Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-19
AN INGENIOUS POIsONER.
How Christian Leidei Attempted TO Ds'trc
His Fntber-in.Law's Family.

How Christian Leidel Attempted 20 DESTROY
His Fntber-in-Lsw's Family.
A Bradford Pa.) correspondent OF the
pbiladslphia Times writes: In 1880 Gustln
Enyel came from Germiny with his wife
and daughter aud took up his residence in
tbs LITTLE village Of Coalton. Engel was q
blacksmith. soon after the family settled
there A Young German by The name Of
Christian Leidel came TO Coalition, evidently
10 the surprise and great dIspleasure Of
Enpel. II soon became known that the
Young German had been the lover OF En-
gers daughter in the old country and that
her parents were opposed 10 her marrying
him. II was mainly TO prevent her doing
30 that they em'grated TO America. Leide'
was carpenter and soon obtained work In
Coalton. Engel. finding that his daughter
| was determined TO receive and encourage
the you,g man, withdrew his objections
and they were married.
In 1888 serious trouble arose between
Engel and bis son-in-law. The two had
purchased adjoining lots and each hid
built shop as we'll as a house on his lot.
In the summer OF the above year Engel
had IN opportunity 10 sell his property adj
yantageously. The man who was to buy il
had the boundaries oi the lot run out
and found that Leidel's carpenter-shOp
was built partially upon II. Leidcl
refused TO move his shop. aud the pIr-
chaser, not caring to wait for the dispute
between the Germans 10 be settled, pur-
chased elsewhere. Soon afterward the
carpenter-shop was burned down, and
Leidel charged bis father-in-law with hav.
Tug set 1t on fire. The quarrel was renewed
with increased bitterness, and one night
the blacksmlth.shop was burned to the
ground. Both Leidel and Engel consulted
lawyers. but before recourse was bad 10 the
courts compromise was entered into be-
tween them and peace was restored.
In July last dog belonging 10 Engel
worried a pig belonging to the son-in-law,
and the latter shot Il. This renewed the
quarrel. and one day in July last the two
men came TO blows and the son.in.law got
the worst OF the fight. The daughter sided
with her father in the last trouble. and her
husband told her that be would sell bis
property and take her back TO Germany.
He sold out last month, but his wife re-
fused to 20 with him, aud he went alone.
lie has not been heard from since.
On Friday last the rope attached to the
bucket in Engers well broke and the
bucket fell 10 the bottom. In fishing IL ont
Enge drew from the bottom OF the well
something done up in piece OF bed-quilt.
The bundle was weighted with piece OF
iron. The package was taken ap rt and a
large beef bladder was found inside. The
bladder was packed full OF something and
the neck was tied around an iron spike.
On being opened the bladder was found to
be filed with Paris green. The piece OF
quilt wts identified as being from one That
had belonged to Leidel II was subse-
queptly learned that Leidel had purchased
a beef'S bladder aud quantity Of Pari,
green day or so before he went
away. II is supposed that he had
resolved TO revenge himself on his
wife and her family. and had so planned his
work that no suspicion might attach to
him. He had sunk the poison in the well,
but protected 1t so that 1t would not be-
come mixed with the water for weeks after
he had gone away. The spike in the neck
OF the bladder had evidently been placed
there to corrode it and In time eat II away,
so that the poison would be relea,. d aud
exposed to the water. This work OF cor
rosion was already much advanced when
the package was fished mp from the well.
and in another week the water would have
undoubtedly been deadly poison. As the
well supplied not only the Eugels but other
families with water, the timely breaking OF
the bucket rope doubtless saved many lives.