which
lie .auded to him, and which were
eaten without disastrous effect. Mr..
Fisher ate u few of the raisins and laid
the remainder on the window Shortly
after the three separated and Mr.. Fish
er was taken with spasms, and DR..
Cooley was called in. He administers (
eme;ic and succeeded in saving the
iaau = lie. MIR. Davi' was arrested
charged with an attempt to poison
Fisher and was bound over to trial in
the sum of $1,000, and is to be ar
raign.d tomorrow morning. Doctor
Cooley came to this city. bringing
ahout two thirds of the substance vum
tied up and the raisins untuten, which.
i'll conjunction with Prof. Peckham. he
this morning subjected to chemical
anal, sis. In the vOmit they found
about one-huDdredth part of IL grain Of
s,rychnine, and in the raisins small
particles of the same deadly poison
He returned to Madelia this afternoon
accompanied 10y Prof. Peckham, to give
evidence i'll the case Tomorrow morn.
ing. Such, in substance, is the stor,
of Cooley, and though the evidence ap
pears To he direct against the reverend
gentleman, his frienIs in this city, " no
have unbounded faith in his inlegrlt,
and honor, will refuse to believe he is
guilty of The charge until positive anu
convincing evidence is produced in a
court Of justice. The motive of the
crime Is AS mysterious and unreasun
able as the charge itself as made agains,
MIR. Davis. The only theory thus far
advanc. Il by the friends OF Mr. Fisher
is that if the latter had been put out of
tie way the management of his prop
erty would have fallen into the hands
probably Of Mr.. DAVIS. The case will
undergo judicial examination.
A Tribune reporter met DIR. Cooley
and Prot Peckham again this afternoon
psf as hey We're tmbarking on the
ram Tor Madelia. Prot. Pvckham SAYS
there Is no doubt of the presence OF the
poison Ill the raisins ana matter entities,
from the stomach. Particles were
picked out Of the fruit sufficient, Prof
Peckhan says, to xiii hall dozen men
amt the color test fully established tn.
presence OF poison in the matter from
the stomach. DIR. Cooley is as 10th It's
anybody to believe that Mr.. Davis is
guilty Of the charge made against him,
Dhl Stands convinced after the examiia
tioh Which has been made. though he
is ut i"ss for motive to inspire the act
Inc business relations OF Fisher and
DAVIS had been pleasant; they lived in
Tue same house and every thing was hal-
monious. Mr. Fisher states that twice
previous to the more successful test lie
thinks an attempt was made upon his
HE. Once he was handed raisins by
Mr.. Davis which had bitter taste ann
were spewed out after they had been
taken into his mouth. An apple was,
at another time, given him, and after
being tasted was thrown away for the
same reason. DR.. Cooley further states
that When Mr.. Fisher tasted of the last
lot OF ralsins he made the remark that
they were very bitter, ana asked the
others l: theirs were in the same con
dition. The miller and boy who was
present. both agred that such was the
Case. When the suspicion was we'll
founded that the patient had taken poi
son, the discarded apple was sent for
aud not found. Mr.. Davis inquired the
next morning why parties were in the
mill the night before, aud asked il they
were IN search for the apple. He WAS
toll such was the case. Why" he
remarked. picked it up and ate it,
and it did not kill me, either" DR..
NSooley states that the singular and mys
y nous affair has plunged Madelia into
agreat excitement, aud every body is at
loss for solution of the mystery.
Those that will not believe Mr.. DAVIS
guilty, resort to belief in attempted
suicide by Fisher-or possibly put up
JOB to destroy Davis, but testimony will
10 produced that the poison. laden mat
ter was sealed Immediately after Fisher
was taken i'll, and in that condition de-
hvered to Prof. Peckham.
1t Is due to Mr. Davis to say that dur
ing his residence OF several years in
minneapolis, his character WAS ire.
proachable, aud no evidence will con.
vince the friends who knew him, of
Ills guilt, unless it should appear that
insanity inspired the deed. Minneapo-
us Mimi Tribune.