Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-04

ON Thursday last a mysterious occurrence
took place at the jail whereby female prs
oner, Enma Baker alias Baldwin, COMMITTED
about ten days since for passing counterfeit
nited States silver coin for the action of the
grand jury. narrowly escaped death. 1t ap-
package OF eGibleS for Miss Baker, Including a
bottle Of what appeared to be coffee Alter the
olIlcists examined the articles they were sent up
20 neg cen, directly over the office. Within a
lew mlnuter the officials below heard the
most agoniZing screams, and fastening to her
room focnd the woman In excruciatIIs pain.
apparently SO Ill that unless relief was soon
a s sne Would not likely recover. Ipecac
was at once drought into requisItion, and thirty
or forty grains were administered before she
0otalned reliel. She Is now under the care of
Drs- Young and McWiIliams, aud is out of dan
ger, out very weak. The bottle and It's remain
ing contents were taken possession Of and two
OF the officers who tasted IL found that 1t was
exceedingly bitter. A chemist Is now making
an analysis and Ii is said that the presence of
strychnine has been detected.
QUEER CoNDCcT OF MISC BAKERS FEMALE CON-
PANIoN.
nc appears that Miss Baker and Miss Rupp
ailas WeStcott, alias Gheen, are confined I'm one
CELL and that the edibles were received for
both, but that Miss Westcott did not partake OF
the coffee; and although there was a woman
apparently dying in the room In the agony o;
despair. the Rupp woman remained calm and
Collected, and apparently showed no feeling
save that OF competency. and quietly remarked
."e9l. ui0nb GflnK any or the c0U6e." From
his fact there Is some suspicion that she knew
the coffee was poisoned.
NOW FOR TIE MOTIVE:
IL Is known that Miss Baker had through a
friend made full statement OF her connection
with the bogus money business, and it is be-
lieyed that II puts Miss Rupp In a bad position.
TIE theory OF the officials is that either MIS-
Rupp or some of her friends attempted to get
Miss Baker out OF the way to prevent her evil
dence being used against them.
OTHER FACTS.
The physicians were at once sent for On the
discovery OF Miss Bakers condition, and when
they arrived several OF the guards who had
tasted the stuff she had drank We're quite un
easy lest they had taken too much.
District Attorney Corkhiil, to whom the case
was reported, called Chief Brock, OF the Metro
politan police, and Chief Brooks OF the Treas
ury secret service into consultation, and the
result or their denberation will probably be soon
Known.
THE TWO WOMEN.
Miss Baker has been living In Washington for
years; most OF the time has moved from place
70 place. She resided at the time she was
arrested in the building at the southeast COR.
ner OF 18th street and Pennsylvania avenue,
known as 'RuzardS ROOst." She is rather a
good looking woman, of % or years OF age, and
also takes the name OF Baldwin.
Miss Rupp is some years older than Miss
Baker, quite good looking. and from dropping
her maiden name has been known as Wescott.
She has resided In the division from time &c
time for years: last at 1882 street, and like
Miss Baker. has moved her suit OF furniture
around considerably. She is looked on as some,
what hard caSe.S