Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-02-04
Remarkable Case.
THE MALONE POISONING CASE DETAILS OF
THE ALLEGED CRIME.

THE MALONE POISONING CASE DETAILS OF
THE ALLEGED CElNE.
As heretofore reported in this paper, the
people of Malone are greatly excited over a
case of attempted murder, by poison, Miss
Gertrude Manning being the victim and Miss
Emma Davis the alleged poisoncr. Miss Man
ning's condition is serious, and physicians
do not seem to be confident Of her recovery.
The circumstances OF the case are quite re-
markable Warren l.. Manning, a promi-
nent and wealthy citizen, of four score years,
a widower with no family, has for twelve
years past employed Miss Davis as house
keeper Miss Gertrude \. Manning is niece
| of Mr.. Manning's, and has been member of
her uncle's household only for the past few
years. Miss Manning is % years of age and
Miss Davis about so. 1t appears that on
Sunday morning. Nov. :, Miss Manning re-
turned home from church in her usual good
health, but that after partaking of plate of
soup at the dinner table she was taken sud
denly and violently i'll. That night she re-
tired early and Miss Davis brought ner amix-
ture which caused second vomiting attack.
The succeeding day she ate nothing ex-
cept little oatmeal in the morning
and at supper time partook of some
cruel prepared by Miss Davis soon aft
er which she vomted third time.
That night Miss Davis gave her Sling" to
settle ;.er stomach, but this concoction only
caused Miss Manning to vomit again. On the
fourth day the sick girl took only a cup of
crust coffee, which Miss Davis made for her.
After drinking nearly all of the coffee, Miss
Manning asserts that she saw green sedi-
nent at the bottom of the cup. Subsequent
ly she was taken with vomiting spell. After
this spell she grew worse, and on the next
day, at the suggestion of Miss Davis herself,
physician was called in. The patient was
pronounced to have symptoms of gastric
fever and prescriptions were given therefor.
Improvements and relapses alternated until
December 25th, when the condition of the
sick girl became such that consultation of
physicians was held and it will suffice TO
show the mysterious nature of the young
lady's illness to say that the six doctors were
puzzled over the case, and that they dis
agree as to the cause of the sickness. The
theory of arsenical poisoning is entertained
by four of the six physicians, while two
attribute the patients condition TO calomel
taken as medicine. The health of Miss
Manning has gradually grown worse, until
now she lies in a precarious condition. Her
limbs are paralyzcd, and a numbness pre-
vades her hands and arms while her teeth
are looscned and her system generally
shows indications that some terrible ingre-
dient is doing its deadly work. 1t was
matter of common observation for some time
previous to this sickness that Miss Davis and
Miss Manning have been on unfriendly terms
and finally the former was arrested, charged
with administering poison. A preliminary
hearing in the case has been in progress dur
ing the last ten days, before justice. Miss
Davis is defended by Messrs. Gilbert and
kelas. District Attorney Badger conducting
the prosecution for the people. The
theory of the defence IS that the i'll effects
resulting from the Sunday plate OF soup par
taken of by Miss Manning were caused by
tainted and spoiled meat used in the soup.
They claim that testimony will be adduced
to show that Miss Davis complained of the
meat being bad, but that she finally con-
cluded TO use it. They also further expect to
prove that calomel is the cause of the pa
tient's present condition.
At the close of the hearing Miss Davis WAS
bound over in 50 600