Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-11-05
GaIes and Sketfbes.
rmE PoIsexER.
(Couunuca from Yesterday.


The idea haunted me; | knew all the
particulars of the case; | wondered if a
man had ever been killed in that way.
felt desire to try tin behalf OF science
The idea held me fast all the while we
were in Europe. The time for our return
drew nigh; we went to Paris. thence to
London thence to Liverpool: then we en-
barked home-I. still bound BY the fatal
suggestion, and Lillian. still wondering
what had changed me. what made me love
her less, what made me less receptive 1
her love. wondered too. Night after
nigh, paced the dark deck under the cold
stars. watching the lonely lightning. won
dering why I loved her less. wondering
even, If had loved her at all thinking
out the one idea.
When we reached New York and were
comfortable settled, and got back to my
books and my laboratory. and where per-
haps the quiet of home life might have
saved me, suddenly there came blow.
A crash occurred in financial circles, and
all nv money and part OF hers was swept
away. There was Just enough left for us
to live on very modestly. if must get
work Of some kind. And then | thought
with pleasure that Lillian was the insur-
ance on my life-fifty thousand dollars.
And If she died there was the insur ance
on her lfe-fifiy thousand dollars.
And was still possessed with the same
idea, the maddening idea to poison some
one or any one by not giving him poison.
And the days had passed and carried with
them my love for Lin. do
not know how it went; only know il
was gone. And the idea lived and thrived
in my brain.
Perhaps was mad; do not know.
great physician once said all men were
mad / suppose he was right. | suppose
I was ONLY a little madden than the rest.
Perhaps am still mad Who knows? |
know but little about madness, and yet
know more than all the mad doctors. for
know that I know nothing. We lived
quietly, economically, insufferably;
wanted change; wanted money; want
ed knowledge; and no longer wanted
my wife.
One night | took down my Tyrolese
note book and re-read it. Then | went
into my laboratory, and the next day my
wife complained of burning pains; gave
her medicine to relieve her. My prescrip-
ton did no immediate good, but at the
end of three DAYS the pain had gradually
disappeared Exactly one month after
that the burning pain returned. At the
end Of three DAYS it disappeared | had
increased the daily dose Of arsenic that
| gave her in her coffee; every
three weeks my wife had these
burning pains. | always prescribed
for her; always tried to alleviate the in
evitable pain. think she thought that
L., I ti,,,t, hat ,,,c ,,ita
other suffering she was happy. knew
that. except these occasional pains. she
was in excellent health. eating well and
feeling well. She was happy in my love;
and had n sort of ieverish happiness. an
insane scientific excitement in watching
the symptoms of the case. in noting every
change. Sometimes felt the wild JOY of
the scientific experimentalist who sees the
success of his attempt after days and
nights of anxious watching. after months
and years of failure.
Days passed. weeks passed. months
passed, year had nearly sped when de-.
termned to test my success. not to end the
experimental was not ready for that
yet-but to test its success.
One day did not administer the dose
to the unconscious Lillian; nor did the
next or the next. Five days passed; six
days passed; Lillian sank; h, appetite
left her; she could not eat she could not
walk she had no strength On the seventh
day the burning pains recommended. She
was sinking fast. On the morning of the
eighth day after the cessation of the arsen-
ic dose. | again gave her very small
amount in cup of strong coffee. She re-
vived and felt better. The next day in
creased the dose she improved. In ten
days after had recommended the admin
iStration. | had returned to the full dose
and she had almost recovered her health.
My experiment was 4 success. felt
sure that eleven DAYS without the arsenic
would produce death. At the end of
three weeks more | again increased the
dose. She now took unconsciousiv four
grains of arsenic day. quantity suffi-
cient to kill two able bodied men. and
now began to prepare for the end.
Hitherto. had myself prescribed Tor all
my wiie's ailments. carefully keeping all
Of her symptoms secret. Her love for me
was unbounded; her confidence in me
was unexampled. She desired to be at
tended when i'll by no one but me. But
determined To be on the safe side. Fifty
thousand dollars When | thought of
that sum. how poor our little house
seemed: how cheap everything in it
looked: how bare was my scant labora-
tory. 1t was time for me to strike the
blow. and prepared for it. There was
II young fellow, recently graduated
medical student. named Richard Durlev :;
he was very good natured and fool I
knew he knew little about posons; and
knew he thought he knew a good deal
about medicine; for although he was a
fool he did not know it. | knew also
that il ! called him in to visit my wife he
would be So much gratified at the compli-
ment that could easily make him think
anything wanted.
| gave my wife little medicine |
threw in her way one or two books on
climate; suggested that ] was afraid
she had consumption, with perhaps some
chronic affection; possibly caused 10y the
harsh air OF New York. knew that her
mother was at Nice. | suggested that
Nice was Just the climate for consump-
iives. although perhaps Mentone was bet
ter. The next letter from Mrs. Morgan
was dated Mentone. The devil was fav-
oring my plans; the devil was aiding nv
projects. Then met Durlev one ,lav.
apparently accidentally and accidentally
innocutated him with the idea that nv
wife was consumptive and needed south