Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-06-12
A BOX OF POISONED CANDY.

Sent Through the Mail to Lady Ad-
Vanced in Years.
New York Sun.
A gray-cOated postman rushed up the
stOop of the residence of Lawyer Angus
tus II. Allen, at No. ], 534 Fourth Avenue,
on the afternoon of May 6, blew his
whistle, and called for thirty cents extra
postage on a small Oblong package, done
up in common brown wrapping paper, on
which was pasted the name, "Mrs. L. H.
Allen" in letters cut from different news
papers.
Mrs Allen, who is the mother of Law
yer Allen, was on visit to POughkeepsie,
and the money was paid by the daughter,
who opened the paper and found tin
box of candied fruits, very bunglingly
packed in cheap white paper. Over the
top of the candies was spread rough
edged sheet of parafine paper, sprinkied
with fine particles of green powder.
More of this powder was scattered among
the candies, which consisted of lines,
citron, apricot, green cages and sliced
oranges.
Miss Allen grew suspicious, and kept
the box until her brother came home in
the evening. After examining the con-
tents he took the box to his family
physician. The latter burned some of
the powder on the blade Of his penknife,
and then made chemical test of the
green cages. The experiment proved
that the fruit was completely impreg-
mated with paris green, and that there
was enough of it in the box to kill half
a dozen persons.
Mr.. Allen set to work at once to find
out the sender of the mysterious pack
age. The only result of a fOrtnight's la
Dor, however, was the discovery of the
fact that the box had been mailed from
some point below Canal street, and yes
terday he published an advertisement
offering a reward of 800 for any infor-
nation that would lead to the detection
of the person who sent the box.
Mr.. Allen said at his Office, No. 800
Broadway, yesterday afternoon: 81 am
at a loss to tell who would be guilty Of
such an act. I have suspicious which it
is not proper for me to divulge yet, as l
have not the evidence to substantiate
them. It is remarkable that, just little
while before this attempt upon the life
of my mother, we should have received
this letter:
"For Jane Welsh, Housekeeper to J.
R. Whiting, of Spuyten Duyvil, N. Y: I
suppose you thought your pal had got
rid of me slick didn't you sweet girl? but
you slipped up again. You and him run
me pretty hard and it's my turn now.
Take the medicine yourself you got for
Whiting. All see you get pale and
we'll you may. [ mean to expose you
now, and your place will be on the street.
l will give the story to reporters. Listen
know your scheming to steal Mr.. Whit
ing's little boy, and I know how you
Dragged of setting him against his moth
er-in-law, and of making him forbid the
old woman the house which was dir
tier trick than I, thief and rogue as am,
would do. I know how bad you wanted
to be Mrs. Whiting No. 2. Don't 1 mind
the time you charged another old party,
etc. The story will be printed. If Whit
ing knew all I know he wouldn't let you
tie his daughters shoe. l will be away
before this gets circulated, and you know
if my name had better be told. D. NJ"
The letter is printed in coarse type to
prevent the detection of the sender, and
the address on the envelope is also IN
cOuthly printed. 1t bears no date nor
any mark to indicate its source. Printed
duplicates of it were received the same
day by different members of the Allen
family in various parts of the city. The
recipients all say that they cannot COM
prehend the meaning of that portion of
it which refers to a scheme to kidnap the
children of Mr.. James r. Whiting.
Mr.. Whiting married a daughter of
Mrs. L. 81. Allen, and lived for long
time at Spuyten Duyvil. Jane Welsh
was one of the five servants employed
by his wife, and at her death in 1888 be-
came housekeeper. He removed to New
York last Winter, refused to have his
name printed in any directory, and quar-
relied with all his wife's relatives, al
though during her lifetime he had been
a most affectionate and generous hus-
band, and had treated all her friends
with perfect courtesy. Mr.. Allen says
| that the only cause known to him for
this arrangement was the fact that he
and his mother and father sought to ex-
tend to the widower their sympathy.
| Notification of the receipt of the box OF
candies and of the mysterious anony-
nous letter was sent to Mr.. Whiting by
others than the Aliens, but he refused tC
pay any attention to the communication
MIR. Allen himself did not seek any per
sonal explanation. The family are IL
possession of the information, however
that Mr.W hitting denied to acquaintance
that his hOusekeeper had any knowl
edge Of the box of candies, and alst
secuted the idea that anybody was goins
to steal his little son or his other chill
dren.
Mrs. Allen did not learn of the receip
of the candies until her return from