The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-06-01

The excitement aroused by the arrest of
John W. Kohler on suspicion of having
poisoned Geo. f. Harmon, who died last Feb
ruary, was intensified yesterday by the receipt
of the news that Prof. Oarmichsel's analysis Of
the stomach Of the deceased was nearly COM
pletsd, and showed unmistakable evidences of
arsenic. The following is the despatch received
by County Attorney Geo. M. Seiders:
BRUNSWICK, Maine.
TO County Attorney Geo. III. seiders:
In the analysis of the stomach and duodenum of
the late Geo. +. Harmon, have found an unmistak-
able quantity OF arsenic l shall proceed with the
analysis of the other parts. II. CARMICHAEL.
The completion of the analysis may take
Prof. Carmichael three or four days, but the
result is likely to be announced at any time
As soon as the findings of the chemist are
made out in proper form, the jury will be
called together and return their verdict as to
the cause Of death, after which Kohler will be
brought up for examination in the Municipal
Court.
THE SERVANTS STATEMENT.
AT the time the arrest was made, the servant
who was in the employ Of Mrs. Harmon at the
time of her husbands death, was seen and
questioned. The girls name is Edna Wheeler
and she resides with her parents in this city
She is about % years of age. At her examina-
ton by the Marshal she appeared reticent and
evidently told no more than she was obliged to-
giving as reason that she did not wish to say
anything which would iniure Mrs. Harmon.
When asked what she would do if obliged to
appear in court, she said that OF course she
should tell all she knew. She then stated that
Kohler was in the kitchen on the day that
Harmon was taken sick, and that he poured
out his coffee. The coffee was turned into the
cups in the kitchen and then carried to the
dining room. After drinking his coffee, Har-
mon went to the roo to shovel off the snow,
but soon came down and was sick at the
stomach with severe palms. In the sick room
Kohler was in the habit of mixing the medi-
cines and took much of the care of Harmon.
After Harmon's death, his brother took charge
OF the house, and at the end of a week or 30
had some trouble with Kohler, who was Or
dered out of the house by Harmon. Kohler
packed up and left, but about week after,
Harmon had quarrel with Mrs Libby and
her daughter and returned to his home, where
upon Kohler returned and again took up his
residence in the house.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
During Harmon's illness, Kohler was seen
BY the Ieighbors mixing medicine while stand
ing near window. He was observed to hold
the medicine up to the light while stirring it,
and to look through it. One gentleman re-
marked to some members of his family that
he believed that "that devil in the boarding
house is poisoning somebody"
AT the time of the death sill the boarders
considered the circumstances as suspicious.
and thought there were indications of poison
ing. Had they known at the time Of Kohler's
buying arsenic, a complaint would have been
promptly made. AS it was, they left the
house, because Kohlsr was much in the
kitchen and they were afraid of him.
Kohler, who is under arrest on suspicion of
committing the deed, has been very imper-
turbable and taken his confinement very coolly.
He has called for choice menu when asked
what he would have for his meals and evil
IDENTITY enjoyed what he received, even If the
repast was not exactly what he ordered. The
last day or two, the Marshal thinks, he seems
in sonne sense to have realized his situation.
He has been willing to have counsel, and we
understand Mr.. George +. Townshend will act.
Kohler ssys he has no funds to employ coun-
sci, and asked if the State would not furnish
such legal assistance as he might require.
THE PRISONER NOTIFIED
City Marshal Andrews last night impaired
to Kohler, who is still confined at the police
station. the information contained in Prof.
Csrmichael's telegram. Kohler expressed no
surprise and made no comments whatever, but
appeared entirely Indifferent. as he has been
ever since his arrest
Marshal Andrews is deserving of good deal
OF credit for his prompt action in this case as
soon as If was brought to his attention. By his
action all parties under suspicion are within
his reach. The parties also who brought the
case to his notice should be highly CON-
mended.