The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-05-18
Arrest of the Pittsburg Poisoner.

Melvin Fry, the negro accused OF poisoning
family in Pttsburg, was arrested here Satur-
day. Since the publication of his Pennsyl-
vana exploits, the police of Staunton have
been on the watchout for him, believing that
in the time of his trouble he would return to
his wife, whom he had deserted for the woman
Julia Watkins, his accomplice in the crime
Several times during the past two or three
days, information had been lodged with the
police to the effect that Fry had been seen in
the vicinity of Stanton, but as these rumors
could not be traced to an eye witness, no abso-
lutte knowledge of his whereabouts was OBJ
tanned until Saturday morning, when the po-
lice were notified by Mr.. Cornelius W. Lam
bert that he Uambert) had seen Fry go INTO
house about mile from town, where his wife
was living. Mr.. Lambert saw him enter the
house Friday night about nine O'Clock, but
did not give the information until Saturday
morning, when he came into town. About
eight O'Clock Chief of Police Waters and con-
stable Runnels proceeded to the house Upon
entering the room, they discovered Fry's wife
lying in bed. Capt. Waters asked her if her
husband was at the house She replied, No;
know nothing about him." Waters then
drew his pistol and advanced towards the bed.
She implored him not to uncover her, and
drew the bedclothing closely about her person.
Waters replied that he did not intend to ex-
pose her, but that he wanted to search the bed
and room. The woman was lying on the out
side of the bed, and reaching over her, Waters
vim Fry completely buried in the feathers and
covering. He placed his pistol at the fugtive's
head, and warned him that if he made resis-
lance bullet would quiet him. Fry was
greatly agitated, and the first utterance he
made was "Oh, Capt. Waters, don't take me
back to Pittsburg"
The officers made him dress, and brought
him to jail By the afternoon train the par
ties who made the arrest, conveyed their pris-
oner to Pittsburg, communication having in
the meantime been had with the authorities of
that city.
Our readers will remember that we pub
lished an account of Fry's crime last week.
In connection with woman named Julia
Watkins, he is charged with poisoning eight
persons in Pittsburg. Fry furnished the
srsenic, and Julia put it in the bread Julia
was arrested at once and Fry made his way
back to the wife he had so outrageously abused
md then deserted When questioned as to the
crime with which he was charged, he stated
that he had purchased the arsenic to kill rats,
and had no intention of using it for criminal
purposes. When asked why he did not re-
main and assert his innocence, he replied that
people were so excited in Pittsburg about ii
that he thought it prudent TO get out OF the
way as soon as possible.
Several months ago Fry was arrested for
grossly abusing his wife He had then con-
ceived passion for the woman Julia Watkins,
and when reproached for his infidelity, beat
his wife shametully and turned her out of house
and home. He was arrested, fined and i'm
prisoned, and after serving his term and pay
ng the fine, went to work on the railroad
in West Virginia. Thither, at his solicitation,
it is said, went Julia Watkins also, and the
two Lived together as man and wife, When
Fry subsequently obtained employment in
Pittsburg, Julia followed. Fry now claims
that Julia asked him to obtain a situation
for her, that he did so as friend, and that
there We're no improper relations between
them. This statement is so directly in con-
flict with the conduct of the couple here that
no one believes it. The woman j lula is con-
Victed thief and of bad character oanaralIu
Those who know both OF them are not sur
prlsed that they have gotten into serious
trouble.